Bracknell HWRC: Opening Times, Booking, Waste Rules & Charges
Plan a visit to Longshot Lane Recycling Centre in Bracknell. Check seasonal opening hours, book a 30-minute slot, prepare residency proof, understand van and trailer rules, separate accepted waste and estimate chargeable DIY materials before leaving home.
Do I need to book Bracknell recycling centre?
Yes, vehicle visits to Longshot Lane require a Click & Tip booking. Slots are released up to seven days ahead and can normally be booked until one hour before the appointment.
Visitors arriving on foot or by bicycle do not need a vehicle booking, but should make themselves known to site staff on arrival.
Longshot Lane recycling centre opening hours
Longshot Lane is normally open seven days a week, but hours change between the summer and winter seasons.
| Period | Opening hours | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April–30 September | 8am–8pm daily | Your booking must fall within the available seasonal slots. |
| 1 October–31 March | 8am–6pm daily | Winter closing time is two hours earlier. |
| Christmas Eve | Closes at 4pm | Only book a slot shown as available. |
| New Year’s Eve | Closes at 4pm | Check confirmation and live status before travelling. |
| 25 December, 26 December and 1 January | Closed | Do not leave waste outside the entrance. |
Live status matters: operational work, safety incidents or unusually busy conditions can cause temporary delays or closures. Check the official re3 status before starting your journey.
How to book Longshot Lane step by step
Open the Click & Tip service
Select Longshot Lane, Bracknell rather than the Smallmead Reading centre.
Start the official bookingChoose a date and 30-minute slot
Slots are released daily up to seven days ahead. Same-day bookings can normally be made until one hour before the appointment.
Enter accurate contact and vehicle details
The form asks for your name, email address, postal address and vehicle type. Declare any commercial-type vehicle, trailer or DIY waste correctly.
Check the confirmation email
Confirm the site, date, time and reference number. Check the spam folder if the message does not arrive.
Cancel or rearrange when plans change
Use the link in the confirmation email. The council booking guidance allows changes up to three hours before the slot.
Someone else can book for you
A friend or relative can make the booking on your behalf. Your visit still needs the correct resident and vehicle information.
One booking per visit
Multiple visits are allowed, but every separate trip needs its own confirmed slot.
Do not arrive without a booking
Vehicle access can be refused when your name is not on the booking list.
Save your Bracknell HWRC slot and packing checklist
This browser-only planner does not make a booking. Book officially first, then save the details here for your household.
My Longshot Lane visit
Before leaving home
No visit saved. Complete the official booking first.
Who can use Bracknell HWRC and what ID is accepted?
Longshot Lane and Smallmead are for residents paying Council Tax to Bracknell Forest, Reading or Wokingham Borough Council.
| Accepted evidence | Rule | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Driving licence | Must identify you as a re3-area resident. | Check the address is current. |
| Council Tax bill | Shows the full residential address. | Take the original or accepted electronic document. |
| Utility bill or bank statement | Must be dated within the last four months. | A photograph of the document is not accepted. |
| Bracknell Forest resident e+ card | The word “resident” should appear below the picture. | Make sure it belongs to the person visiting. |
| Blue badge, bus pass or resident parking permit | Must be issued by a re3 partner council. | Vehicle details must match where applicable. |
| Electronic document | A full original electronic statement is accepted. | Do not rely on a photo or screenshot of a paper document. |
DIY waste: proof of residency must show your full address when you bring materials covered by the DIY-waste rules.
Bracknell tip vehicle and commercial-permit rules
Normal car
Choose the correct car type during booking and arrive in the vehicle shown in the confirmation.
Van, pickup or trailer
Commercial or commercial-type vehicle permission is built into the booking form. Declare the vehicle and household waste accurately.
Commercial-type definition
This can include vehicles without rear side windows or seats, open-backed vehicles, separate cargo areas or vehicles designed to carry goods.
Box vehicles
Box vehicles are not permitted at the re3 recycling centres.
Disability-adapted vehicles
Disabled users do not need a commercial-vehicle permit for a disability-adapted vehicle.
Trade waste
Household bookings cannot be used to dispose of business, landlord or paid-contractor waste without the correct trade arrangement.
Can I take this waste to Bracknell recycling centre?
Choose a common item for the likely route, charge warning and preparation advice.
Choose an item
Result: Select an item above.
How to load the vehicle
- Put the material you will unload last at the bottom or front.
- Keep cardboard, metal, electricals, garden waste and general waste separate.
- Avoid hiding recyclable material inside black bags.
- Secure loose loads and trailers before travelling.
- Keep proof of residency and booking details easy to reach.
What can you take to Bracknell HWRC?
General household and green garden waste are normally free. Some DIY, asbestos and refillable gas-cylinder deposits have separate allowances or charges.
Everyday recycling
Paper, cardboard, cans, tins, glass bottles and jars, textiles, shoes, rigid plastics, Tetrapaks, batteries, vapes and metal.
Electrical and appliances
Computers, screens, printers, speakers, mobile phones, cookers, microwaves, washing machines, fridges, freezers and small appliances.
Household and garden
General waste, garden waste, carpets, furniture, mattresses, wood, timber, paint, cooking oil, engine oil and household chemicals.
Special handling
Asbestos, plasterboard, rubble, soil, bathroom suites, gas cylinders and upholstered seating need declared or separate disposal routes.
| Restricted item | Current limit or rule | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic pet waste | Maximum two bags; livestock and stable waste are not accepted. | Seal securely before travelling. |
| Car tyres | Maximum four car tyres. | Declare the waste correctly when booking. |
| Fire extinguishers | Maximum two per household, up to 2kg or 3 litres each. | Tell staff on arrival. |
| Fridge or freezer | Domestic appliance up to American-style upright size. | Keep it upright and unload safely. |
| Upholstered seating | Use the separate designated bay. | Follow signs for sofas, armchairs, cushions, beanbags and office chairs. |
DIY waste free allowance and current charges
Small amounts of household DIY waste can be accepted free, but the allowance must be declared in the booking and is monitored by household.
| Material or allowance | Current rule | Charge after allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Loose DIY waste | Up to 100 litres in one qualifying visit. | £3.20 per additional 25-litre unit or part unit. |
| One bulky DIY item | One item no larger than 2000mm × 750mm × 700mm. | Additional chargeable items are normally £3.20 per unit. |
| Frequency | Free allowance on a maximum of four occasions in any four-week period. | All DIY waste may be chargeable when the allowance is unavailable. |
| Metal DIY items | Metal DIY material is not charged under the listed DIY structure. | Separate it from rubble, wood and other materials. |
| Refillable gas bottle | Not part of the DIY free allowance. | £3 per accepted refillable bottle. |
| Disposable gas cylinder | Accepted free where eligible. | No charge; cylinders over 15kg, air cylinders and SCUBA bottles are not accepted. |
Chargeable DIY planning estimator
Use this only after excluding any allowance confirmed by site staff.
Estimate: Enter chargeable units after considering the free allowance.
Examples of £3.20 units
- Each 25-litre unit of tiles, bricks, rubble, soil or similar material.
- Each listed sink, toilet pan, door or similar single item.
- Each size unit of decking, cladding, flooring or insulation.
- Part units are rounded up.
Planning estimate only: site staff assess material, size, volume and available allowance. Their assessment determines the final charge.
How to dispose of asbestos at Longshot Lane
Asbestos needs a separate booking and preparation process. Do not place it with ordinary DIY waste.
Make a separate asbestos booking
Use an eligible slot between 8am–4pm Monday to Friday or 8am–12pm Saturday.
Start the separate bookingCall re3 after booking
Call 0800 988 3023 and tell the team the booking time.
Prepare bonded asbestos safely
Avoid breaking sheets, dampen them, double-wrap in thick durable plastic and seal the package.
Understand the allowance
Up to 60kg can fall within the free asbestos allowance. Excess is charged in minimum 20kg units.
Current excess charge: £8.40 including VAT per additional 20kg of bonded asbestos. Asbestos is hazardous; a licensed specialist may be safer for larger or damaged material.
Items that may be reused instead of thrown away
Reuse bays at Longshot Lane
Ask staff about suitable bicycles, books, bric-a-brac, crockery, DVDs, furniture, lamps, cookware, pushchairs and toys.
Free doorstep reuse collection
A separate free service can collect suitable clothing, shoes, small electricals, towels and children’s toys from home.
Remove personal information
Factory-reset electrical devices and securely erase personal data before reuse or recycling.
Keep reusable items dry
Transport books, textiles and electrical goods separately from wet garden waste or leaking containers.
Bracknell recycling centre address and Google Map
Longshot Lane Recycling Centre
Address: Longshot Lane, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1RL
- Open seven days under seasonal hours
- Vehicle booking required
- Proof of re3-area residency required
- Separate booking required for every visit
- Children under 16 must remain in the vehicle
Explore the official Longshot Lane virtual tour
The official interactive tour shows the site layout, waste bays and visitor route. It is useful for first-time visitors and anyone who wants to plan unloading order.
How to make a Bracknell HWRC visit faster
Check the booking site before driving
Confirm Longshot Lane rather than Smallmead and check that the vehicle registration or type is correct.
Use the virtual tour first
Identify the likely bays, then load the vehicle in reverse unloading order.
Keep black bags to a minimum
Anything left hidden in black bags cannot be separated effectively for recycling.
Keep paperwork accessible
Do not pack residency proof or booking details under waste in the boot.
Declare DIY waste accurately
Unbooked DIY waste can lose the free allowance and become fully chargeable.
Ask before lifting
Staff may help where possible, but cannot move heavy builders’ bags or Hippo-style bags.
Bracknell HWRC links for final actions
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Centre status, bookings, charges and accepted materials can change. Check the official pages immediately before booking or travelling.
Frequently asked questions
What are Bracknell recycling centre opening times?
Longshot Lane normally opens daily from 8am–8pm between April and September and 8am–6pm between October and March. It closes at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and is closed on 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.
Do I need to book Bracknell tip?
Vehicle visits require a confirmed Click & Tip booking. People arriving on foot or by bicycle do not need a vehicle booking but should speak to staff on arrival.
How far ahead can I book Longshot Lane?
Slots are released up to seven days in advance. A booking can normally be made until one hour before the appointment, subject to availability.
What proof of address do I need?
Bring accepted evidence showing that you live in Bracknell Forest, Reading or Wokingham. Examples include a driving licence, Council Tax bill, recent utility bill or qualifying resident card.
Can I take a van or trailer to Bracknell HWRC?
Yes, but vans, pickups, trailers and other commercial-type vehicles must be declared during booking and may require the integrated commercial-vehicle permission. Box vehicles are not accepted.
Is household waste free at Longshot Lane?
Normal household and green garden waste is free for eligible re3 residents. Charges can apply to DIY materials above the free allowance, refillable gas bottles and excess asbestos.
How much DIY waste can I take free?
The free allowance is up to 100 litres of eligible DIY waste or one qualifying bulky DIY item in a visit, on a maximum of four occasions in any four-week period.
Can I take asbestos to Bracknell recycling centre?
Bonded asbestos requires a separate booking, a follow-up call to re3 and secure double wrapping. Up to 60kg can fall within the allowance; excess is charged in 20kg units.
Can I walk or cycle into Longshot Lane?
Yes. A vehicle booking is not required for pedestrian or bicycle access. Make yourself known to staff when you arrive with waste.
What happens if I am late or need to cancel?
Late visitors may be asked to rebook. Use the link in your confirmation email to cancel or rearrange, normally no later than three hours before the slot.