Stevenage Waste Recycling: Centres, Accepted Items & Council Rules
Plan a successful visit to Stevenage Recycling Centre on Caxton Way, register the correct Hertfordshire ePass, check accepted waste and DIY limits, understand van rules and find the right Stevenage Council service for bins, missed collections, food waste and bulky household items.
Do I need to book Stevenage Recycling Centre?
You do not need a timed booking. You need a valid Hertfordshire recycling-centre ePass linked to the vehicle registration before visiting.
Stevenage Recycling Centre is at Caxton Way, Stevenage, SG1 2DF. The current Hertfordshire page lists opening hours of 10am to 5:30pm every day.
Recycling centre, kerbside collection or booked council service?
Stevenage Borough Council manages household bin collections. Hertfordshire County Council manages the Caxton Way recycling centre and ePass system.
Use Caxton Way Recycling Centre
For household furniture, electricals, rubble within the DIY limit, wood, metal, soil, garden waste, plasterboard, textiles and large recyclable items.
Use household bin collections
For ordinary refuse, plastics and cans, paper and card, glass, garden waste and the separate weekly food-waste service.
Use a special collection
For bulky home collection, assisted bins, clinical waste, commercial waste, asbestos or items that the recycling centre does not accept.
Caxton Way address, opening hours and live checks
Use Hertfordshire County Council’s current centre page for hours and directions. Older pages can show different times or postcodes.
| Centre detail | Current information | Resident action |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Caxton Way, Stevenage, SG1 2DF. | Use the county council map link for the correct entrance. |
| Opening hours | Monday to Sunday, 10am–5:30pm. | Check the live page before leaving. |
| Bank holidays | Open on bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. | Check temporary notices during extreme weather. |
| Booking | No timed booking required. | Register the vehicle for an ePass before visiting. |
| Proof of address | May be checked against the ePass. | Bring a driving licence, Council Tax bill, utility bill or Hertfordshire bus pass. |
| Live information | The centre page shows bin availability and a privacy-blurred queue camera. | Check it shortly before travelling. |
Avoid unnecessary queues: Hertfordshire recommends avoiding school and bank holidays, pre-sorting the load and checking other recycling points when the centre is busy.
Car, van, trailer and hire-vehicle rules
The ePass is linked to the home address and vehicle registration. ANPR cameras read the registration when the vehicle enters.
| Vehicle | ePass rule | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Private car or 4×4 | Apply for a free Hertfordshire resident car ePass. | Valid for three years with no normal visit limit. |
| Household registrations | A household can hold up to three active ePasses. | Either three car passes or two car passes plus one van/trailer pass. |
| Van or pick-up | Use a van and trailer ePass. | Twelve visits during a 12-month period. |
| Car with trailer | Requires a van and trailer ePass. | Each entrance counts as one of the twelve visits. |
| Hire van | Apply using the hire vehicle and bring the hire agreement. | Hire-van ePass lasts seven days and allows up to three visits. |
| Out-of-county resident | Check eligibility for an out-of-county ePass. | Different vehicle and participating-centre restrictions apply. |
ePass readiness checker
No phone or smartphone?
You do not need to display a digital pass at the gate. ANPR identifies registered vehicles, and centre staff can help residents who arrive without a completed registration.
Save your Caxton Way recycling trip
This planner stores the details locally in your browser. It does not register an ePass or contact Hertfordshire County Council.
My next visit
Saved trip board
No trip saved. Confirm the ePass and centre status first.
What can I take to Caxton Way?
The centre provides separate bins for the following common household materials. Availability can change when containers are full.
| Waste stream | Examples | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | Timber, wooden furniture and boards. | Check treated timber, MDF and oversized-item rules. |
| Mixed recycling | Selected household packaging and recyclable containers. | Keep it separate from black-bag waste. |
| Hardcore and rubble | Bricks, concrete, tiles and small DIY quantities. | Stay within the DIY allowance. |
| Scrap metal | Metal furniture, pipes, tools and suitable metal objects. | Remove batteries, fuel and non-metal parts where safe. |
| Rigid plastics | Hard plastic household objects accepted by the site. | Do not mix in film, bags or flexible plastic. |
| Garden waste | Grass, leaves, plants, branches and hedge cuttings. | Remove bags, soil, pots and general rubbish. |
| Glass bottles and jars | Household bottles and food jars. | Keep Pyrex, mirrors and window glass separate. |
| Paper and cardboard | Newspapers, packaging and flattened boxes. | Keep it dry and remove polystyrene or plastic inserts. |
| Plasterboard | Small quantities from householder DIY work. | Keep separate from rubble and general waste. |
| Fridges and freezers | Domestic refrigeration appliances. | Do not damage cooling pipes. |
| Electrical appliances | Large and small domestic electrical equipment. | Remove loose batteries where safe. |
| Soft furnishings | Sofas, armchairs and upholstered seating. | Keep items whole and follow staff directions. |
| Soil | Small domestic quantities. | Keep separate from turf, rubble and contaminated material. |
| Textiles | Clothing, shoes and suitable household fabrics. | Keep reusable textiles clean and dry. |
| Household batteries | Loose domestic batteries. | Protect terminals and tell staff about damaged batteries. |
Centre, household bin or special service?
Choose an item for a practical route. Confirm unusual materials through Hertfordshire’s live A–Z before travelling.
Select an item
Result: Select an item.
Three safety rules
- Do not hide batteries, vapes, chemicals or electricals inside black bags.
- Ask staff before unloading a material you cannot identify.
- Never take asbestos to the Stevenage recycling centre.
Rubble, soil, plasterboard and bathroom waste limits
DIY waste is accepted only when it comes from small work carried out by the householder at their own home.
Standard quantity
Up to two 50-litre rubble bags or one qualifying bulky DIY item can be brought in a single visit.
Bulky-item size
A qualifying item such as a bath must be no larger than approximately 2000mm × 750mm × 700mm.
Visit frequency
The waste must not be produced so frequently that more than four visits are needed within four weeks.
Builder waste
Waste left by a paid builder is commercial waste and cannot use the normal household DIY allowance.
| DIY material | Likely household route | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Bricks and rubble | Hardcore and rubble container within the allowance. | Large renovation loads need a commercial route. |
| Plasterboard | Dedicated plasterboard container. | Keep it separate from ordinary rubble. |
| Soil and turf | Use the relevant separate container. | Do not include contaminated soil or invasive plants. |
| Bath, sink or toilet | One bulky qualifying DIY item. | Check dimensions and safe lifting before travelling. |
| Door, window or fence panel | Can qualify as the one bulky DIY item. | Secure glass and oversized pieces. |
| Kitchen cupboard or worktop | One qualifying bulky item. | Multiple-unit kitchen removal is not a small DIY load. |
Asbestos, business waste, chemicals and clinical items
Asbestos
Do not take asbestos or suspected asbestos to a Hertfordshire recycling centre. Contact the county council or a licensed specialist contractor.
Business or trade waste
Caxton Way does not accept waste from businesses, charities, landlords acting commercially or paid building work.
Clinical waste
Use Stevenage Borough Council’s clinical-waste service when waste is infectious or household healthcare waste meets the service criteria.
Batteries and vapes
Take them separately to the centre or an approved retailer collection point. Never place them in household recycling or refuse bins.
Fire risk: lithium batteries and disposable vapes can ignite when crushed in collection vehicles or waste-processing equipment.
Black bin, brown bin, recycling bags, glass and food waste
Stevenage uses separate containers because paper, glass, plastics, metals, food and garden material follow different recycling routes.
| Container | Use it for | Keep out |
|---|---|---|
| Black refuse bin | Crisp packets, plastic film, pouches, nappies, polystyrene, vacuum waste, glittery paper and securely bagged pet waste. | Recyclables, batteries, electricals, food and garden waste. |
| Brown garden bin | Grass, leaves, hedge trimmings, twigs, plants and flowers. | Food, soil, plant pots, tools, treated wood and compostable packaging. |
| Black recycling bag | Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, tins, cans, foil, aerosols and food or drink cartons. | Plastic film, bags and food residue. |
| Blue recycling bag | Newspapers, paper, envelopes, cardboard, egg boxes, plain cards and cardboard tubes. | Food-soiled card, glitter, foil and plastic inserts. |
| Red glass container | Glass bottles and jars of any colour. | Pyrex, crockery, drinking glasses and window glass. |
| Green food caddy | Cooked and uncooked food, meat, fish, bones, dairy, bread, rice, pasta, tea bags and coffee grounds. | Packaging, liquids and non-food waste. |
Recycling-container change: Stevenage is replacing old black and blue boxes with durable 65-litre recycling bags when replacements are needed. Existing boxes will still be collected.
When to report a missed bin
Stevenage aims to return within two working days after a valid missed-bin report.
| Check | Valid report condition | If the condition is not met |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation time | Bin, box or bag was outside by 7am. | Wait for the next scheduled collection. |
| Location | Container was on the property boundary. | Correct the location next time. |
| Collection day | It was the correct scheduled date. | Use the live address calendar. |
| Contamination | No rejection sticker was left. | Remove the wrong material and wait for the next date. |
| Reporting window | Report is made within two working days. | Use Caxton Way, a recycling bank or the next collection. |
Stevenage food caddies and liners
The separate weekly Stevenage food-waste service started on 2 March 2026. Brown bins remain for garden waste only.
Accepted food
Fruit, vegetables, leftovers, bread, cakes, dairy, eggs, tea bags, coffee grounds, meat, fish, bones, rice, beans, pasta and pet food.
Accepted liners
Compostable liners, old bread bags, fruit or vegetable bags, carrier bags, newspaper and paper bags can be used.
Outdoor container
Empty the kitchen caddy into the outdoor food-waste bin and present it on the confirmed weekly collection day.
Brown-bin separation
Do not put food in the brown bin. Stevenage now reserves the brown wheelie bin for garden waste.
Large household items, prices and booking rules
Use the booked council service when furniture or appliances cannot be transported safely to Caxton Way.
| Number of items | Full price | Concession price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 items | £51 | £51 |
| 4 items | £65 | £48.75 |
| 5 items | £79 | £59.25 |
| 6 items | £93 | £69.75 |
| 7 items | £107 | £80.25 |
| 8 items | £121 | £90.75 |
| 9 items | £135 | £101.25 |
| 10 items | £149 | £111.75 |
Common accepted items
Cookers, carpets, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, mattresses, tables, settees, wardrobes, washing machines, beds, bicycles, fridges and freezers.
Not in the standard service
Commercial waste, builder’s waste, kitchen units, bathroom suites, gas bottles, vehicle parts, asbestos, fence panels, sheds and greenhouses.
Booking changes
Bookings cannot be amended. A cancellation and new booking are required, and the cancellation administration charge is £12.
Collection location
Items must be outside the property. The standard service does not remove items from inside homes or garages.
Stevenage Reuse Shop and local recycling banks
Stevenage Reuse Shop
The reuse shop at Caxton Way sells furniture, bikes, mirrors, games, instruments and other donated household goods.
Reuse-shop hours
Thursday to Monday, 10am–5:30pm. The shop is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Donate usable items
Keep working, clean and complete items separate from the main waste load and ask staff where to leave them.
Local recycling banks
Stevenage shopping areas have banks for paper, glass, cans, plastics and selected textiles, but electricals and batteries are not accepted there.
Directions to Stevenage Recycling Centre
Stevenage Recycling Centre
Address: Caxton Way, Stevenage, SG1 2DF
- Open daily: 10am–5:30pm
- ePass required
- No timed appointment required
- Bring proof of address
- Household waste only
- Check live bin availability
- Check the queue camera
What happens to recycling after collection?
Stevenage recycling journey
The council video explains how separately collected recycling is sorted and sent for reprocessing.
Paper and card, glass, plastics and metals follow different onward recycling routes.
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Waste, recycling and council action links
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Opening hours, ePass rules, live bin availability, bulky prices and temporary service notices can change. Confirm the official page before travelling, paying or submitting a report.
Frequently asked questions
What are Stevenage Recycling Centre opening hours?
The current Hertfordshire County Council page lists opening hours of 10am to 5:30pm every day. It is open on bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Do I need to book Stevenage Recycling Centre?
No timed booking is required. You must register the correct vehicle for a valid Hertfordshire recycling-centre ePass before visiting.
What is the postcode for Stevenage Recycling Centre?
The current Hertfordshire County Council address is Caxton Way, Stevenage, SG1 2DF. Use the county council map link for the correct entrance.
What proof of address should I take?
Bring a driving licence, Council Tax bill, Hertfordshire bus pass, utility bill or another accepted document showing the address linked to the ePass.
Can I take a van or trailer to Caxton Way?
Yes, but a van and trailer ePass is required. It allows twelve visits in twelve months. Hire vans use a temporary seven-day ePass allowing up to three visits.
How much DIY waste can I take?
Qualifying householder DIY waste is limited to two 50-litre rubble bags or one qualifying bulky item per visit, with no more than four visits during a four-week period.
Can I take asbestos to Stevenage Recycling Centre?
No. Hertfordshire says asbestos must not be taken to a recycling centre or placed in a household bin. Use the council’s asbestos guidance or a licensed specialist contractor.
Does Stevenage Recycling Centre accept business waste?
No. The centre is for residents disposing of their own household waste. Waste from businesses, charities, landlords acting commercially or paid building work needs a commercial service.
How do I report a missed bin in Stevenage?
Check that the container was at the property boundary by 7am on the correct date, was not contaminated and the report is within two working days. Stevenage aims to collect valid missed bins within two working days.
What changed with Stevenage food-waste collection in 2026?
A separate weekly food-waste service started on 2 March 2026. Food should go in the green food caddy and outdoor container, while the brown wheelie bin remains for garden waste only.