Bury St Edmunds HWRC: Opening Times, Booking, Waste Rules & Charges
Plan a visit to Bury St Edmunds Household Waste Recycling Centre on Fornham Road. Check seasonal opening times, book the correct vehicle slot, sort accepted waste, calculate possible DIY charges and understand the separate charity re-use shop rules.
Do I need to book Bury St Edmunds recycling centre?
Yes. You need an accurate booking before entering Bury St Edmunds Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Select Bury St Edmunds, declare the correct vehicle and waste type, and use the vehicle registration entered in the booking.
Bury St Edmunds recycling centre opening times
The Suffolk-wide opening schedule changes between April–September and October–March. The recycling centre is closed every Wednesday.
| Day | April to September | October to March | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Booking required. |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Booking required. |
| Wednesday | Closed | Closed | Charity re-use shop remains open. |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Open until 7pm during May–August. |
| Friday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Booking required. |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Popular slots can fill quickly. |
| Sunday and bank holidays | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Check special closure notices. |
Annual closures: all Suffolk recycling centres close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Extreme weather, container movements or operational issues can also cause temporary closures.
Check today’s standard Bury St Edmunds HWRC hours
This tool calculates the normal published schedule. It cannot detect bank-holiday amendments, emergency closures or a fully booked day.
Select a planned visit date
Result: Select a date to view the normal seasonal schedule.
Book the correct recycling-centre appointment step by step
A correct booking prevents refusal at the gate. Vehicle, waste type and site details must match your visit.
Choose household or trade waste
Select “own household waste” only for waste produced in your own home. Landlord, builder, gardener or paid-service waste is commercial waste.
Check household and trade definitionsSelect the exact vehicle type
Choose car, motorcycle, trailer, car-derived van, van, van with small trailer, pedestrian or bicycle as appropriate.
Read vehicle classificationsDeclare DIY materials
State whether you are bringing plasterboard, hardcore, rubble, ceramic bathroom furniture or soil. Your booking counts toward the free DIY-visit allowance.
Check DIY limits and chargesSelect Bury St Edmunds and an available time
Slots are released on a rolling seven-day basis. Same-day appointments can appear when capacity or cancellations become available.
Open the Suffolk booking formCheck the confirmation email
Keep the booking reference. Check spam or junk if the confirmation has not arrived within one hour, and do not create a duplicate booking.
Amend or cancel before the one-hour deadline
Use the confirmation-email link or the official modify-booking page. Changes are normally allowed until one hour before the slot.
Modify or cancel a bookingNo email address? The online form requires an email address. Call Suffolk County Council during office hours if you cannot make an online booking.
Where is Bury St Edmunds Household Waste Recycling Centre?
Bury St Edmunds Recycling Centre
Address: Fornham Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 1SJ
Approach: east off the A134 near the Barton Hill and Fornham Road junction.
- Do not arrive more than five minutes early.
- Do not park outside and walk waste into the site.
- Use the registered vehicle shown in the booking.
- Check roadworks and severe-weather updates before travel.
Local traffic tip: pre-sort the boot and arrive close to the allocated time. Waiting outside the site can obstruct Fornham Road and surrounding junctions.
Waste accepted at Bury St Edmunds recycling centre
Dry recycling
Cardboard, cartons, paper, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, empty aerosol cans and metal packaging.
Electricals and batteries
Large and small electrical appliances, televisions, monitors, mobile phones, printer cartridges, household batteries and car batteries.
Household and garden materials
Furniture, mattresses, garden waste, wood, timber, scrap metal, cooking oil, engine oil and empty oil containers.
Special recyclable materials
Flat glass, light bulbs, spectacles, textiles, gas bottles and selected coffee pods and packaging.
DIY materials
Hardcore, rubble, soil, ceramic bathroom furniture and plasterboard are accepted, but free limits and charges apply.
Reusable items
Clean, working goods can go into the orange re-use containers or directly to the on-site charity re-use shop.
Not accepted: asbestos, clinical waste, explosives, needles, hazardous chemicals, wet paint, tyres and most car or motorcycle parts. Only empty, dry paint tins are accepted.
Can I take this item to Bury St Edmunds HWRC?
Select a material
Result: Select an item above.
Free allowance for rubble, soil, bathroom ceramics and plasterboard
DIY material from work you carried out at your own home is free within the national household allowance. Waste produced by a paid tradesperson is commercial waste.
| DIY rule | Free household allowance | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Volume per visit | Four 25-litre bags or equivalent, totalling 100 litres. | Staff visually compare volume with 25-litre containers. |
| Single large article | One item no larger than 2000mm × 750mm × 700mm. | Use the item allowance instead of the 100-litre bag allowance. |
| Free visits | Four visits in every four-week period. | Vehicle registration is used to monitor visits. |
| Extra quantity or visits | Not free. | Tell staff on arrival and pay the applicable charge. |
| Tradesperson waste | No household free allowance. | It must be declared and paid for as commercial waste. |
Other DIY items: household gutters, doors, window frames and empty dry paint tins are accepted free and do not count toward the restricted rubble, soil, ceramic or plasterboard allowance.
Estimate Bury St Edmunds recycling-centre charges
Use this only for chargeable quantities after your free allowance has been used or exceeded. Site staff make the final non-negotiable assessment.
Hardcore, rubble or soil
Estimate: Enter only the quantity that is chargeable.
Plasterboard sheets
Estimate: Standard sheet size is approximately 1.2m × 2.4m.
| Chargeable material | Published rate | Large-load rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hardcore, rubble and soil | Up to 10 chargeable units: £2.06 per 25 litres. Over 10: £2.58 per 25 litres. | Half transit £25.76; full transit £51.52; double-wheeled van £103.03. |
| Plasterboard | First 3 chargeable sheets: £2.58 each. Four or more: £5.15 per sheet. | Half transit £51.52; full transit £103.03; double-wheeled van £206.06. |
| Ceramic toilet, cistern, sink or pedestal | Normally £2 per single item. | Double sink or large shower tray: £4. |
| Compost for sale | £3.50 per 25-litre bag. | Booking still required, even when only buying compost. |
Payment: the recycling centre accepts card payments only. Staff decide the final charge from the quantity and material presented.
Can I take plasterboard to Bury St Edmunds recycling centre?
Yes. Bury St Edmunds is one of the Suffolk recycling centres that accepts plasterboard.
Keep it separate
Plasterboard must be separated from wood, insulation, tiles and other waste before arrival.
Keep it dry
Wet or contaminated plasterboard may be refused and require a private specialist contractor.
Declare it in the booking
Select plasterboard when creating the appointment so the visit is recorded correctly.
Do not use the rubbish bin
Plasterboard and gypsum must not be placed in ordinary household rubbish.
Bury St Edmunds HWRC vehicle and slot rules
| Visitor or vehicle | Booking length | Main rule |
|---|---|---|
| Car or motorcycle | 15-minute appointment | Aim to unload within 10 minutes. |
| Car with small trailer | 15-minute appointment | Small means up to 750kg or single axle. |
| Car-derived van | 15-minute appointment | Select the correct vehicle classification. |
| Van or car with large trailer | 30-minute appointment | Aim to unload within 25 minutes. |
| Van with small trailer | 30-minute appointment | Permitted at Bury St Edmunds when correctly booked. |
| Van with large or braked trailer | Not accepted | This combination cannot be booked at Suffolk sites. |
| Pedestrian or cyclist | Booking required | The booking is held in the visitor’s name. |
Maximum vehicle size: vehicles must not exceed 3.5 tonnes. The vehicle registration entered during booking acts as your site identification.
Donate or buy reusable items without an HWRC appointment
The charity re-use shop is separate from the recycling-centre booking requirement. You can browse or donate directly to the shop without an HWRC slot.
| Re-use shop detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Monday–Saturday, April–September | 9am–5pm |
| Monday–Saturday, October–March | 9am–4pm |
| Sunday | 10am–4pm all year |
| Wednesday | Shop open even though the recycling centre is closed. |
| Telephone | 01284 335844 |
| Payment | Card payment is preferred. |
Useful donations
Working televisions, monitors, laptops, computers, audio equipment, power tools, bikes, mowers, small furniture, books, toys and bric-a-brac.
Items the shop cannot take
Children’s car seats and bulky furniture such as double wardrobes and divan beds are not accepted by the charity shop.
Important difference: donating into an orange re-use container inside the recycling-centre site requires an HWRC booking. Donating directly at the shop does not.
Help unloading, Blue Badge visits and booking support
Ask staff for help
Site staff can assist with manageable household items when requested.
Arrange help in advance
Email waste.management@suffolk.gov.uk at least two days before the appointment and include the booking details.
Blue Badge holders
A Blue Badge does not remove the booking requirement. Book first, then request support if needed.
Manageable loads only
Do not bring an item that cannot be moved safely by you and assisting site staff.
Rules that can prevent refusal, delays or a site ban
Arrive close to the slot
Do not arrive more than five minutes before the booked time.
Park only in marked bays
Do not park outside the site and carry waste through the entrance.
Switch off the engine
Engine idling is not permitted while stationary or waiting.
Observe the 5mph limit
Drive slowly and follow designated vehicle and pedestrian routes.
Keep children and pets safe
Children under 12 and pets must remain inside the vehicle.
Place waste carefully
Never throw items, climb into containers or lean over container edges.
No smoking or vaping
Smoking and vaping are prohibited within the recycling-centre boundary.
No undeclared commercial waste
Landlord, contractor and paid-service waste must be declared and charged correctly.
Fly-tipping warning: leaving waste outside the recycling centre or deliberately declaring waste incorrectly can lead to refusal, penalties or prosecution.
Bury St Edmunds HWRC booking and waste links
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Opening times, charges, accepted materials and closure alerts can change. Confirm the official page before booking, paying or travelling.
Frequently asked questions
What are Bury St Edmunds recycling centre opening times?
From April to September, the centre normally opens 9am–5pm, except Wednesdays when it is closed. Thursdays are open until 7pm from May to August. From October to March, it normally opens 9am–4pm and remains closed on Wednesdays.
Do I need to book Bury St Edmunds HWRC?
Yes. A valid booking is required before visiting the recycling centre. Pedestrians and cyclists also need to book.
Is Bury St Edmunds recycling centre open on Wednesday?
No. The recycling centre is closed every Wednesday. The separate charity re-use shop remains open.
Can I visit the Bury St Edmunds charity re-use shop without booking?
Yes. You can browse or donate directly at the charity re-use shop without an HWRC appointment. Entering the recycling-centre site to use an orange re-use container still requires a booking.
What is the address of Bury St Edmunds recycling centre?
The address is Fornham Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 1SJ, east off the A134 near the Barton Hill and Fornham Road junction.
What waste can I take to Bury St Edmunds recycling centre?
Accepted household materials include cardboard, paper, cartons, glass, plastics, metals, electricals, batteries, furniture, garden waste, wood, oils, textiles, gas bottles, plasterboard and limited DIY material.
How much DIY waste can I take for free?
You can normally bring up to 100 litres, equivalent to four 25-litre bags, or one qualifying large item per visit. Each household can use the free allowance on four visits in every four-week period.
How do I pay Bury St Edmunds HWRC charges?
Chargeable waste and compost purchases are card-only. Cash is not accepted, and site staff make the final quantity and price assessment.
Can I take a van, trailer, bicycle or visit on foot?
Yes, if the correct booking is made. Cars and small trailers normally receive 15-minute slots; vans and large car trailers receive 30-minute slots. Vans with large or braked trailers are not accepted.
Do I need proof of address or identification?
Separate photo identification is not normally required. Your vehicle registration acts as the booking identification, so arrive in the registered vehicle. Pedestrian and cyclist bookings are held in the visitor’s name.