Stowmarket HWRC: Opening Times, Booking, Waste Rules & Charges
Plan a successful visit to Stowmarket Recycling Centre on Old Bury Road. Check seasonal opening times, reserve the correct vehicle slot, understand free DIY limits, calculate possible charges and confirm where plasterboard, furniture, electricals, garden waste and reusable items should go.
Where is Stowmarket Recycling Centre and do I need to book?
Stowmarket Recycling Centre is at Old Bury Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 3QB, close to the A1308 on the north side of town.
You must reserve a time slot before arriving. Select Stowmarket, enter the correct vehicle registration and declare DIY or trade waste accurately.
Summer, winter, Thursday evening and bank-holiday hours
All Suffolk recycling centres follow seasonal hours. A booked slot is still required even when the site is open.
| Day | April–September | October–March | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Booking required. |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Booking required. |
| Wednesday | Closed | Closed | Do not travel to the site. |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Open until 7pm from May through August. |
| Friday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Booking required. |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Weekend slots can fill quickly. |
| Sunday and bank holidays | 9am–5pm | 9am–4pm | Closed on specified Christmas and New Year dates. |
Annual closures: Stowmarket Recycling Centre is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Severe weather or operational issues can also cause temporary closure.
Book, amend or cancel a Suffolk Recycling slot
Bookings are released on a rolling seven-day basis. Same-day slots may appear when capacity or cancellations are available.
Select household or trade waste
Choose household waste only when it comes from your own home and was not produced through paid work or a business.
Open the official booking formChoose the actual vehicle type
Cars, car-derived vans, trailers, vans, pedestrians and cyclists use different slot lengths and restrictions.
Check your likely slot typeDeclare DIY materials accurately
Select plasterboard, rubble, soil or ceramic bathroom items when they are part of the load.
Check the free DIY allowanceSelect Stowmarket and an available time
Use the Old Bury Road site and confirm the booking using an email address.
Recheck opening hoursSave or amend the confirmation
Use the booking reference and email address to change the date, time or vehicle registration.
Modify an existing bookingNo email address? The booking form requires email confirmation. Residents without access to email can use the telephone booking route during office hours.
Does my vehicle need a 15-minute or 30-minute slot?
Select your vehicle
Result: Select the vehicle you will actually use.
Vehicle rules to remember
- Maximum permitted vehicle size is 3.5 tonnes.
- The arriving registration must match the booking.
- Cars and small trailers normally use 15-minute slots.
- Vans and large trailers normally use 30-minute slots.
- Vans with large or braked trailers cannot book.
- Pedestrians and cyclists must also pre-book.
Save your Stowmarket Recycling Centre visit
The planner stores details in this browser only. It does not create or change the official Suffolk booking.
My next Old Bury Road visit
Saved trip board
No visit saved. Complete the official booking first.
What can I take to Stowmarket Recycling Centre?
Normal household waste from your own home is accepted free unless it falls within a chargeable DIY category or exceeds a free allowance.
| Waste group | Examples accepted | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and packaging | Cardboard, paper, cartons and suitable cardboard food or drink tubes. | Flatten card and remove metal or plastic parts. |
| Glass and metals | Bottles, jars, flat glass, aerosols, scrap metal and gas bottles. | Keep flat glass separate and ask staff about cylinders. |
| Electricals | Phones, televisions, monitors, bulbs, small appliances, fridges and washing machines. | Remove personal data and loose batteries where safe. |
| Garden and timber | Garden waste, wood and timber excluding railway sleepers. | Remove plastic bags, soil and non-wood attachments. |
| Plastics | Plastic bottles, tubs, food trays and hard-plastic objects. | Hard plastics are currently accepted with non-recyclable waste for energy recovery. |
| Oils and batteries | Cooking oil, engine oil, household batteries and car batteries. | Use sealed containers and protect battery terminals. |
| Furniture and textiles | Furniture, mattresses, clothes, shoes and reusable household items. | Keep reusable items clean and separate for the orange donation container. |
| DIY materials | Rubble, hardcore, soil, ceramic bathroom items and plasterboard. | Declare them in the booking; free limits and charges apply. |
| Other accepted items | Printer cartridges, spectacles and Tassimo or L’OR coffee pods and packaging. | Use the labelled site container. |
Can I take this item to Old Bury Road?
Select an item
Result: Select an item first.
Do not hide restricted waste
Batteries, chemicals, asbestos, sharps and electricals must never be concealed inside black bags or mixed waste.
Tell staff what you are carrying and follow the correct container instructions.
Search Suffolk Recycling A–ZRubble, soil, plasterboard and bathroom waste rules
The free DIY allowance applies only to small work carried out by the householder at their own home. Waste produced by a paid tradesperson is commercial waste.
Free volume per visit
Up to four 25-litre bags, or an equivalent total volume of 100 litres.
Single large item
One qualifying article no larger than 2000mm × 750mm × 700mm.
Free visit frequency
Up to four qualifying DIY-waste visits in each four-week period.
Plasterboard accepted at Stowmarket
Stowmarket is one of five Suffolk sites accepting plasterboard. Declare it during booking and keep it separate from rubble.
Bags do not have to be exactly 25 litres
Staff compare the load visually with a 25-litre reference container. Small bags are recommended for safer lifting.
Extra waste can still be accepted
Larger quantities or extra visits can be brought, but card-only charges apply.
Builder waste is not household DIY
Waste produced by a paid builder or contractor must be declared and paid for as trade waste.
Other DIY materials: household gutters, doors, window frames and dry paint tins are accepted free and do not count toward the rubble, soil, ceramic or plasterboard allowance.
DIY waste, plasterboard, bathroom-item and compost prices
Use the calculator for planning only. Site staff visually assess volume, determine the charge and their decision is non-negotiable.
Charge calculator
Estimate: Select the material and quantity.
Current charge summary
- Rubble, hardcore or soil: £2.06 per 25 litres up to ten units.
- Over ten units: £2.58 per 25 litres.
- First three plasterboard sheets: £2.58 per sheet.
- Four or more plasterboard sheets: £5.15 per sheet.
- Ceramic bathroom items: normally £2 or £4 each.
- Compost: £3.50 per 25-litre bag.
- Payment is by card only.
| Large chargeable load | Hardcore, rubble or soil | Plasterboard |
|---|---|---|
| Half transit van | £25.76 | £51.52 |
| Full transit van | £51.52 | £103.03 |
| Double-wheeled van equivalent | £103.03 | £206.06 |
Free allowance first: a qualifying householder load within 100 litres or one qualifying large item is free, subject to the four-visits-in-four-weeks rule.
Vehicle size, unloading time and site access
| Vehicle or visitor | Slot and access rule | Key restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Car or motorbike | 15-minute booking; unload within about 10 minutes. | Registration must match. |
| Car with small trailer | 15-minute booking. | Sort the load before arrival. |
| Car with large trailer | 30-minute booking. | Choose the large-trailer category accurately. |
| Car-derived van | Accepted through the correct vehicle category. | Maximum laden weight definition applies. |
| Van | 30-minute appointment; unload within about 25 minutes. | Maximum site vehicle weight is 3.5 tonnes. |
| Van with small trailer | 30-minute booking accepted at Stowmarket. | Trailer must be under 750kg or unbraked. |
| Van with large trailer | Not accepted. | Large or braked van trailers cannot book. |
| Pedestrian or cyclist | Access is allowed with advance booking. | Booking is made in the visitor’s name. |
No separate ID document required: for vehicle visits, the registration entered during booking acts as the site identification. Arrive in the registered vehicle.
Hazardous waste, paint, tyres, clinical waste and animal waste
Hazardous and clinical waste
Chemicals, asbestos, explosives and needles are not accepted through the normal recycling-centre service.
Liquid paint
Liquid paint is not accepted. Only empty and fully dried paint tins can go through the centre.
Tyres and vehicle parts
Vehicle tyres and car or motorbike parts require an alternative authorised disposal route.
Pet waste
Cat and dog faeces are not normally accepted. Limited vegetarian-pet waste rules apply separately.
Donate working items at Stowmarket Recycling Centre
Clean, working reusable items can be placed in the orange charity re-use container at Stowmarket after booking a centre visit.
Useful donations
Televisions, consoles, computers, audio equipment, tools, bicycles, mowers, small furniture, books, toys and bric-a-brac may be suitable.
Keep donations separate
Load reusable items last so they stay clean, dry and easy to hand to site staff.
Where donations are sold
Suffolk’s donated items support charity reuse shops at Bury St Edmunds and Foxhall.
Items not wanted for reuse
Children’s car seats, double wardrobes, divan beds and damaged or incomplete goods may be refused.
Bulky collection, household bins and Mid Suffolk alternatives
Mid Suffolk bulky collection
The current household service costs £63 for up to five separate items or up to ten bags of household or garden waste.
New household recycling system
From 1 June 2026, Mid Suffolk introduced weekly food waste plus separate recycling, paper and refuse schedules.
Retailer take-back
Retailers may collect old electrical appliances, mattresses or furniture when delivering replacements.
Directions to Stowmarket Recycling Centre
Stowmarket Recycling Centre
Address: Old Bury Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 3QB
- Close to the A1308
- North side of Stowmarket
- Booking required
- Wednesday closed
- Vehicle registration checked
- Card-only charges
- Plasterboard accepted
What to do after entering the recycling centre
Drive at 5mph
Follow the one-way route, marked bays and instructions from site staff.
Switch off the engine
Do not idle while stationary or waiting in the queue.
Keep children and pets inside
Children under 12 and animals must remain in the vehicle.
Use gloves and safe footwear
Wear suitable clothing and use available trolleys for heavy items.
Place rather than throw
Use handrails and never lean or climb into waste containers.
No smoking, vaping or filming
Smoking and vaping are prohibited. Photography requires prior permission.
Need unloading assistance? Email Waste.Management@suffolk.gov.uk at least two days before the booking, or ask staff when you arrive. Waste must remain manageable and safe to handle.
Booking, charges, rules and contact links
Contact Suffolk Waste Management: 03456 066 067 or waste.management@suffolk.gov.uk. Information checked on 26 June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What are Stowmarket Recycling Centre opening times?
From April to September it opens 9am–5pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday. From October to March it opens 9am–4pm on those days. Thursday opening extends to 7pm from May to August.
Is Stowmarket Recycling Centre open on Wednesday?
No. Stowmarket Recycling Centre is closed every Wednesday throughout the year.
Do I need to book Stowmarket Recycling Centre?
Yes. Every recycling-centre visit must be booked, including visits by car, van, pedestrian or bicycle. The arriving vehicle registration must match the booking.
What is the Stowmarket waste-centre address and postcode?
The centre is at Old Bury Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 3QB, close to the A1308 on the north side of town.
Do I need proof of address or identification?
Normal vehicle visitors do not need separate ID. The vehicle registration entered during booking acts as the identification, so arrive in the registered vehicle.
Can I take a van or trailer to Stowmarket Recycling Centre?
Yes, subject to the correct 30-minute booking and vehicle limits. Vans with small unbraked trailers are accepted, but vans with large or braked trailers cannot book.
How much DIY waste can I take for free?
You can take up to 100 litres, equivalent to four 25-litre bags, or one qualifying item no larger than 2000mm × 750mm × 700mm per visit. Four free qualifying visits are allowed in four weeks.
Does Stowmarket Recycling Centre accept plasterboard?
Yes. Stowmarket is one of the Suffolk sites accepting plasterboard. Declare it during booking, keep it separate and check the free allowance or current sheet charges.
Can I take paint, asbestos, tyres or clinical waste?
Liquid paint, asbestos, clinical waste, tyres and vehicle parts are not accepted through the normal recycling-centre route. Only empty and fully dried paint tins are accepted.
Can business or landlord waste be taken to Stowmarket?
Trade waste can be accepted for payment when declared correctly during booking and transported with the required licences. Trade customers are limited to two deposits in seven days.