Recycling centres
There are 23 Recycling Centres for Household Waste conveniently located across Essex. The Centres are provided to help you:
Items such as paper and glass and also items which aren't accepted by your doorstep collection service or local recycling banks.
Items such as electrical equipment, furniture and bicycles which are in good working order.
Non recyclable rubbish.
- Q. What can I take to the centres?
- Q. What can't I take to the centres?
- Q. When are the centres open?
- Q. Where is my nearest centre?
- Q. Can I buy soil improver from the Recycling Centres?
Q. What can I take to the centres?
- Aerosols - please make sure they are empty
- Audio tapes –selected sites only please remove all tape from the cassette first, place in ‘hard plastics’ bin
- Audio tape boxes –selected sites only excluding paper inserts, place in ‘hard plastics’ bin
- Batteries – please place household batteries in the blue bin provided.
- Books - separate containers for hard back and paper back
- Cans - steel and aluminium food and drinks cans
- Cardboard - boxes, cardboard packaging, tubes, Yellow Pages, wrapping paper, cards and brown envelopes. Please flatten boxes to save space
- CDs -selected sites only place in ‘hard plastics’ bin
- CD cases –selected sites only excluding paper inserts, place in ‘hard plastics’ bin
- Computers - find out how to delete the hard drive of your computer before donating it for reuse – More about the WEEE Regulations
- Cooking oil – Please place sealed container of cooking oil into the bins provide
- Electrical Household Appliances – More about the WEEE Regulations
- Engine Oil
- Fridges and Freezers
- Glass Bottles and Jars
- Green Garden Waste - lawn cuttings, prunings, weeds, dead plants, leaves, Christmas trees, turf, branches up to 30cm (12 inches) diameter. No bags please
- Hardcore (e.g. bricks and rubble) limited to 3 site wheel barrow loads per household in any 28 day period (one car boot load)
- Hard plastics –selected sites only including children’s toys, garden furniture, storage boxes, if unsure please see centre staff – no food packaging
- Mobile Phones – Please wrap in either original packaging or cardboard/paper. Must be in working order with the battery but no sim card
- Non hazardous waste - which can't be recycled, to be disposed of in the non recyclable container
- Paint - household paint, at least half full and under 10 years old at some sites see Community Repaint
- Paper - newspaper, magazines, household stationary and junk mail (no brown envelopes)
- Plastic bottles - e.g. drinks bottles, milk bottles, shampoo bottles
- Printer cartridge – Please wrap in either original packaging or cardboard/paper
- Scrap metal
- Soil - limited to 3 site wheel barrow loads per household in any 28 day period (one average car boot load) with seats up
- Televisions and monitors - More about the WEEE Regulations
- Textiles - clothes, footwear (pairs), linen, curtains etc.
- Timber and other wood products - see on site information for specific details
- Tyres - Maximum of 2 tyres per household. Tyres should be removed from the metal rim. (Tyres should be recycled/disposed of by the tyre company who change your tyre)
- Video cassettes –selected sites only please remove all tape from the cassette first, place in ‘hard plastics’ bin
- Video cassette boxes –selected sites only excluding paper inserts, place in ‘hard plastics’ bin
Q. What can't I take to the centres?
Trade and commercial waste - the centres are only provided and licensed to accept household waste from the residents' own home.
- Hazardous waste - e.g. syringes, poisons, petrol and some other liquids
- Asbestos - disposal can be arranged through private companies, a list of which can be obtained from site staff or contact the helpline on 0845 603 7625
- Large car parts - e.g. engines, seats, doors. These should be taken to dismantlers/breakers' yards. As a last resort these can be taken to the centres but they must be drained of liquids
- Soil and hardcore - large amounts of soil and/or hardcore use a local skip hire service or Hippo bag
- Bags of mixed recycling - which would normally be collected from kerbside collections will not be accepted at the centres unless separated for recycling
All centres excluding West Mersea, Canvey Island are open:
Between 16 October and end of February 8am until 4pm
Between 1 March and 15 October 8am until 5pm
Between 1 May and 31 August, Tuesday only until 7pm
Upland Road, West Mersea - open 8am Monday and Saturday and from 12 noon Tuesday to Friday. Closing times as above. The centre is closed Sunday.
Canvey Road, Canvey Island - open Sunday between 9am and 4pm throughout the year. Other days as standard, see above.
Q. Where is my nearest centre?
Use our map to find your local Recycling Centre for Household Waste.
Q. Can I buy soil improver from the Recycling Centres?
Yes! Garden waste which is collected at the Recycling Centres or via a doorstep collection is taken to a centralised composting facility where it is turned into high quality compost. This can be used on your garden to improve soil structure and texture, improve drainage and add valuable nutrients to make your garden bloom all year round.
Soil improver is available to buy from Essex Recycling Centres for £3 per bag. Find out more information
Download the new Recycling Centre leaflet