Last updated:

12th February 2024

Local tips (recycling centres)

Find your local tip or recycling centre

Book now

To visit a recycling centre, you must book a slot. New bookings are released each day. Slots are released 7 days in advance. You can book up to 1 hour before the appointment.

If you can’t make the time you have booked, remember to reschedule or cancel your booking. You can do this up to 3 hours before your slot. To reschedule or cancel your booking, refer to your confirmation email where you will find a link.

Make sure your email address is typed correctly as this is how you will receive your booking confirmation. Check your spam folder if no email arrives. You will also get a reminder before your visit.

Location and information

There are 2 rubbish tips near Wokingham Borough, run by re3:

  • Longshot Lane, Bracknell, RG12 1RL
  • Smallmead, Island Road, Reading, RG2 0RP

See the re3 site facilities page for more details.

Opening hours

  • 1 April to 30 September - 8am to 8pm
  • 1 October to 31 March - 8am to 6pm
  • Sites close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve
  • Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

Before you arrive

Before you arrive for your visit to a recycling centre, make sure to do the following:

  • Arrive at the time you have booked
  • Bring proof of your address, such as a driving licence or a Council Tax bill
  • While we recommend that you bring a copy of your booking confirmation with you, you do not need to print the confirmation email to access the site - we'll ask for your name when you arrive
  • If using a commercial or commercial type vehicle, you will also need to apply for a commercial vehicle permit prior to your visit. Commercial vehicle permits are incorporated within the booking system, please follow the instructions during the booking process.
  • Sort your waste before leaving home to make your trip more efficient

Navigate around the sites

Access

re3 recycling centres can be used by residents of Wokingham, Reading and Bracknell. If you visit a re3 recycling centre you will be required to show a document that identifies you as a resident of Wokingham Borough.

You can use one of the following forms of identification:

  • Driving licence
  • Current Council Tax bill
  • Utility bill, bank or credit card statement (issued no more than 4 months prior to the date of visit)
  • Photocard bus pass issued by a re3 council
  • Valid blue badge or residents’ parking permit issued by a re3 council
  • If students of the University of Reading don’t have one of the documents, a Student Campus Card will be accepted

What can be disposed of at local recycling centres

Household waste

  • General waste
  • Dry recycling: plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, cardboard, paper, foil, cartons, aerosols
  • Car batteries, engine oil, household batteries and electrical items
  • Energy saving light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
  • Garden waste
  • Rigid plastics - plant pots, buckets, toys, crates, bins, storage boxes, garden furniture and pipes
  • Electrical items
  • Fridges, freezers and furniture
  • Scrap metal, timber and glass
  • Items suitable for reuse

Check the list of accepted items on the re3 website.

DIY waste (soil, rubble, plasterboard, asbestos)

Residents of Wokingham, Bracknell and Reading can dispose of small amounts of DIY waste for free at re3 recycling centres, due to new regulations.

The amount of waste accepted for free in a single visit will be as follows:

  • Up to 100 litres of rubble, soil, plasterboard or asbestos or one bulky sanitary ware item no larger than 2000mm x 750mm x 700mm in size (the approximate size of a bathtub).
  • Any excess DIY waste brought in during a single visit will be chargeable - read the DIY waste disposal charges (PDF document)

A free allowance will only apply where the household has deposited ‘DIY waste’ on a maximum of 4 occasions in any 4 week period. DIY waste brought in during any additional visits within this period will be chargeable.

Buy compost

re3 grow compost can be purchased at Longshot Lane and Smallmead Recycling Centres during gardening season. It is a high quality, peat-free compost, made from recycled garden waste by residents of Wokingham, Bracknell and Reading.

Business / Trade waste

re3 is offering small local businesses the opportunity to legitimately dispose of their business waste at the re3 Recycling Centres in Island Road, Reading and Longshot Lane, Bracknell. If you wish to apply for the permit please read all information and complete the form on the re3 Trade Waste page.

Charity waste

For information on charity waste disposal at Longshot Lane, see the charity waste information on the re3 website.

More information – Waste Acceptance Policy

The Waste Acceptance Policy gives you information on types of waste that you may bring to one of the re3 Recycling Centres and also on the types of vehicles you might use to deliver waste.

Other recycling options

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