Bristol tips at Christmas and New Year: opening times

Bristol's three recycling centres change their hours over the festive period. Here is what the council says, checked against Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste Company pages on 29 October 2026.

Closed days and hours

The council says all sites are closed on 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. Between 24 and 31 December the opening hours are 8am to 4pm. The council page does not name a year, and it does not say whether each site still follows its usual open days over the holiday, so check the booking page for the dates you want. The usual days are in the Bristol tips guide.

Booking

The booking rule applies as normal: book a slot online up to 2 weeks ahead, or up to an hour before if slots are free. See the tip booking guide. The phone line is 0117 922 2100, though its holiday hours are not listed on the page we checked.

Garden waste bins

The council garden waste service is suspended for one month over the Christmas and New Year period. See garden waste in Bristol for prices and the tips.

Planning around it

• Book early for the days before 25 December and between Boxing Day and New Year
• Flatten boxes and sort your waste before you set off, because mixed loads may need sorting on site
• If there is no slot you want, a licensed company can collect, and a bulky collection is on the kerb by 7am (see bulky collection)
• Never leave bags or boxes outside the tip: it counts as fly-tipping