Cardiff tips: hours, booking and rules
Here's how Cardiff's two recycling centres work, checked against Cardiff Council pages on 30 October 2026.
- Two household tips: Lamby Way (CF3 2HP) and Bessemer Close (CF11 8XH)
- Both open 8.30am to 5.30pm every day, shut on 25 and 26 December and 1 January
- You must book every visit, and you cannot walk or cycle in
- Free for Cardiff residents. Bring proof of booking and proof of address
- Up to 26 visits a year, and a van or a car with a trailer gets 1 visit a month
Rubbish to shift in Cardiff?
If the tip is a hassle, a licensed Cardiff company can collect from your home.
Free, no obligation. We share your details only with waste companies that can help. See our privacy policy.
Cardiff's tips
| Tip | Postcode | Open | Trailers? | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamby Way | CF3 2HP | Every day, 8.30am to 5.30pm | No | Tyres and UPVC windows |
| Bessemer Close | CF11 8XH | Every day, 8.30am to 5.30pm | Yes, up to 2m by 2m | Asbestos (2 sacks, by phone) |
Hours
Both sites are open 8.30am to 5.30pm every day. Closed on 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. The council also warns that a site can close at short notice for operational reasons, and that its website may not be updated at weekends, so it suggests checking its Twitter or Facebook accounts.
Booking and limits
The council says you need to book a time slot each time you visit, and to bring proof of booking and proof of address. Access is free for Cardiff residents. You can book up to 26 visits a year. With a car you can use that allowance flexibly, but you cannot visit more than three times in a day. The council says you cannot get in on foot or by bike. See the tip booking guide.
Vehicles
Items have to fit in the boot of your car. A van, or a car with a trailer, can only book one visit a month. Trailers are only taken at Bessemer Close. Sign-written vehicles, tipper or box vehicles and anything over 3.5 tonnes are not allowed at either site. See the van and trailer rules guide. The council gives two different height figures. The Lamby Way page mentions a 2m height limit on entry, while the vehicle page allows small and camper vans up to 2.2m high. If your vehicle is anywhere near 2m high, ring 029 2087 2087 before you book.
What they take
| Item | Rule on the council pages |
|---|---|
| Household waste that cannot go in the kerbside bins | Accepted |
| Black bags, unsorted recycling, mixed builders waste | Not accepted |
| Rubble and hardcore | Maximum of six 20kg bags a visit |
| Used engine oil | Maximum 10 litres |
| Tyres and UPVC windows | Lamby Way only |
| Asbestos | Bessemer Close, two sacks at most, appointment by phone |
| E-bikes and e-scooters | Not accepted |
| Fridges and freezers | The page says the council cannot currently recycle them, though it also lists them. Ring first |
The council says large DIY projects need a skip or the commercial site. Details of building waste are in rubble and building waste in Cardiff.
Trade waste
The household tips are for household waste only. Business waste goes to the council's commercial recycling centre, where traders need a waste carrier licence. Its hours and prices are on a separate council page that you should check before you go.
No tip trip? A licensed company can collect: rubbish removal, single items, builders' waste or house clearance.
Tip not an option?
A licensed Cardiff company can collect from your home, with no slot to book.
Get free quotes