Recycling centres and bring banks

How do residents book?

Residents can book online or call 01242 262626 to book a slot. The council’s business hours are 9am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 10am to 5pm on Wednesdays (excluding bank holidays).

Can residents book by telephone?

Yes, residents can telephone 01242 262626, the council's main number, to book a slot. You will need to provide your name, postcode, vehicle registration and the type of waste you are bringing to the site. The council’s business hours are 9am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 10am to 5pm on Wednesdays (excluding bank holidays).

Is information on how to book available?

Site operatives will give out a leaflet to all vehicles/cargo bikes on how to book using the new system. Leaflets will also be available for residents at the Municipal Offices. 

Why have you implemented a booking system?

The decision to bring a booking system in at our Swindon Road household recycling centre was made to improve the experience for our customers and is based on the positive customer feedback from other recycling centres with similar booking systems in place. The timing was influenced by the temporary closure of the county council’s Wingmoor Farm and the expectation of an increase in demand to access Cheltenham’s site, particularly as we enter the busy spring period.

Lengthy queue times with cars sat idling was flagged as being off-putting by site users when asked for feedback and that a booking system would be beneficial to improve the user experience. Feedback also indicated that site users would prefer not to have to remember identification, such as proof of residency, and the booking system will mean site users no longer need to do this, they just need to remember their car registration at the time of booking a slot.

We hope the new system will improve the overall experience for our customers; visits should be much quicker with less queuing in traffic, particularly at peak times, meaning improved air quality and will provide residents with guaranteed entry to the site and reducing the likelihood of making wasted trips due to queues.  

The booking system is also expected to reduce carbon emissions and provide operational efficiencies by balancing out peaks and troughs in demand and ease scheduling requirements for vehicles and staff to dispose of the waste collected at the site. Less vehicular movements will reduce fuel consumption and reduce carbon emissions. Our fleet already uses hydro-treated vegetable oil not B7 diesel and this reduces emissions by at least 87%.

Do I still need to provide proof of residency?

No, you are no longer required to bring proof of residency as this is covered in the booking form. This will be updated on the booking form shortly.

Who can make a booking?

The Swindon Road household recycling centre is only available to residents who live in the Cheltenham borough. Residents no longer need to provide proof of residency as this is covered in the booking form. This will be updated on the booking form shortly.

What happens if I have not booked?

If a resident has not booked to use the Swindon Road household recycling centre, the operatives will use their judgement on how busy the site is and the resident will be permitted entry if the site is not too busy, however they will be given a leaflet and informed that next time they must book to use the site. If the site is busy, the resident will be given a leaflet and informed that they must return on another day with a booking. This is consistent with the approach taken at the Gloucestershire County Council sites.

What happens if I arrive after my pre-booked slot?

On the booking form, residents are advised to arrive at the Swindon Road household recycling centre within their allocated 30 minute booked slot. If a resident arrives outside of their slot, they will be permitted entry if the site is not too busy and advised that next time they must arrive within the time of their booked slot. If the site is busy, the resident will be informed that they must re-book for another time.

Can I change or cancel my booking?

Yes, a booking can be changed or cancelled, please refer to your booking confirmation email. If you have booked via telephone and you do not have access to the internet, please call 01242 262626 and our customer services team will be able to assist you.

Is there a limit on the number of bookings I can make in one day?

Yes, three bookings per vehicle per day.

Are there any restrictions on the types of materials I can take to the household recycling centre?

Find out what materials you cannot bring to the Swindon Road household recycling centre.

Can I bring POPs (upholstered furniture including sofas, sofa beds, armchairs kitchen and dining room chairs, stools and footstools, home office chairs, futons, bean bags, floor and sofa cushions) or mattresses to the HRC site?

No, residents are no longer able to bring these items to the Swindon Road household recycling centre due to new disposal legislation.

Can residents bring hard plastics to the HRC?

Yes, residents are able to bring hard plastics to the site to be recycled.

Do residents need to have a separate booking if they are coming to the HRC site to collect recycling receptacles?

Not at this time; residents visiting the Swindon Road household recycling centre to collect a receptacle and dispose of other items at the same time can use the same booking slot to collect recycling receptacles. A resident coming to the HRC to collect a recycling receptacle only and not dispose of any items will, at present, be able to join the queue without a booking to collect a receptacle.

Can residents make same day bookings to use the HRC site?

As long as there is availability, HRC appointments can now be booked up to an hour before arrival. When booking, customers will now be offered the next available slot.

Can I bring a van to the Swindon Road household recycling centre?

No, vans and pickup trucks, whether or not privately owned, are not permitted. 

Can I bring a trailer to the Swindon Road household recycling centre?

The maximum trailer size accepted on site is 6ft by 4ft. Twin wheel/double axle trailers are not accepted on the site.