Bilford Road opens 8am to 6pm but needs booking Saturday to Monday. Hallow Road shuts at 4pm and on bank holidays. Christmas 2026 closures inside.
Worcester has two household recycling centres, one each side of the river, and they run on opposite rules. Bilford Road opens longer but turns you away on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays unless you have booked. Hallow Road never needs booking but closes earlier, has no Sunday hours listed and shuts on every bank holiday.
The quick answer
- Bilford Road (Worcester East), WR3 8PU: Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. You must pre-book on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
- Hallow Road (Worcester West), WR2 6BZ: Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm, Saturday 8am to 12.30pm. No booking. Closed on all bank holidays.
- Both are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Last Christmas the county said every centre opened as usual in between.
Both sites are run by Worcestershire County Council, not the city council, which is why the city’s bin pages say little about them.
Opening times
| Bilford Road (East) | Hallow Road (West) | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Bilford Road, Worcester WR3 8PU | Hallow Road, off Horsford Road, Worcester WR2 6BZ |
| Monday to Friday | 8am to 6pm (Monday: booking needed) | 8am to 4pm |
| Saturday | 8am to 6pm (booking needed) | 8am to 12.30pm |
| Sunday | 10am to 4pm (booking needed) | No Sunday hours listed |
| Bank holidays | Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day | Closed on all bank holidays |
| Phone | 01905 453610 | 01905 421116 |
Sources: Worcestershire County Council’s pages for Bilford Road and Hallow Road.
The Bilford Road booking rule
The county’s page is blunt: “If you have not pre-booked, you will not be able to access the site” on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The rule applies to people arriving on foot or by bike as well as by car. Other points from the same page:
- You can book up to 6 visits per 14 days per household.
- Arrive as close to your slot as you can. Arriving outside it “may mean you are denied entry”.
- You cannot change a booking once it is made, and you need to show the pass on your phone or on paper.
Booking is through the county’s Household Recycling Centre booking system. Tuesday to Friday, you can turn up at Bilford Road without one.
Christmas and New Year 2026
The county says both sites close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Hallow Road also closes on all bank holidays. This year the days fall like this (GOV.UK):
| Day | Bilford Road | Hallow Road |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 24 December | No closure listed (normal hours 8am to 6pm) | No closure listed (normal hours 8am to 4pm) |
| Friday 25 December (Christmas Day) | Closed | Closed |
| Saturday 26 December (Boxing Day) | Closed | Closed |
| Sunday 27 December | No closure listed; booking needed | No Sunday hours |
| Monday 28 December (bank holiday) | Not stated; booking needed if open | Closed (bank holiday) |
| Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 December | No closure listed | No closure listed |
| Friday 1 January (New Year's Day) | Closed | Closed |
One point is not settled. This year Boxing Day is a Saturday and the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December. Bilford Road’s page names “Boxing Day” but does not say whether it means the 26th or the substitute Monday. Last year the county published its festive closures on 16 December 2025, saying all eleven Worcestershire centres “will be open as usual between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day”. We will update this page when the 2026 notice appears.
What each site takes
Most household waste goes to either site, but there are differences (Bilford Road, Hallow Road):
- Plasterboard: Bilford Road only.
- Asbestos: Hallow Road only, double bagged or wrapped in sealed plastic sheeting. Tell a site assistant when you arrive, and the county advises ringing ahead to check there is room.
- Fridges and freezers: both sites currently list these as not accepted.
- Tyres: a maximum of 4 a day at either site.
- Mattresses and cooking oil: accepted at both, but the county says they are not recycled.
Vans, pick-ups and trailers may need a county e-permit even for household waste.
After Christmas
Cardboard, glass, paper and cans go to either site. For what goes in your green and black bins over the holiday, and whether your collection day moves, see our Worcester Christmas bin collections page. Normal collection rules are on Worcester bin collection days.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book the tip in Worcester? Only for Bilford Road on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Hallow Road does not use booking.
Is Hallow Road tip open on Sundays? The county lists no Sunday hours for Hallow Road. It opens Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm and Saturday 8am to 12.30pm.
Are Worcester tips open over Christmas? Both close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Hallow Road also closes on every bank holiday, including Monday 28 December 2026.
Can I take a fridge to Bilford Road? Not at the moment. The county’s materials list for both Worcester sites shows fridges and freezers as not accepted.
Sources
- Worcestershire County Council, Bilford Road (Worcester East) Household Recycling Centre, checked 25 September 2026
- Worcestershire County Council, Hallow Road (Worcester West) Household Recycling Centre, checked 25 September 2026
- Worcestershire County Council, When is my local Household Recycling Centre closed over the festive period?, 16 December 2025
- GOV.UK, UK bank holidays
Have your say