Opening Hours

Please note, from Saturday 3 August 2024, large quantities of soil can no longer be accepted at any of our 9 Recycling Centres. To dispose of large quantities of soil please contact a private waste contractor.

Council now operates an online booking system to access its nine Household Recycling Centres. Book now

Please read our Recycle Guide to help you manage your recycling and waste Recycling Guide (PDF, 1 MB) (opens new window)

Household Recycling Centres Opening Hours (Times shown indicate first and last available booking times)

Bangor - Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.40pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4.40pm
Comber - Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.40pm, Saturday from 8am to 4.10pm, Sunday: Closed
Holywood - Monday to Wednesday from 8am to 4.40pm, Thursday: Closed, Friday and Saturday from 8am to 4.40pm, Sunday from 10am to 3.40pm
Kircubbin - Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.40pm, Saturday from 8am to 4.10pm, Sunday: Closed
Ballygowan - Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.40pm, Saturday from 8am to 4.10pm, Sunday: Closed
Donaghadee - Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.40pm, Saturday from 8am to 4.10pm, Sunday: Closed
Millisle - Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.40pm, Saturday from 8am to 4.10pm, Sunday: Closed
Newtownards - Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.40pm, Saturday from 8am to 4.10pm, Sunday: Closed
Portaferry - Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.40pm, Saturday from 8am to 4.10pm, Sunday: Closed

If I have a van, pick up or large trailer, do I still need to apply for a permit book?

The HRC booking system will recognise if you have a van and double-axle trailer or another vehicle that normally would have required a permit once you enter it online. There will be no need to separately apply for a permit. As previously, if you use a form of transport that normally would have required a permit, such visits will still be limited to six visits per residential address in a calendar year.

What can I recycle/ Are there any restrictions to the type of waste that I can bring to the HRCs?

We encourage all our residents to use the kerbside collection service we provide, for Recyclables, Green, Glass and General waste, to the maximum capacity for their individual households. If you need to visit one of our Household Recycling Centres, details of what you can recycle are below:

If disposing of an old oil tank, please note that it must be drained and cut in half before bringing to the HRC.

Balloo Recycling Centre - What you can recycle

Garden waste, wood and timber, scrap metal, fridges and freezers, large appliances, small appliances, TVs and monitors, portable batteries, car batteries, used engine oil, cooking oil, fluorescent tubes, paint, paint reuse, mixed glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, hard plastics (eg toys, crates, large plant pots, garden furniture). mixed paper, food and drink cans, ink cartridges, textiles, books, reuse container, plasterboard, rubble, carpet, mattresses and cardboard.

Newtownards Recycling Centre - What you can recycle

Garden waste, wood and timber, scrap metal, fridges and freezers, large appliances, small appliances, TVs and monitors, portable batteries, car batteries, used engine oil, cooking oil, fluorescent tubes, paint, paint reuse, mixed glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, mixed paper, food and drink cans, textiles, carpets, mattresses, books and cardboard.

Comber Recycling Centre - What you can recycle

Garden waste, wood and timber, scrap metal, fridges and freezers, large appliances, small appliances, TVs and monitors, portable batteries, car batteries, used engine oil, cooking oil, fluorescent tubes, paint, paint reuse, mixed glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, mixed paper, food and drink cans, textiles, carpets, mattresses, books and cardboard.

Holywood Recycling Centre - What you can recycle

Household waste, garden waste, wood and timber, scrap metal, fridges and freezers, large appliances, small appliances, TVs and monitors, portable batteries, car batteries, used engine oil, cooking oil, fluorescent tubes, paint, paint reuse, mixed glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, mixed paper, food and drink cans, textiles, books and cardboard.

Kircubbin Recycling Centre - What you can recycle

Mixed glass, cans, paper, cardboard, textiles, green waste, fridges and freezers, other white goods, small domestic appliances, scrap metal, fluorescent tubes, car batteries, household batteries, used cooking oil, engine oil, paint, wood and cardboard

Ballygowan Recycling Centre - What you can recycle

Garden waste, wood and timber, scrap metal, fridges and freezers, large appliances, small appliances, TVs and monitors, portable batteries, car batteries, used engine oil, fluorescent tubes, paint, paint reuse, mixed glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, mixed paper,used cooking oil, food and drink cans, textiles, books and cardboard.

Donaghadee HRC - What you can recycle

Garden waste, fridges and freezers, large appliances, small appliances, TVs and monitors, portable batteries, car batteries, used engine oil, fluorescent tubes, paint, mixed glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, mixed paper, used cooking oil, food and drink cans, textiles, books and cardboard.

Portaferry HRC - What you can recycle

Garden waste, wood and timber, scrap metal, fridges and freezers, large appliances, small appliances, TVs and monitors, portable batteries, car batteries, used engine oil, fluorescent tubes, paint, mixed glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, mixed paper, used cooking oil, food and drink cans, textiles, books and cardboard.

Millisle HRC - What you can recycle

Garden waste, wood and timber, scrap metal, fridges and freezers, large appliances, small appliances, TVs and monitors, portable batteries, car batteries, used engine oil, fluorescent tubes, paint, paint reuse, mixed glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, used cooking oil, mixed paper, food and drink cans, textiles, books and cardboard.

Disposal of Rubble (Balloo Only)

We don't accept rubble from construction, building or demolition sites at our recycling centres.

We will accept a small amount of rubble from household DIY projects (no powdered plaster, gypsum products or hazardous wastes), up to a maximum single axle trailer load and must be broken down into small pieces.

This can be taken to Balloo recycling centre only.

As rubble is classified as industrial rather than household waste, larger amounts of rubble or construction waste should be disposed of by the resident engaging a private waste contractor to remove it.