The presents have been opened and the turkey eaten and next comes the big clean-up. If your bins are usually overflowing during the festive period, here’s when you can take a trip to the tip over Christmas.

Along with being “the most wonderful time of the year”, Christmas is also a time of accumulating rubbish and recycling – from wrapping paper to old electrical items, in with the new generally means out with the old.

With all this waste, it’s handy if you can get rid of some of it without having to wait for the next bin collection.

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In line with all other Household Waste Recycling Centres in Hampshire, you need to book a time slot before you visit.

However, from Boxing Day, residents will be able to maximise their recycling by visiting the Southampton HWRC in Millbrook without the need to book.

For more information, visit the Southampton City Council website.

Christmas and new year Southampton recycling centre opening times

Where: City Depot and Recycling Park, First Avenue, Southampton SO15 0LJ

  • Friday, December 24: open 9am-4pm
  • Saturday, December 25: closed
  • Sunday, December 26: closed
  • Monday, December 27: open 9am-4pm
  • Tuesday, December 28: open 9am-4pm
  • Wednesday, December 29: open 9am-4pm
  • Thursdy, December 30: open 9am-4pm
  • Friday, December 31: open 9am-4pm
  • Saturday, January 1: closed

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What can I take to Southampton recycling centre?

There is no charge when taking the items listed below to Southampton Household Waste Recycling Centre.

  • Cardboard (Paper, newspapers and magazines can be recycled in your kerbside collection service)
  • Metals
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Gas bottles
  • Garden waste
  • Furniture
  • Radiators and storage heaters (but not the bricks inside)
  • Wood and timber
  • Electrical items and fluorescent tubes
  • Paint
  • Clothes
  • Household and garden chemicals
  • Batteries, including car batteries
  • Fridges and freezers - appliances should be brought whole with no parts removed

More information can be found on the Hampshire County Council website.

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What can't I take to Southampton recycling centre?

This is a list of items that you cannot take to be dealt with at Southampton Household Waste Recycling Centre.

  • Ammunition, explosives and weapons
  • Asbestos
  • Chemicals and other toxic substances
  • Dead animals
  • Fireworks
  • Gas cylinders
  • Japanese knotweed
  • Landlord's waste
  • Pesticides
  • Petrol and diesel
  • Poisons
  • Syringes and medical waste
  • Trade or commercial waste