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Opening times and access to the recycling centres has changed.
- Every resident will need to book a time slot to take their vehicle to a recycling centre. You will need to provide details such as vehicle registration, your address, and the name of the recycling centre you wish to visit.
- Bookings should be made in advance of your visit.
- If you have a van/commercial vehicle and are bringing trade waste to the HWRC you will need a Small Traders Tipping Permit. More information about the Small Traders Permit can be found on our recycling centres page.
- If you have limited access to the internet and cannot make a booking, and a friend or family member cannot help you, you can call our contact centre via 01324 506070. Be aware that lines can be exceptionally busy, and may have to wait to speak with an operator.
- Opening times will be 10:00am – 6:00pm (changed from 8am - 6pm), with days of opening remaining unchanged.
Plan ahead
Bookings first thing in the morning are busy; if you can, plan your visit to avoid peak times.
Your booking slot lasts for 30 minutes, with site access available at any point during this booking time, not just at the start of your booking.
Plan your arrival at site to coincide with your booking slot. Arriving too early doesn't guarantee you access, and at busy times will add to queuing traffic.
If you’re unable to visit the recycling centre on the date booked, you can cancel your booking. At the bottom of your booking confirmation email there is an option to cancel your visit.
What to bring to the recycling centre when you visit
From Monday 03 April 2023 you will need to show valid ID and your e-permit to our Recycling Centre Assistants when you visit.
Valid ID includes one of the following (please display this on your vehicle dashboard to enable viewing through your windscreen):
- Current driving licence
- Recent council tax or utility bill
- Passport
Anybody failing to produce the documents when requested may be asked to leave the site and return when they are able to produce them.
There are Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV systems installed at Recycling Centres which capture number plates entering and exiting the site. They monitor vehicle numbers and identify potential misuse by non-household customers.
With the changes we are making, we have prepared several frequently asked questions to help. If there is anything missing from these questions please feel free to email wasteservices@falkirk.gov.uk and lets us know.
There are 2 recycling centres in the Falkirk Council area:
Both sites accept a wide range of materials to help you recycle more of your household waste. By using our recycling facilities you are helping us reduce the amount of waste that goes to energy recovery (incineration).
Our recycling centres have a separate skip for the disposal of waste upholstered domestic seating, which may contain Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS). New legislation which was introduced in January 2024 requires that we collect waste upholstered domestic seating separately. As such please place the following in the upholstered seating skip:
- Armchair
- Armchair (recliner)
- Chair upholstered (not armchair)
- Couch – recliner, non-recliner or corner suite
- Garden furniture (upholstered)
- Pouffe / Stool (upholstered)
- Sofa bed / Futon
- Bean bags
Opening hours
Day |
Kinneil |
Roughmute |
Monday |
10am to 6pm |
10am to 6pm |
Tuesday |
10am to 6pm |
CLOSED |
Wednesday |
10am to 6pm |
CLOSED |
Thursday |
CLOSED |
10am to 6pm |
Friday |
CLOSED |
10am to 6pm |
Saturday |
10am to 6pm |
10am to 6pm |
Sunday |
10am to 6pm |
10am to 6pm |
Last entry to both sites will be 5:45pm.
We close at 4pm on the 24th and 31st December. Sites will remain closed on the 25th, 26th December and 1st, 2nd January.
Site rules
Recycle Centre Attendants will be on site to guide you to the correct bays and ensure everyone remains safe.
- Where possible only one person per vehicle should access the site – an exception would be where the waste is:
- too heavy for one person to lift, we would recommend someone accompany you to assist
- not from your property - the occupier should also be present where possible, and have their photo ID and proof of address available
- A limited number of vehicles will be allowed access at one time
- While queuing, remain in your vehicle at all times
- Be patient and courteous with site staff, and each other. We do not tolerate rude or aggressive behaviour, threats or violence towards our staff
- Follow the signs on site to the correct bays
To make it easier for you to recycle as much as possible, separate containers are provided at each site to help you segregate your waste into the different recyclable types.
Please sort your waste for reuse, recycling and composting before you visit the recycling centre.
If you are unsure which container to use, site attendants will be happy to help you.
Please ensure that gas canisters are not put in to the general waste skip.
The maximum vehicle size permitted at each site is gross 3.5 tonnes.
You cannot avoid the e-permit scheme by parking outside the site and carrying the waste in as a pedestrian, due to the risk to your safety.
The following vehicles are banned from the site and cannot be used with an e-permit:
- agricultural vehicles
- vehicles greater than 3.5 tonnes
- horse wagons
- very large vans/lorries and similar
What you can recycle at the recycling centres
- Food and drinks cans
- Plastic bottles and trays
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars
- Fridges and freezers
- White goods, such as washing machines
- Small electrical appliances
- Books
- Textiles, including shoes
- Light bulbs
- Tyres
- Bicycles
- Swollen lithium batteries
- Garden waste
- Soil
- Mineral oil
- Mattresses
- Carpets
- Gas cylinders
- Upholstered furniture and divan bed bases
- Scrap metal
- Wood
- Vehicle batteries
- Household batteries
- Rubble
- Plasterboard
- Walking aids
- Non-recyclable household waste
- Vapes
Swollen lithium batteries
Lithium batteries are rechargeable batteries often used in several electrical items such as mobile phones, vapes, tablets, laptops, e-scooters and e-bikes.
Sometimes lithium batteries can become swollen and bulge because of it being damaged. The swelling of the battery is due to the build-up of gas or electrolyte inside the battery. Swollen lithium batteries are a fire risk and it's important they are disposed responsibly. If you have a swollen lithium battery, do not put it in your recycling and waste containers.
Roughmute and Kinneil Kerse recycling centres have specialist containers for you to dispose of swollen lithium batteries. These are located by the meet and greet huts at the entrance to the sites and site operatives can assist if you require further information.
Walking aid recycling
In partnership with NHS Forth Valley, Falkirk residents can now return walking aids for reuse and recycling to Kinneil Kerse and Roughmute Recycling Centre's. The equipment collected will be refurbished and used again if it is in good condition.
What walking aids can be reused and recycled?
Yes
- Fischer stick
- Elbow crutches
- Auxiliary crutches
- Metal walking sticks / quads sticks / tripods
- Zimmer frames
- 3 wheeled walkers / 4 wheeled walkers / pulpit frames
No
- Wooden walking sticks / folding walking sticks
- Wheelchairs
If the material you need to dispose of is not listed above, please speak to a member of staff at the recycling centre or contact us at wasteservices@falkirk.gov.uk.
Retailers will take back and recycle your old electrical item when you buy a new one, regardless of brand, or whether the item being returned was bought in store, online or via mail order . To find out more about the take back in store visit the Recycle your electricals website.
Retailers must provide the in-store service for free.
Black bag waste
Please make sure black bags do not contain material which could be recycled through the kerbside recycling service or one of the recycling containers at the recycling centre. Only waste that cannot be recycled can go in the non-recyclable waste container. From 01 April 2023 there will be separate areas for black bags and larger items of waste (bulky waste items). Please place your waste in the correct container.