​Guide to Smugglers Way Recycling Centre & Tip: Opening Hours, Rules & Booking

Open today : 08:00 - 17:00

Plan your trip to Smugglers Way Recycling Centre. We have gathered everything you need to know about this London based recycling facility.

Location & Address

Recycling Centre (HWRC), Smugglers Way
Wandsworth, London
SW18 1JS

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Contact Information

Phone Number

020 8871 2788

Email Address

[email protected]
Reuse Shop Yes
Disabled Access No
Staff Assistance No
Trailers Allowed No
Local ID Required Yes
Height Barrier2m

Opening Hours

Summer Hours

  • monday 09:00 - 16:00
  • tuesday 09:00 - 16:00
  • wednesday 09:00 - 16:00
  • thursday 09:00 - 16:00
  • friday 09:00 - 16:00
  • saturday 08:00 - 18:00
  • sunday 08:00 - 17:00

Winter Hours

  • monday 09:00 - 16:00
  • tuesday 09:00 - 16:00
  • wednesday 09:00 - 16:00
  • thursday 09:00 - 16:00
  • friday 09:00 - 16:00
  • saturday 08:00 - 18:00
  • sunday 08:00 - 17:00

Holiday & Closures

Christmas DayBoxing DayNew Year's Day

Bank Holidays

Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

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Accepted Items

  • Plastic bottles
  • Pots
  • Tubs
  • Trays
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Paper and cardboard
  • Cans
  • Aerosol cans
  • Aluminium foil and food trays
  • Empty squeezy metal tubes
  • Empty squeezy plastic tubes
  • Metal biscuit or sweet tins
  • Batteries
  • Large domestic appliances
  • White goods
  • Microwaves
  • Small electrical items
  • Televisions
  • Monitors
  • Pallets
  • Wooden Packaging
  • Packing Cases
  • Fencing Products
  • Flat Pack Furniture
  • Chipboard
  • Plywood
  • Painted Woods
  • Stained and Varnished Woods
  • Mixed HWRC Woods
  • Demolition Wood
  • Wood off cuts
  • Printer cartridges
  • CDs and DVDs
  • Rigid Plastics
  • Buckets
  • Drums
  • Bins
  • Laundry baskets
  • Crates
  • Storage boxes
  • Wheelie bins
  • Garden furniture
  • Plant pots
  • Car bumpers
  • Shoes
  • Clothes and textiles
  • Brick and rubble
  • Furniture
  • Fridges
  • Freezers

Rejected Items

  • Plastic film
  • Traffic cones
  • Plastics with paint residue
  • Car seats
  • Garden hoses
  • Food and drink plastic containers
  • Cool boxes
  • Green Waste
  • Hazardous Wood
  • Railway Sleepers
  • Large Metal Items
  • Plasterboard
  • Asbestos
  • Clinical or Healthcare Waste
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Black Bag Waste
  • Chemicals
  • Wet paint
  • Commercial waste
  • Motor vehicle parts
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Pianos or organs
  • Soil
  • Stones

Can I get rid of a fridge at this tip?

No, old fridges are not taken at this centre.

Can I get rid of a mattress at this location?

No, you cannot dispose of bulky mattresses here.

Are sofas allowed at this site?

Yes, it is perfectly okay to bring a settee.

What to know before visiting Smugglers Way Tip

1Locating the Wandsworth Depot

Tucked right next to the River Thames, accessing this site means navigating towards the major Wandsworth Bridge roundabout. If you pass the large B&Q on Swandon Way, you are merely moments from the entrance. The road layout can be a bit chaotic during rush hour, so plan your route down to the water carefully.

2Entry Credentials for Locals

The gate staff operate a stringent admissions policy tailored solely for those living within the designated catchment zone. You must hand over a piece of official correspondence, like a bank statement or a utility invoice from the last three months, plus your driving licence. Without these documents, you will not be granted access to the local tip.

3Registering Transit Vehicles and Trailers

Driving anything that resembles a work transport, such as a panelled van or a cab towing an extended carriage, triggers an extra administrative step. You cannot simply turn up. The council demands a pre-arranged digital clearance for these heavier motors, ensuring they are only carrying personal household goods.

4Staying Safe on the Tarmac

An active disposal yard is fraught with hazards, making common sense crucial once you leave your car. High-visibility jackets aren't mandatory for the public, but wearing sensible, hard-wearing shoes absolutely is. To expedite your visit, load your boot systematically at home so you can deposit your recyclables logically into the correct bays without crossing moving traffic.

5Corporate and Construction Debris

It is entirely illegal for independent traders, landlords, or renovation firms to dump their professional refuse here. Taxpayer-funded community bins are not an alternative to hiring a skip or paying commercial weighbridge fees. Anyone suspected of offloading profit-related rubble will face immediate ejection from the waste tip.

6The Circular Economy Zone

Before hurling your unwanted possessions into the main skips, evaluate whether someone else might value them. There is a specific area dedicated to salvaging items that retain some life. Books, quirky bric-a-brac, and decent wooden furniture can often be diverted from the rubbish tip entirely and passed onto charitable initiatives operating in the borough.

7Materials Blocked from the Bins

Certain noxious or unstable compounds are entirely forbidden from this complex due to the severe risks they pose to the processing machinery. You cannot bring old propane tanks, liquid chemicals, or any panels suspected of containing asbestos fibres to the tip. These require highly controlled extraction methods arranged via specialist environmental teams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to book an entry slot?
Yes, you have to book a tip slot.
Do you operate on bank holidays?
Yes, the recycling site is open on public holidays.
Are work vans allowed to enter?
No, we do not let vans into the facility.
Is DIY rubbish accepted?
Yes, mixed DIY waste is permitted.

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