Drovers Way opens 9am to 4pm daily from 16 October; South Woodham Ferrers shuts Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Booking rules, DIY limits and Christmas hours.
Chelmsford has two household recycling centres, both run by Essex County Council rather than the city council. Chelmsford Recycling Centre on Drovers Way is open every day. South Woodham Ferrers Recycling Centre on Ferrers Road is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday. Both switch to winter hours on 16 October, closing at 4pm instead of 5pm, and at both you need to book a free slot if you arrive by car.
The quick answer
- Drovers Way, CM2 5PH: 9am to 4pm every day from 16 October (9am to 5pm from 1 March). Takes vans and trailers with a booking.
- South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5ZA: same hours, but closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. No vans, pick-ups or large trailers, and no DIY waste or rubble.
- Christmas: both close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and at 1pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Opening hours
| Chelmsford (Drovers Way) | South Woodham Ferrers (Ferrers Road) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March to 15 October | 9am to 5pm, every day | 9am to 5pm, closed Tue and Wed |
| 16 October to end of February | 9am to 4pm, every day | 9am to 4pm, closed Tue and Wed |
| Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve | Closes 1pm | Closes 1pm |
| Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day | Closed | Closed |
| Vans, pick-ups, large trailers | Yes, separate booking | Not accepted |
| DIY waste and rubble | Yes, within limits | Not accepted |
Sources: Love Essex, Chelmsford Recycling Centre and Love Essex, South Woodham Ferrers Recycling Centre, read on 25 September 2026.
Christmas 2026: the one thing to check
This year Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, and the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December (GOV.UK). Essex’s pages say both sites close “on Boxing Day” but do not say whether that means Saturday 26 or Monday 28 December. If you are planning a post-Christmas clear-out, check the booking system before you load the car. We will update this page if Essex publishes festive hours.
South Woodham Ferrers also keeps its usual Tuesday and Wednesday closures, so between Christmas and New Year it is shut on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 December, open on Thursday 31 December until 1pm, and shut again on New Year’s Day. Drovers Way is the only choice midweek.
Booking
You need a booking for every visit if you arrive by car, and a separate van, pick-up or large trailer booking at Drovers Way. Booking is free. You do not need one if you hold a Blue Badge, or come on foot or by bike. Book online through Love Essex; you may be asked to show the confirmation and proof of address at the gate.
Both sites are for residents of Essex County Council’s area only. Staff can ask for proof, such as a council tax bill or driving licence.
DIY waste limits
DIY waste is accepted at Drovers Way, not at South Woodham Ferrers, and only if you did the work yourself on your own home. Per visit, Essex sets these limits (Love Essex, DIY waste):
| Material | Limit per visit |
|---|---|
| Soil, rubble and gypsum products | 3 wheelbarrow loads or 1 car boot |
| Tiles | 1 wheelbarrow load |
| Toilets, basins and other large ceramics | 3 items |
| Window frames | 1 |
| Internal wooden doors | 3 |
| External doors | 1 |
| Built-in kitchen units | 1 element |
If you do not need the tip
Much of what people drive to the tip in January can go from home. Real Christmas trees go in the brown bin if you pay for garden waste, cut down with branches under 30mm across, and the city council collects large items for £31 for the first and £13.60 for each extra item until 31 December 2026. Both are covered on our bin collection days page, and the festive round changes on our Christmas bin collections page.
Heading to Drovers Way on a weekend? Check roadworks and travel first.
What is still to be confirmed
- Which day counts as Boxing Day for 2026 closures, Saturday 26 or Monday 28 December.
- Any change to the booking rules for 2027. Essex has not announced one.
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