Hazel Court HWRC and York's recycling centres: full guide

York has two household waste recycling centres - Hazel Court and Towthorpe/Strensall - and both are free to use. This page covers where they are, what they accept, the booking system at Hazel Court, permit rules, and when calling a collection service makes more sense.

01Quick reference: both York HWRCs

Cars do not need a permit. Vans, pickups, vehicles with trailers, and any vehicle larger than a standard private car need a free residents’ permit from the City of York Council.

Apply in advance, as permits are not issued at the gate. Application forms are on the council permits page, and the booklet arrives by post in about 10 working days. Check the council HWRC page for current hours.

02What you can take to a York HWRC

Both sites accept the same wide range of household materials. The quick guide below shows what goes in and what to leave at home. Looking up one item? Our A to Z of what you can take to the tip in York goes item by item, and old carpet and underlay have their own carpet disposal guide.

03Hazel Court HWRC

Address: Eco Depot, Hazel Court, York, YO10 3DS

Hazel Court is the largest and most central of York’s two HWRC sites. It sits on the south-eastern edge of the city near the University of York campus, about 2 miles from York city centre.

Booking is now required. Hazel Court operates an appointment system, so you need to book a slot before visiting. You can book online or by phone through the City of York Council website, up to two weeks in advance.

Last entry is 15 minutes before the site closes. Do not turn up without a booking, as unbooked vehicles may be refused entry. Book at york.gov.uk/HazelCourtHWRC.

The site has dedicated skips and containers for different waste streams, including a re-use shop where usable items are sold rather than disposed of. If you have furniture or household items in reasonable condition, the re-use shop is worth checking. You can also give it away before you book a slot: our guide to Freecycle and Freegle in York covers what shifts and what never goes.

Parking is free on site. Hours change seasonally - always confirm your booked slot time against the council HWRC page before travelling.

04Towthorpe / Strensall HWRC

Address: Moor Lane, Strensall, York, YO32 9ST

Towthorpe / Strensall HWRC is north of York, handy for residents in Skelton, Haxby, Wigginton, Strensall, and the northern suburbs. It needs no booking, it is closed every Wednesday, and it has a 1.9 metre height barrier. It takes everyday household waste but not rubble, plasterboard, asbestos or gas bottles, which all have to come to Hazel Court. Seasonal opening times, permit rules and the full accepted list are in the Towthorpe and Strensall tip guide.

05Do you need a permit for a York HWRC?

For a standard private car: no permit needed. Just turn up with your York address to confirm residency if asked.

For a van, pickup truck, vehicle with a trailer, campervan, or any vehicle larger than a typical private car: yes, you need a free permit. It is a booklet of permits issued by post by North Yorkshire Council on behalf of City of York Council, one booklet per household per year, and it takes about 10 working days to arrive. Gates do not issue permits, so vehicles without a valid permit are turned away.

Application forms are on the council permits page. Blue Badge holders do not need one. Trailers, height limits and hire vans are covered in the Towthorpe guide.

Commercial vehicles, including transit vans used for business purposes, are not permitted even with a residential permit. Business waste must go to licensed commercial waste disposal routes, and that route comes with paperwork: every transfer has to be documented. If you run a business in York, read what a waste transfer note is and why you keep it for two years before you book anything.

06When the council option does not work

The HWRCs cover most situations, but there are times when they are not the right route. Common scenarios where people call Mukin instead:

• No slots available when you need one. Hazel Court now requires advance booking and slots fill up, especially at weekends. If there is no availability in time, a collection service comes to you instead.
• The site is closed when you need it. HWRCs have reduced hours in winter and are sometimes closed on bank holidays. If you need something gone on a day the site is shut, a collection service is the only option.
• You do not drive or do not have a suitable vehicle. Mattresses, large furniture, and appliances cannot go in most cars. Without a van or estate, the tip is not accessible for bulky items.
• You have too much for one trip. Multiple trips to the tip take most of a day. For a house clearance in York or significant clearout, a single van collection is often faster and cheaper when you factor in time and fuel. Our guide to how a house clearance works shows what that involves from quote to keys.
• You need it gone today. HWRC sites require you to transport the items yourself. If you cannot move something or need same-day collection at your address, that is a clearance service job.
• You are elderly, recovering from an operation, or cannot physically load a vehicle. The tip requires you to carry items to the relevant containers yourself.
• You have a garden’s worth of green waste. A hedge reduction or a badly overgrown garden fills far more than a car boot, and loose soil is capped at most sites. Repeated tip runs with bagged cuttings rarely work out better than one van visit.

In any of these situations, Mukin’s waste removal service covers it. Same-day in York, fixed quote, items collected from wherever they are in the property. Call 07857 386029 or send a WhatsApp photo for a price.

For green waste and overgrown gardens specifically, see garden clearance in York, or the garden clearance cost guide for typical price bands before you book.