Quick answer: Glasgow has four household waste recycling centres, run by Glasgow City Council, at Dawsholm (G20), Polmadie (G42), Easter Queenslie (G33) and Shieldhall (G51). They open seven days a week, usually 8am to 6pm with last entry at 5:45pm. They’re for Glasgow residents only, so bring proof of address. You don’t need to book if you’re in a normal car. Vans have strict time windows and Polmadie won’t take them at all. Heads up: Easter Queenslie is being rebuilt and has temporary closures through 2026, so check before you go.
Where the recycling centres are
The council calls them Household Waste Recycling Centres, or HWRCs. Locals just call them the tip or the dump. There are four spread across the city, so wherever you stay there’s usually one within a fifteen minute drive.
- Dawsholm sits up in the north west off Dalsholm Road, handy for Maryhill, Kelvindale and the West End.
- Polmadie is south of the river near the M74, good for the south side and city centre.
- Easter Queenslie is out east near the M8 at junction 11, covering the East End and Easterhouse side.
- Shieldhall is over in Govan off Renfrew Road, the one most folk use for bigger loads.
Glasgow recycling centres: addresses and opening hours
Here’s the lot in one place. Hours are the same across all four sites, but always sense-check before a long drive because the council can change them at short notice, especially over public holidays.
| Centre | Address | Opening hours | Vans? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawsholm | 75 Dalsholm Road, G20 0TB | 7 days, 8am to 6pm (last entry 5:45pm) | Yes, in set windows |
| Polmadie | 425 Polmadie Road, G42 0PJ | 7 days, 8am to 6pm (last entry 5:45pm) | No vans |
| Easter Queenslie | Easter Queenslie Road, G33 (being rebuilt, check first) | 7 days, 8am to 6pm when open | Limited, check current rules |
| Shieldhall | Renfrew Road, G51 4SA | 7 days, 8am to 6pm (last entry 5:45pm) | Yes, in set windows |
Confirm live hours and any closures on the official Glasgow City Council recycling centres page before you set off. Last updated June 2026.
The Easter Queenslie situation
This one needs a flag. Easter Queenslie is in the middle of a major redevelopment. The council is building a brand new HWRC, a transfer station and a materials recovery facility on the same depot site. A temporary centre has been running on and off, but it was set to close from Monday 20 April 2026 for several weeks to let the construction crack on, with reopening expected late summer or early autumn 2026.
So if you’re east end based, don’t just turn up. Check it’s open, and if it’s shut, take your stuff to Dawsholm, Polmadie or Shieldhall instead. Whatever you do, don’t dump bags at the gates. That’s fly-tipping, it’s illegal, and the council will fine you for it.
Do you need to book?
No. If you’re a Glasgow resident turning up in a normal car, you just drive in during opening hours. There’s no online booking system for cars and no permit to apply for. That’s simpler than a lot of other Scottish councils, which is worth saying out loud.
Booking only kicks in for commercial businesses, charities and registered social landlords, who use a separate system and pay charges at the weighbridge. That’s not relevant for a normal household clear-out.
Proof of address: what to bring
These sites are for Glasgow City Council residents only, and the staff do check at the gate. Bring something with your name and a Glasgow address on it. A recent utility bill, a council tax letter, a bank statement or your driving licence all do the job. If your name’s on a recent council tax bill that’s about as solid as it gets.
If you can’t prove you live in the city, you can be turned away, so don’t leave it to chance. Staff may also ask where the waste came from, which is their way of keeping out trade waste dressed up as a household load.
Vans, trailers and big vehicles
This is where people get caught out, so read this bit properly.
- Dawsholm and Shieldhall take resident vans, but only in set windows, usually 8am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 4:45pm. Outside those times you’ll be turned away. The windows exist so staff can manage how many vans are on site safely.
- Polmadie does not take vans at all. Anything over 1.8 metres tall or heavier than 3.5 tonnes gets refused. If you’re in a van, Polmadie’s a wasted trip.
- Easter Queenslie has historically restricted vehicles over 1.8m, with some exceptions for white goods and garden waste, but with the rebuild going on the rules keep shifting. Check before you go.
- Trailers and commercial tippers are tightly controlled. If you’re clearing a flat with a hired van, head to Shieldhall or Dawsholm inside the van windows and bring your proof of address.
The reason for all this is simple. The council wants the sites kept for genuine household waste from Glasgow residents, not trade waste sneaking in to dodge disposal fees.
What you can take
Pretty much the usual household stuff. Across the sites you can drop off:
- Garden waste, wood and cardboard
- Metals, glass, plastics and paper
- Electricals and small appliances, plus white goods like fridges and washing machines
- Batteries and engine or cooking oil
- Mattresses and general bulky household waste
One thing that genuinely helps: separate your load before you arrive. Turn up with everything jumbled in one heap and it’s slower for you and more likely to get contaminated and binned rather than recycled. Sort it into types in the car or van and you’re in and out faster.
What they won’t take
Commercial or trade waste isn’t accepted on the household side. Neither is anything that needs special handling like asbestos or large quantities of hazardous material. If you’re not sure about an unusual item, ring the council or check their site first rather than risk a wasted journey.
Stuff that doesn’t need the tip at all
Plenty of everyday recycling never needs a centre visit. Your blue, green, brown, purple and grey bins handle most household waste from the kerbside. If you’re foggy on which bin takes what, our Glasgow bin collection guide breaks down every bin and collection day.
For bulky items you can’t shift yourself, the council runs a special uplift service for furniture and large items, which can be cheaper and easier than hiring a van. And if you’re new to the city and still finding your feet with all this, our moving to Glasgow guide covers the practical setup, while the cost of living in Glasgow guide puts the council charges in context.
Getting there and parking
All four sites are built around driving in, so they’re awkward without a car. If you’re borrowing or hiring a vehicle for a big clear-out, factor in the van windows above. Worth noting too that these are waste sites, not somewhere you’d want to be hanging about, so go, dump, leave. For everyday city driving and where you can leave the car for free elsewhere, see our free parking in Glasgow guide.
FAQ
Do I need to book a slot at a Glasgow recycling centre?
No, not in a car. Glasgow residents can just drive in during opening hours. Booking only applies to businesses, charities and social landlords using the weighbridge.
What proof of address do I need?
Anything with your name and a Glasgow address on it. A utility bill, council tax letter, bank statement or driving licence all work. The sites are for Glasgow City Council residents only and staff do check.
Can I take a van to the tip in Glasgow?
Only at Dawsholm and Shieldhall, and only in set windows, usually 8am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 4:45pm. Polmadie refuses all vans and anything over 1.8m tall or 3.5 tonnes.
What are the opening hours?
Seven days a week, normally 8am to 6pm with last entry at 5:45pm. Hours can change over public holidays, so check the council site before a long drive.
Is Easter Queenslie open?
It’s in the middle of a major rebuild with temporary closures through 2026. A temporary site was due to close from 20 April 2026 with reopening expected late summer or early autumn. Always check before you go, and never dump waste at the gates.
Can I take commercial or business waste?
Not on the household side. Trade waste goes through the council’s separate commercial booking and weighbridge system, and there are charges for it.
What can I take to a Glasgow recycling centre?
Garden waste, wood, cardboard, metals, glass, plastics, paper, electricals, white goods, batteries, oil, mattresses and general bulky household waste. Sort it into types before you arrive to speed things up.
Facts here are based on Glasgow City Council information current at the time of writing. Opening hours, van rules and the Easter Queenslie arrangements can change, so always confirm on the official Glasgow City Council page before travelling. Last updated June 2026.
