Residents in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, will not be able to use the local recycling centre on Mondays throughout February 2026 as the county council seeks to cut costs. The site on Riverside Drive will be shut on February 2, 9, 16 and 23, leaving no local disposal option within the Three Rivers district on Mondays; residents who need to visit a tip on those days would need to travel outside the district.
Hertfordshire County Council decided to pause Monday services at smaller Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and reallocate staff to larger “super sites” as it manages a projected £81 million deficit for the 2025/26 financial year. Council officials say February is typically the quietest month for dropping off rubbish, making it the most practical time to reduce costs.
Residents who need to get rid of waste on a Monday can still visit Waterdale (Garston) on St Albans Road, near Garston/Watford, which is open seven days a week (10am–5.30pm). Alternatively, Three Rivers District Council advises households to make full use of kerbside collections for paper, food and garden waste to avoid extra trips to recycling centres.
While the Rickmansworth recycling centre is the main HWRC serving local families, other smaller sites — including Elstree and Harpenden — will also be closed on Mondays in February. Normal five-day service at the Riverside Drive site is expected to resume once the temporary Monday closures end after February.
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