Totnes recycling centre to close for six weeks

The Totnes Household Waste Recycling Centre will close for six weeks from the end of January while maintenance and engineering works are carried out.

The site, located on the Babbage Road Industrial Estate, will be closed from Saturday 31 January until Sunday 15 March 2026, reopening to the public on Monday 16 March.

Devon County Council said the centre, which is more than 20 years old, requires extensive resurfacing and drainage works. The closure has been scheduled outside the busy summer period to minimise disruption.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council’s Cabinet member for Climate Change and Biodiversity and the local member for Totnes & Dartington, said the repairs were “much-needed”.

“The site is the smallest in Devon, and it is heavily used by the public,” she said. “In addition, the site waste compaction machinery and the lorries servicing the site and removing the waste and recycling take a toll over the years.

“It’s that constant use every day that has resulted in significant wear and tear.”

She added that the scale of the work and the size of the site meant it could not remain open safely during the repairs.

“Unfortunately, due to the scale of the works and the size of the site there is no way we can safely carry out the works while the site remains open,” she said. “We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.”

During the closure, residents are being asked to use alternative recycling centres, including Newton Abbot, Kingsbridge and Ivybridge, which will remain open as usual.