Bin Collection Day

Free UK bin day finder

When is my bin collection day?

Type your postcode to find the council that empties your bins, go straight to its official bin day checker, then turn those dates into free reminders on your phone.

Works for every council in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We never store your postcode.

Bank holidays coming up

Bank holidays are the main reason bin days move. Here is the next one in each part of the UK.

England and Wales: next bank holiday Fri, 25 December 2026 Christmas Day
Scotland: next bank holiday Mon, 30 November 2026 St Andrew's Day
Northern Ireland: next bank holiday Fri, 25 December 2026 Christmas Day

See every 2026 and 2027 bank holiday and how councils change collections →

Three steps to never missing bin day

  1. 1. Find your council

    Your postcode tells us which of the UK's 361 councils empties your bins. Where a postcode district crosses a border, the full postcode settles it.

  2. 2. Check the official dates

    We link you to your council's own bin day checker, so the dates you see come from the people who drive the lorry.

  3. 3. Get reminders

    Copy your next dates into our bin calendar. It adds every collection for the year to your phone, with bank holiday changes marked.

Unique to Bin Collection Day

Your own bin calendar, free, with no app

Most bin apps need an account and only cover some councils. Our calendar maker works for every address in the UK. Tell it which bins you have, how often each is emptied and the next date, and it gives you:

  • a week-by-week list of which bin goes out next
  • a printable year planner for the fridge
  • a calendar file for iPhone, Android or Outlook with a reminder the night before
  • bank holiday weeks flagged, using the official GOV.UK dates
Make my bin calendar

Which bin does it go in?

Answers for 69 everyday items, from pizza boxes to vapes, based on the rules most UK councils use.

Search the A to Z

UK bin colours

There is no national colour code. These are the usual meanings.

Black binGeneral waste (rubbish that cannot be recycled or composted) Grey binGeneral waste in many areas, mixed recycling in some Blue binMixed recycling, or paper and card only Green binGarden waste in many areas, mixed recycling in others Brown binGarden waste, or food and garden waste together Purple binGlass in many areas, or plastic and cans Red bin or boxPaper and card, glass, or textiles in some areas

Most searched councils

Browse by region

All 361 councils A to ZOpen the council map

Latest bin guides

How to dispose of batteries and vapes safelyWhy batteries and vapes must never go in your bins, where to take them for free in the UK, and how to make lithium batteries safe before you recycle them.Recycling symbols on packaging explainedWhat the recycling symbols on UK packaging actually mean, from the On-Pack Recycling Label to the Mobius loop, the Green Dot and plastic resin numbers.Moving house: who owns the bins and how to set up collectionsMoving home in the UK? Who owns the wheelie bins, whether you can take them with you, how to find your new bin day and how to order bins for a new-build.Going to the tip: household waste recycling centre guideWhat you need to know before going to the tip in the UK: booking slots, van and trailer permits, what they accept, charges for DIY waste and proof of address.How to clean a wheelie bin properlyA step-by-step guide to cleaning a wheelie bin or food caddy safely, which products to use, where the dirty water should go and how often to do it.How to stop your bins smelling, especially in summerSimple ways to stop wheelie bins and food caddies smelling and attracting maggots and flies, using things you already have at home.

All guides →

Why the dates come from your council

Every bin date in the UK is set by the local council that runs the round. In most of England that is the district or borough council; in unitary areas, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it is the single council for the area. Rounds change when councils redraw routes, buy new lorries or change to a new rota, so the only dates you should rely on are the ones your council publishes for your address.

That is why Bin Collection Day does two things well instead of guessing: it works out your council from your postcode using the official boundaries, and it helps you remember the dates once you have them. Every council page also covers who runs the tip, the postcode districts and towns it serves, and how bank holidays affect collections in that part of the UK.

Bin day questions

When is my bin collection day?
Bin days are set by your local council, street by street. Enter your postcode above to find which council collects your bins, then open that council's own bin day checker for the dates at your address. You can then copy the dates into our free bin calendar to get reminders.
Which bin goes out this week?
Most UK councils alternate bins on a two-week or three-week rota, so it depends on your address. Your council's checker shows which bin is next. If you set up a bin calendar here, it shows this week's bins every time you open it and can add them to your phone calendar.
Do bin collections change on bank holidays?
Often, yes. Many councils collect as normal on most bank holidays but move collections a day later after Christmas, New Year and sometimes Easter. Others slide every collection that week by one day. See our bank holiday bin collections page for the 2026 and 2027 dates.
Is this the official council website?
No. Bin Collection Day is an independent guide. We find your council from your postcode and send you to that council's official bin checker, which is the only source of the exact dates for your home.
How do I get bin day reminders without an app?
Use our bin calendar maker. Enter your bins and the next date for each, and it builds a printable calendar and a calendar file for your phone with a reminder the evening before. Nothing to install and no sign-up.
What if my postcode covers two councils?
A few postcode districts cross council borders. Enter your full postcode, such as LS6 2AB rather than just LS6, and we match it to the exact council.