Black bin collection

What the black bin is usually for

In nearly every UK council the black bin is the general waste bin, for anything that cannot be recycled or composted. Grey bins are used the same way.

This is the most common use, not a rule. UK councils choose their own bin colours, so the black bin can collect something different where you live. Your council page lists what it actually collects, and the lookup above shows your next date.

How UK councils use the black bin

Bin Day has seen a black bin at addresses in 299 councils. Here is what it collects in each, which is the clearest proof that the colour alone does not tell you the waste type.

• 233 councils use the black bin for general waste

  Aberdeen City, Adur, Amber Valley, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, Argyll and Bute, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Arun, Ashford, Babergh, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet and 221 more

• 28 councils use the black bin for other collection

  Angus, Birmingham, Blackburn with Darwen, Broxtowe, Calderdale, Castle Point, Conwy, Derbyshire Dales, Falkirk, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kirklees, Medway and 16 more

• 28 councils use the black bin for mixed recycling

  Bexley, Bradford, Bromley, Ceredigion, Colchester, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, East Lothian, Harborough, Haringey, Harlow, Hertsmere and 16 more

• 4 councils use the black bin for food waste

  Aberdeenshire, Dacorum, Richmond upon Thames, Swindon

• 4 councils use the black bin for glass

  Carmarthenshire, Epsom and Ewell, Neath Port Talbot, North East Lincolnshire

• 2 councils use the black bin for paper and card

  Fife, Folkestone and Hythe

Find your council's black bin

Search for your council to see what its black bin collects, then open the council page for the postcode lookup and your next collection date.

Common questions about the black bin

What goes in the black bin?

General waste that cannot be recycled or composted: cling film and non-recyclable food packaging, used tissues, nappies and sanitary products, polystyrene, broken china, vacuum dust and pet waste in sealed bags. Recycling, food and garden waste belong in their own bins.

How often is the black bin collected?

Most UK councils have moved general waste to every two weeks to make room for weekly food waste and recycling. Some still collect weekly. The lookup above shows the next black bin date for your address.

Is the black bin the same as the grey bin?

In most councils, yes. Black and grey bins both tend to be the general waste bin. A small number of councils use grey for recycling, so confirm with your address if your bin is grey.

Why is my black bin only emptied every two weeks?

As councils added weekly food waste and separate recycling, many cut general waste to fortnightly to balance the rounds and cut what goes to landfill or incineration. The change is set by your council, and the lookup above reflects whatever schedule they are running.

Other bin colours

Bin colours are not standard across the UK. See what the other common colours usually mean, or check the full guide.

• Green bin collection →
• Blue bin collection →
• Brown bin collection →
• UK bin colours explained →
• Browse all UK councils →