South Gloucestershire Bin Collection: Today, 2026 Dates & Missed Bins
Check South Gloucestershire bin collection today, black-bin 2026 dates, green garden waste collections, recycling boxes and bags, Christmas changes and missed-bin reporting using official council routes.
Check South Gloucestershire bin collection today
The official collection-date checker is the safest place to check today’s bin, box, bag, food waste or green garden waste collection. It can also show garden waste subscription details if you subscribe and lets you view or print your own calendar.
Open the official collection-date checker
Use this for South Gloucestershire bin collection today, black bin collection South Glos today, green bin collection South Glos today and 2026 dates.
Check which service is due
Recycling boxes, white bag, blue soft-plastic bags and food waste are weekly. Subscribed green bins are fortnightly. Black bins are three-weekly.
Do not use an old 2025/2026 screenshot as your calendar
Black bin collections changed from fortnightly to every 3 weeks from 11 May 2026, so old reminder patterns may be wrong.
How to check South Glos bin collection 2026 dates
Use these steps when you need today’s black bin, today’s green bin, recycling boxes, food waste, Christmas changes or a printable address calendar.
Open “Check your collection dates”
This official page explains the next collection, garden subscription details and calendar print option.
Enter the property postcode
Use the address form for the exact property. Do not copy a nearby street’s date because routes can differ.
Read the service name
The important result is not just the date. Check whether it says recycling, food waste, black bin or green garden bin.
Use the app for reminders
The council says the South Gloucestershire Council app can show dates on mobile or tablet and send notifications.
For flats with communal bins, do not rely on the online calendar
South Gloucestershire says online collection dates are not available for flats with communal bins.
Screenshot Guide: Official South Gloucestershire Bin Collection Date Checker
This screenshot helps residents recognise the official council checker before checking a date. Use it as a visual guide only; the live checker gives the current address-specific result.
What to look for
The page should say “Check your collection dates” and explain the next collection, garden subscription and printable calendar options.
What to enter
Use the property postcode and address. If you live in a flat with communal bins, use communal-bin guidance instead.
What to save
Save your next black bin, recycling, food waste and green garden waste dates, plus Christmas or New Year changes.
South Gloucestershire bin collection today: what to put out
Today’s collection depends on your address and subscription status. Use the checker first, then use this table to avoid putting out the wrong container.
| Checker result | What to put out | Before 7am checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Recycling | Recycling boxes, white recycling bag and blue soft-plastic bags. | Rinse items, sort materials, stack boxes and tie blue bags securely. |
| Food waste | Outdoor food bin. | Bag food waste or wrap it in paper before placing it in the food bin. |
| Black bin | General waste that cannot be recycled. | Close the lid. Do not add batteries, vapes, rubble, soil, gas canisters or medicines. |
| Green bin | Subscribed garden waste green bin. | Subscription must be active. Lid must be closed and waste must not be too heavy. |
| Communal bins | Shared bins in flats or blocks. | Keep bin stores accessible and safe; overfilled bins may not be emptied. |
Black bin collection South Glos today: three-weekly from 11 May 2026
From 11 May 2026, South Gloucestershire black bin collections changed from fortnightly to once every 3 weeks. Recycling and food waste remain weekly, and garden waste remains fortnightly for subscribers.
Black bin frequency
The black bin is now every 3 weeks, so checking by address is more reliable than remembering the old fortnightly pattern.
No recycling limit
The council says there is no limit to the amount of recycling you can put out, and extra boxes or bags can be ordered free.
Nappy and hygiene support
A free fortnightly collection service is available for nappies and hygiene waste, so eligible waste does not wait 3 weeks.
What goes in the black bin?
The black bin is for general waste that cannot be recycled from home or at a recycling centre. Medicines should go to a pharmacy, not the black bin.
South Gloucestershire recycling bins: boxes, white bag and blue bags
Each household receives two recycling boxes, one white recycling bag and blue bags for soft plastics. Items must be rinsed and not contaminated with food.
paper/card
Box 1: paper, card and cardboard
Use for card, paper, newspapers, magazines and envelopes, including windowed envelopes. Do not include metallic wrapping paper or glitter cards.
Micro-rule: shredded paper must be placed in a separate plastic bag.
glass
Box 2: glass bottles and jars
Use for glass bottles and jars only. Broken glass is not accepted.
Micro-rule: remove bottle and jar lids and put lids in the white recycling bag.
containers
White recycling bag: plastic bottles, tubs, trays, tins, cans and cartons
Use for plastic bottles, tubs and trays, tins and cans, cartons, empty aerosols and aluminium foil.
Micro-rule: no black plastic, bioplastic, plastic cutlery or polystyrene. Squash plastics, cans and cartons to save space.
soft plastics
Blue bags: soft plastics
Use blue bags for plastic bags and wrappers, pouches, sachets, clingfilm and removable film lids.
Micro-rule: pet food and baby food pouches are not accepted. Place filled blue bags in one of your boxes for collection.
Food waste is weekly: bag or paper-wrap rule
South Gloucestershire provides one outdoor food bin and an indoor caddy. Put food waste in a bag or wrap it in paper before placing it in the outdoor food bin.
Accepted food waste
Use it for cooked and uncooked food waste such as leftovers, peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, pet food and food that has gone off.
Bag or wrap first
You can use an ordinary plastic bag, paper wrap or compostable liner in your food bin or caddy.
Keep food out of black bin
Food waste in the black bin can cause smells and pests, especially now black bins are collected every 3 weeks.
South Gloucestershire green bin collection dates: subscription, cost and missed garden bins
Green garden waste collections are fortnightly for subscribed households. The official checker can show garden waste subscription details if you are subscribed.
Green bin cost
The garden waste subscription costs £75 per green bin for one year.
Reduced cost
The cost is reduced to £37.50 per green bin if you receive certain benefits.
After subscribing
Your details may take up to 5 working days to register with crews. First-time subscribers are told the collection day and receive a bin after payment.
Green bin collection South Glos today
If the checker says garden waste is due today, put the subscribed green bin out by 7am. The lid must be closed. If your subscription has expired, the council does not treat non-collection as a missed collection.
Christmas and New Year garden waste warning
Garden waste terms say collections over Christmas and New Year can vary. Use the online checker or council app near those weeks instead of assuming the normal fortnightly pattern.
South Glos missed bin collection: midday deadline, phone number and return time
If your waste or recycling is missed, report it no later than midday on the second working day after it was due. South Gloucestershire says it aims to return no later than midday on the day after you report, and where possible by 5pm on the reporting day.
| Situation | Is it treated as missed? | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Put out after 7am | No. | Wait for the next scheduled collection or use the correct waste route. |
| Items not sorted correctly | No. | Sort into the correct box, bag or bin before the next date. |
| Bin lid not closed | No. | Remove excess waste and close the lid for next collection. |
| Garden subscription expired | No. | Renew the garden waste subscription first. |
| Presented correctly but not collected | Possibly yes. | Report by midday on the second working day after it was due. |
| Flat with communal recycling bins | Do not report online. | Call the council to report a communal missed collection. |
South Gloucestershire bin collection dates: Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year
South Gloucestershire says collection teams work every day of the year including bank holidays, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. For the festive period, use the live checker or app because revised dates can vary by address and service.
| Period | Official rule | Resident action |
|---|---|---|
| Normal bank holidays | Collections run every day including bank holidays. | Check live date, but do not assume every bank holiday changes. |
| Christmas Day | No collection. | Use the checker for revised waste, recycling, food and garden dates. |
| Boxing Day | No collection. | Check your revised date online or in the app. |
| New Year’s Day | No collection. | Do not rely on last year’s Christmas calendar. |
| Garden waste over Christmas/New Year | Garden waste terms say collections can vary. | Check upcoming collection dates online. |
Extra black bin, nappy waste, hygiene waste, boxes and bulky items
The move to three-weekly black bins makes support services more important for some households. Use the right official route instead of leaving extra sacks beside the black bin.
Disposable nappy collections
Families with children in disposable nappies under age 5 can apply for a free fortnightly disposable nappy collection service.
Hygiene waste collections
Residents who need to dispose of incontinence products, including ostomy bags, can apply for hygiene waste collections.
Assisted collections
If health or mobility problems make it hard to put bins and recycling out, request an assisted collection.
Extra black bin
One black bin is standard, but extra black bins can be assessed in special circumstances such as large household or medical need.
Order boxes and bags
Replacement bins, recycling boxes, white bags, extra recycling boxes, blue soft-plastic bags and nappy/hygiene bags can be ordered free where eligible.
Large household items
Large household item collection costs £41.90 for up to 3 items, reduced to £20.95 for residents receiving certain benefits.
Communal bins: why flats need different guidance
If you live in a block of flats, there are usually shared bins for waste and recycling. South Gloucestershire says collection dates are not available online for flats with communal bins.
| Communal-bin issue | What to do | Official help |
|---|---|---|
| Paper, cardboard and cartons | Remove plastic and polystyrene packing and flatten larger cardboard boxes. | Communal recycling rules |
| Plastics, foil, tins and aerosols | Empty and rinse all items. No black plastic or bioplastic. | Communal recycling rules |
| Glass bottles and jars | Empty and rinse. No broken glass, ovenware or drinking glasses. | Communal glass rules |
| Overfilled communal bins | Overfilled bins and items left beside bins are not collected, except large pieces of cardboard. | Communal bin help |
Common South Gloucestershire collection mistakes
These are the small issues that often cause “missed bin” confusion.
Putting bins out after 7am
Waste and recycling should be out by 7am. If the council warns crews are starting before 7am, put items out the night before.
Using black bin for batteries or vapes
Batteries and vapes must not go in the black bin. Separate them using the council’s recycling guidance.
Forgetting the blue bag tie
Blue soft-plastic bags should be tied securely so items do not fall out.
Putting pet food pouches in blue bags
Pet food and baby food pouches are not accepted in blue soft-plastic bags.
Reporting garden waste after subscription expiry
An expired green-bin subscription is not a missed collection. Renew first.
Submitting repeat container orders
Bins, boxes or bags can take up to 10 working days. If not delivered by then, call 01454 868000 instead of submitting a repeat order.
South Gloucestershire bin collection FAQs
How do I check South Gloucestershire bin collection today?
Use South Gloucestershire Council’s official collection-date checker. Enter the property postcode or address and check which service is due today.
When did South Glos black bin collections change in 2026?
From 11 May 2026, black bin collections changed from fortnightly to once every 3 weeks.
How often is recycling collected in South Gloucestershire?
Recycling boxes, the white recycling bag, blue bags for soft plastics and food waste are collected weekly.
How often is the green garden bin collected?
Green garden waste bins are collected fortnightly for subscribed households.
How much is South Gloucestershire garden waste subscription?
The garden waste subscription costs £75 per green bin for one year, reduced to £37.50 per green bin if you receive certain benefits.
What time should bins, boxes and bags be put out?
Put bins, boxes and bags out by 7am on collection day. Follow any live council notice if crews are collecting earlier.
When should I report a South Glos missed bin collection?
Report it no later than midday on the second working day after it was due, but only if it was put out by 7am, sorted correctly, with bin lids closed and any garden subscription active.
What is the South Glos missed bin phone number?
The missed-collection page lists 01454 868000 as the phone option. Communal-bin flat residents should call rather than report online.
Are South Gloucestershire collections made on bank holidays?
Collections run every day including bank holidays, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Use the checker for revised festive dates.
Can I order extra recycling boxes or blue bags?
Yes. South Gloucestershire says replacement or extra recycling boxes, white recycling bags and blue bags for soft plastics can be ordered free of charge.
Why can’t I find collection dates for my flat?
South Gloucestershire says online collection dates are not available for flats with communal bins. Use the communal-bin guidance or call the council if a communal collection is missed.
How much is large household item collection?
South Gloucestershire lists £41.90 to collect up to 3 large household items, reduced to £20.95 if you receive certain benefits.
Official South Gloucestershire links used in this guide
Use these official pages for live information. The guide above explains which link to use for each task.
Independent guide: This page is not South Gloucestershire Council. It is a practical resident guide linking to official council services. Collection dates, black-bin schedules, green-bin subscription costs, missed-collection rules, Christmas changes, phone details and support services can change, so always confirm urgent or address-specific details on South Gloucestershire Council’s live pages.