Check Your Horsham Bin Day, Weekly Food Waste and the Right Bin Before Collection
Horsham normally alternates green-top general waste and blue-top recycling every two weeks, while the orange-top food-waste container is collected every week.
Use this guide for exact dates, bin colours, recycling rules, food waste, £64 garden waste, rejected bins, missed-collection deadlines, replacement-bin prices, large items and Hop Oast Recycling Centre.
Temporary hot-weather instruction — checked 16 August 2026: Horsham District Council is currently displaying a notice asking residents to put bins out by 5:30am because crews are starting earlier during hot weather.
The permanent collection policy uses 6am. Treat 5:30am as a temporary operational instruction and recheck the council site/app before future collections.
Horsham Bin Collection 2026: Quick Answer
Check your exact address first. One week Horsham normally collects the green-top general-waste bin and the next week it collects the blue-top recycling bin.
The orange-top food-waste container is collected every week. Brown-top garden waste is separate and only collected when the property has an active paid subscription.
| Service | Container | Normal frequency | Main rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| General waste | Green-top wheelie bin | Every 2 weeks | Non-recyclable household rubbish only. |
| Mixed recycling | Blue-top wheelie bin | Every 2 weeks | Clean, loose and dry. |
| Food waste | 23L orange-top outdoor bin | Weekly | Food only; remove packaging. |
| Garden waste | 240L brown-top bin | 25 scheduled collections/year | £64 subscription per bin for 2026/27. |
| Batteries | Small sealed clear bag | Normal large-bin collection day | Bag goes on top of the wheelie bin. |
| Textiles/small electricals | Booked separate collection | Booking required | Follow the booked collection instructions. |
How to Check Your Horsham Bin Collection Day
There is no single “Horsham bin day” that works for every property in Horsham District.
- Enter your postcode. Use Horsham District Council’s live collection-calendar search.
- Select the exact property. Do not stop at postcode level if multiple addresses are shown.
- Check which large bin is due. Confirm green-top or blue-top rather than copying a neighbour.
- Remember the weekly food bin. Food waste is collected every week alongside whichever larger-bin service is due.
- Check garden waste separately. Only active subscribers should rely on a brown-top garden date.
- Look for a delay or weather notice. Operational updates can temporarily override the normal presentation time or collection date.
Check my Horsham bin day
Use email or app reminders
Horsham’s mobile app can show the next collection, provide personalised bin reminders, flag collection changes and help residents search how an item should be recycled.
Open Horsham mobile-app information
Horsham Bin Colours: Green-Top, Blue-Top, Orange-Top and Brown-Top
🟢 Green-top
General/residual household waste that cannot use a recycling, food-waste or specialist route.
🔵 Blue-top
Mixed dry recycling including accepted paper, card, metal, plastics, cartons, foil and normal glass bottles/jars.
🟠 Orange-top
Weekly household food waste. Standard individual-property outdoor container is 23 litres.
🟤 Brown-top
Optional paid garden-waste collection. Each bin needs an active subscription.
Container-size note: Horsham’s policy and current retail/order options cover more than one recycling-bin size. Follow the container allocated to your property rather than assuming every blue-top bin must be identical.
Horsham Collection-Day Rules: Time, Handles, Lid and Collection Point
Normal permanent rule: have the correct bins at their designated collection point by 6am.
Normal rounds can operate between approximately 6am and 3pm and route order can change.
Before the crew arrives
- Confirm the correct collection date.
- Put out the correct green-top or blue-top bin.
- Put weekly food waste out too.
- Use the property’s normal designated collection point.
- Face wheelie-bin handles toward the road.
- Close the lid fully.
- Do not pile extra material on the lid.
- Do not leave routine side waste.
- Keep access clear.
- Do not compact material so tightly that it cannot fall out during tipping.
After collection
Return empty containers inside the property boundary as soon as reasonably practical so they do not unnecessarily obstruct the pavement.
Horsham Blue-Top Recycling Bin: What Goes In?
Remember three words: clean, loose and dry.
Do not tie recyclable material inside ordinary plastic rubbish bags.
Paper and card: yes
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Office paper
- Food-packaging sleeves
- Greeting cards
- Egg boxes
- Cereal boxes
- Catalogues
- Brochures
- Envelopes
- Wrapping paper that passes the council’s scrunch test
Paper and card: no
- Shredded paper
- Tissues
- Paper towels
- Wet or food-covered paper/card
Metal cans and aerosols: yes
- Food cans
- Drink cans
- Pet-food cans
- Biscuit/sweet tins
- Empty household aerosols
- Foil-based blister packs
Metal items to keep out
- Paint tins
- Saucepans
- Electrical products
- Garden tools
- Cutlery/utensils
- Gas canisters
- Batteries
Plastic bottles and containers: yes
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic yoghurt pots
- Ice-cream tubs
- Plastic food trays of accepted colours
- Plastic container and jar lids
- Bottle tops when attached to squashed empty bottles
- Non-black plastic plant pots at least 40mm × 40mm
- Squeezy toothpaste tubes
Plastic: no
- Plastic film
- Carrier bags
- Crisp packets
- Flexible wrappers
- Polystyrene
- Seed trays
- Plastic toys
- Garden furniture
Many supermarkets accept some flexible plastic bags and wrappers. That does not mean they belong in Horsham’s blue-top wheelie bin.
Aluminium foil
- Clean aluminium foil
- Clean aluminium foil containers
- Clean foil takeaway trays
Keep dirty foil, food pouches and crisp packets out.
Cartons
- Fruit-juice cartons
- Long-life milk cartons
- Soup cartons
- Smoothie cartons
- Other accepted cardboard food/drink cartons
Glass bottles and jars
- Coffee jars
- Wine bottles
- Beer bottles
- Perfume bottles
- Jam jars
- Sauce bottles/jars
Glass that does not belong
- Mirror glass
- Window glass
- Pyrex
- Drinking glasses
- Ceramics
- Crockery
- Glass vases
- Paperweights
- Spectacles
Check blue-top recycling rules
Horsham Food Waste Collection 2026: Weekly Orange-Top Bin
Weekly food-waste collection is now available across Horsham District.
For an ordinary single dwelling, food is presented in the lockable 23L orange-top outdoor container.
Standard food-waste setup
- 23L lockable outdoor orange-top food bin
- 5L indoor kitchen caddy supplied during initial rollout
Food waste accepted
- Meat and bones
- Fish and shellfish
- Cheese and yoghurt
- Other dairy products
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Peelings
- Bread
- Cakes
- Pastries
- Rice
- Pasta
- Beans
- Plate scrapings
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Solid fats
- Pet food
- Mouldy food
- Out-of-date food
Keep these out
- Food packaging
- Cutlery
- Takeaway containers
- Oils
- Liquids
- Animal faeces
- Animal bedding
- Flowers
What should you use as a kitchen-caddy liner?
Lowest-risk choice: use a compostable liner, kitchen roll or newspaper—or put food into the kitchen caddy loose.
Horsham’s live food page currently contains mixed wording about ordinary plastic liners. Because plastic can remain in the digestion material, this guide recommends avoiding conventional plastic liners.
Outdoor bin presentation
- Close the lid.
- Put the handle/lid into the locked position.
- Do not leave excess food beside the container.
- Do not put another bag of food on top.
- Use only a compatible approved outdoor food container.
Need another outdoor food bin?
The current order page lists the 23L food-waste bin as free.
Lost the small kitchen caddy?
The initial 5L kitchen caddy becomes the resident’s responsibility. Routine replacement kitchen caddies are not supplied in the same way as free replacement outdoor 23L containers.
Why food is collected separately
Food collected across West Sussex is treated through anaerobic digestion, creating renewable energy and nutrient-rich material that can be returned to land.
Open Horsham food-waste guidance
Horsham Green-Top Bin: General Waste Rules
The green-top bin is normally collected every two weeks and is for non-recyclable household waste.
Examples
- Nappies
- Dog waste when safely bagged
- Non-recyclable household packaging
- Other ordinary household rubbish with no recycling/specialist route
Do not use it for
- Food waste
- Garden waste
- Recyclable paper/card
- Accepted recyclable containers
- Batteries
- Vapes
- Small electricals
- Fire extinguishers
- Asbestos
- Clinical sharps
- Commercial waste
- Bricks/rubble
- Large furniture/appliances
No routine side waste
Waste beside, on top of or in place of the designated wheelie bin can be refused. Keep ordinary residual rubbish inside the green-top container with the lid completely closed.
Horsham Garden Waste 2026/27: £64 Per Bin and 25 Collections
Current 2026/27 subscription: £64 per garden-waste bin.
The service period runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
| Detail | 2026/27 rule |
|---|---|
| Annual collection fee | £64 per subscribed bin |
| Service period | 1 April 2026–31 March 2027 |
| Scheduled collections | 25 per year |
| Normal frequency | Fortnightly |
| Christmas | Two-week service suspension |
| 240L garden bin | £60.50 if you need to purchase one |
| Extra garden bin collection | Each extra bin needs its own £64 subscription |
| Part-year discount | No |
| Setup/renewal | Can take up to 5 working days after payment |
Registration is normally suspended during December and January while Horsham prepares the next renewal cycle.
Garden waste accepted
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves
- Weeds
- Hedge trimmings
- Plant prunings
- Flowers
- Twigs
- Small branches no thicker than roughly the width of your wrist
- Old or used compost
Keep these out
- Household rubbish
- Plastic bags
- Plastic liners
- Food waste
- Soil
- Stones
- Hardcore
- Pet bedding
- Pet waste
- Household recycling
- Packaging marketed as compostable
Label the back of your brown-top bin
The crew needs to see the house number or house name on the rear of the bin below the handles.
An unidentifiable garden bin may be left and the council will not normally return until the next scheduled collection.
Garden-bin presentation
- Have it out by 6am under the normal rule.
- Place handles toward the roadside.
- Close the lid fully.
- Put garden material loose inside.
- Do not leave garden sacks beside the bin.
- Do not compact or overload it.
Why a brown-top bin may be rejected
- Wrong material/contamination
- Too heavy for one person to move safely
- Open or overflowing lid
- Material placed on top or beside the bin
- Contents jammed inside
- Contents frozen so they will not fall out
- House number/name cannot be matched to an active subscription
Fix the problem and present the bin on the next scheduled collection.
Moving within Horsham District
The service can be moved to your new Horsham District address if you notify the council.
- Take the garden bin with you.
- Tell Horsham about the new address.
- Update the house name/number shown on the bin.
- Horsham says transfer can be completed within 10 working days.
Garden waste contact: 01403 733144 or gardenwaste@horsham.gov.uk.
Moving outside the district
The 2026/27 terms say no normal refund is provided when moving away during the service period.
Cancellation
There is a statutory cancellation period of 14 working days from receipt/acceptance of the terms. Outside the applicable statutory period, normal part-year refunds are not provided.
Manage Horsham garden waste
Horsham Missed Bin: Report Before 12 Noon the Next Day
Reporting deadline: 12 noon on the day after the scheduled collection.
For a Friday collection, the deadline is 12 noon the following Monday.
Do not report too early
Normal rounds can continue until around 3pm and collection order can change.
Check these first
- Was the correct bin due?
- Was it ready by the required presentation time?
- Was it at the correct collection point?
- Were handles toward the road?
- Was the lid closed?
- Was the container too heavy?
- Was the recycling contaminated?
- Was the garden bin subscribed and identifiable?
- Was food waste in a compatible locked container?
- Was side waste left around the bin?
- Was access blocked?
- Was the material frozen or compacted?
- Was an adverse-weather disruption active?
Shared collection point?
Numbering household bins can help the crew distinguish which container belongs to each address.
Rejected rather than missed?
If the crew records a valid non-collection reason, it will normally leave a hanger/tag.
Horsham does not generally return simply because a household later fixes a bin that originally failed the collection rules.
Genuine council miss
For an ordinary valid missed collection, Horsham says it aims to return within 24 hours of the report.
Garden-waste nuance
The 2026/27 garden-waste terms separately say a genuine council garden-waste miss will be dealt with by a return collection within two working days.
Report a Horsham missed bin
Why Horsham May Refuse to Empty Your Bin
| Problem | Why it can be rejected | Correct next action |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong collection week | Green-top and blue-top alternate. | Recheck your property calendar. |
| Open lid | Bin is overfilled or unsafe. | Remove enough material for full closure. |
| Side waste | Waste is outside the designated container. | Remove it and use an authorised route. |
| Recycling contamination | Wrong, wet or food-covered material can contaminate recycling. | Remove contaminants and present next collection. |
| Garden contamination | Soil, stones, plastic or food is not accepted. | Remove incorrect material. |
| Too heavy | Unsafe for manual movement/lifting. | Reduce the load. |
| Frozen or compacted | Material does not fall out when bin is inverted. | Loosen it safely and re-present next time. |
| Wrong/private container | Container may not meet collection-equipment standards. | Use an approved compatible bin. |
Privately purchased wheelie bins
Horsham’s collection policy says third-party bins must meet the appropriate specification, including compatibility with the collection vehicle and the EN840 manufacturing standard.
Buying a cheap wheelie bin online does not guarantee Horsham will empty it.
Horsham New and Replacement Bin Prices 2026
| Container | Size | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Green-top general-waste bin | 140L | £55 |
| Regular blue-top recycling bin | 140L | £25.50 |
| Large blue-top recycling bin | 240L | £60.50 |
| Brown-top garden bin | 240L | £60.50 |
| Orange-top outdoor food bin | 23L | Free |
Current multi-buy prices
| Bundle | Price |
|---|---|
| General + recycling + garden | £120 |
| General + recycling | £88.50 |
| Recycling + garden | £91.50 |
| General + garden | £88.50 |
A free 23L food-waste bin can be added to an eligible bin order.
Do you need an entire new bin?
The order service can also supply replacement lids and wheels, so check whether a complete wheelie bin is necessary.
Bin damaged by the collection vehicle
Call 01403 733144 if the collection vehicle damages or destroys the bin during collection.
A free council-caused replacement normally depends on the crew recording the damage/loss on the scheduled collection.
Order a Horsham bin
Can I Get a Larger Green-Top General-Waste Bin?
A larger general-waste bin cannot simply be purchased on demand. Horsham requires qualifying circumstances and a waste assessment.
Published qualifying categories
- Five or more permanent residents
- Three or more children in nappies
- Qualifying medical needs
Current larger-bin fee: £60.50, subject to assessment.
Before applying
- Use weekly food collection fully.
- Recycle all accepted blue-top material.
- Use battery and electrical recycling.
- Confirm the remaining extra waste is genuinely residual.
Apply through Customer Services on 01403 733144.
Horsham Assisted Bin Collections
Free assisted collection is available where nobody at the property is physically able to move the household waste, recycling or food bins to the normal collection point.
How it works
- Contact Customer Care for an application.
- Agree an accessible collection location.
- A crew member moves the container from that location to the vehicle.
- The container is emptied.
- The crew returns it to the agreed position.
Access
The agreed collection location must be fully accessible from 6am.
Communal bins
The standard assisted-bin service does not apply to residents who use communal bin facilities.
Garden waste
Assisted arrangements can extend to a subscribed garden bin where it is safe and practical for the crew.
Check assisted collections
Horsham Flats and Communal Bin Stores
Blocks of flats and other multi-occupancy properties can use communal bulk containers rather than individual house-level wheelie bins.
Capacity planning used by Horsham
Horsham’s household waste policy uses these figures as a general per-dwelling guide when assessing communal bin capacity:
- 180L residual capacity per dwelling
- 240L mixed-recycling capacity per dwelling
Communal food waste
Each appropriate bin store is supplied with a 140L orange-top food-waste bin.
Residents use their smaller kitchen caddy to carry food to the communal orange-top bin.
Communal food waste is collected every week on the same day as either recycling or general waste.
Common communal container sizes
- 1100L green-top residual bulk bin
- 660L green-top residual bulk bin
- 360L green-top residual wheeled bin
- 1100L blue-top recycling bulk bin
- 660L blue-top recycling bulk bin
- 360L blue-top recycling wheeled bin
- Transparent-sided recycling bulk bins for contamination control
- 140L orange-top communal food bin
Access matters
- Keep bin stores unlocked/accessible when required.
- Keep the route to the collection vehicle clear.
- Avoid bulky furniture blocking bins.
- Keep access codes current.
- Bins should have a suitable hard-standing route.
Check food waste for Horsham flats
Horsham Rural and Hard-to-Reach Property Collections
A small number of isolated Horsham District properties need smaller collection vehicles because full-size refuse vehicles cannot safely reach narrow or restricted roads.
Private driveways
Residents can be required to bring bins all the way to the public highway even where the property is a significant distance down a private driveway.
Collection vehicles do not normally drive onto private property except in special agreed circumstances such as assisted collection.
For a difficult collection location
- Use the officially agreed collection point.
- Have bins there by the presentation deadline.
- Face handles toward the road.
- Do not move the bin to an alternative location without agreement.
Horsham Battery Collection: Free Kerbside Recycling
Accepted household batteries can be collected on your normal bin day without a separate booking.
- Store suitable used batteries until you have enough for a small clear sandwich-style bag.
- Seal the bag securely.
- Place it on top of the green-top or blue-top wheelie bin.
- Do not put the bag inside the wheelie bin.
Accepted examples
- AA
- AAA
- C
- D
- 6V
- 9V
- Button batteries
- Mobile-phone batteries
- Laptop batteries with terminals taped
Not accepted in the kerbside battery bag
- Batteries still inside an appliance
- Batteries with trailing wires
- Ride-on toy batteries
- Corroded batteries
- Motorbike batteries
- Industrial batteries
- Lead-acid/gel batteries
- 12V leisure batteries
- Disposable vapes
Never put loose batteries into either main household bin. They can cause serious waste-vehicle and processing fires.
Horsham Textiles, Vapes and Small Electrical Collections
Eligible textiles and small electrical products can use Horsham’s free bookable recycling collection.
Textiles accepted
- Used clothing
- Paired shoes
- Belts
- Handbags
- Pillowcases
- Bedsheets
- Towels
- Tea towels
- Curtains
Textiles not accepted
- Wet/damp/dirty textiles
- Books
- Bric-a-brac
- Fabric offcuts
- Duvets
- Pillows
Examples of small electricals accepted
- Mobile phones
- Tablets
- Laptops
- Routers
- Games consoles
- Speakers
- Radios
- Kettles
- Toasters
- Air fryers
- Irons
- Hairdryers
- Small power tools
- Extension leads
- Christmas lights
- Smoke alarms
- Thermostats
- Cables
- Disposable vapes/e-cigarettes
- Eligible screens up to 26 inches
Examples needing another route
- Microwave ovens
- Large screens over the collection-size limit
- Fluorescent tubes
- Energy-saving light bulbs
- Glass/ceramic electrical items
- Large multifunction printers
Remove replaceable batteries
Take accessible replaceable batteries out of electrical products before collection and recycle them using the separate battery route.
Book textiles / small electricals
Horsham Coffee-Pod Recycling: Verify the Live Route Before Using It
There is currently conflicting information on Horsham’s own website.
Council news pages updated in July 2026 say the previous kerbside coffee-pod service has been discontinued. The dedicated Podback page still displays instructions for ordering bags and booking a council collection.
Safest action
- Open the current dedicated coffee-pod page.
- Check whether its collection-booking route still actually accepts a new booking.
- If council collection is unavailable, follow the current Podback retailer/drop-off option.
Do not put coffee pods into the normal blue-top recycling bin simply because they contain aluminium or plastic.
Horsham Clinical Waste, Incontinence Waste and Sharps
Medisort operates Horsham’s free weekly household clinical-waste collection.
Examples collected
- Bandages
- Incontinence pads
- Needles
- Sharps
- Stoma bags
Contact Medisort
- Phone: 01903 719646
- Email: ask@medisort.co.uk
Medisort provides the required bags/boxes before the first collection and supplies replacements.
Small amount of offensive waste
Horsham’s collection policy says a resident producing one or fewer black bags of certain clinical/offensive waste per week may be able to seek a larger-bin dispensation instead.
This does not apply to needles or sharps. Sharps must always use the separate clinical-waste route.
Horsham Large Item Collection 2026: Fees and 8-Item Limit
Maximum standard booking: 8 eligible items.
Current standard price: £32 for the first item + £27 for each additional item.
| Number of items | Standard price |
|---|---|
| 1 | £32 |
| 2 | £59 |
| 3 | £86 |
| 4 | £113 |
| 5 | £140 |
| 6 | £167 |
| 7 | £194 |
| 8 | £221 |
Benefit discounts
- Full Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support: 50% discount.
- Full benefits plus state pension age: free collection.
Common standard items
- Beds
- Headboards
- Mattresses
- Bedroom furniture
- Bookcases
- Cupboards
- Desks
- Tables
- Non-upholstered eligible chairs
- Domestic fridges/freezers
- Microwaves
- Cookers/ovens
- Washing machines
- Tumble dryers
- Dishwashers
- TVs
- Computer screens
- Bicycles
- Wheelbarrows
- Pushchairs
Upholstered furniture must be separated
Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating has its own collection route because of Persistent Organic Pollutant handling requirements.
This includes sofas, sofa beds, armchairs, dining/kitchen chairs, stools, footstools, office chairs, futons, bean bags and upholstered cushions.
The current upholstered-furniture price uses the same £32 first-item / £27 additional-item structure.
Presentation
Put booked items outside at the front of the property before 6am.
- Items must be easily accessible.
- The crew cannot enter your home.
- Do not leave unbooked furniture beside normal bins.
Horsham Recycling Centre, Hop Oast: Booking, Hours and Visit Limits
You must book before driving to Horsham Recycling Centre.
You must also be able to prove that you are entitled to use West Sussex Recycling Centres.
Address
Horsham Recycling Centre
Hopoast / Hop Oast
Worthing Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 0AR
Centre phone: 01403 253016
Current opening pattern
| Period | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday–Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr–30 Sep | 9am–6pm | Closed | Closed | 9am–6pm |
| 1 Oct–31 Mar | 9am–4pm | Closed | Closed | 9am–4pm |
How the booking system works
- Maximum 5 Recycling Centre visits per calendar month.
- Book up to 14 days in advance.
- Same-day booking is possible where a slot remains.
- You need the vehicle registration number.
- You need your address.
- You need an email address.
- The booking should be in the attendee’s name.
- If the registration is entered incorrectly, cancel and rebook rather than trying to edit it.
Proof of West Sussex residency
Take an accepted proof-of-address document. Examples published by West Sussex include:
- Current driving licence
- Current-year Council Tax bill
- Recent utility bill
- Recent TV licence
- Recent HMRC/Home Office letter
- Current bus pass
- Current disabled parking permit
No accepted proof of residency can mean no entry.
Vehicle restrictions at Horsham
Do not arrive in:
- Luton-type van
- Horsebox
- Any trailer
- Tipper truck
- Flatbed truck
- Drop-side truck
- Vehicle over 3.5 tonnes gross weight
- Vehicle over 2.2 metres high
Can you walk or cycle into Hop Oast?
No. Horsham is the West Sussex Recycling Centre exception where pedestrian access is not permitted because of site-safety conditions.
DIY building waste
West Sussex provides only a limited household DIY/construction-waste service.
The normal county limit is approximately 200kg per accepted visit—roughly eight full 25kg rubble/sand bags or equivalent.
Larger home-improvement projects should use a suitable skip, licensed waste service or another appropriate commercial arrangement.
Plasterboard
Horsham Recycling Centre is one of the West Sussex centres that accepts household plasterboard/gypsum waste in the designated stream.
Before loading your vehicle
- Check that Horsham accepts every material in your load.
- Check any material-specific quantity restrictions.
- Check your vehicle is permitted.
- Book a slot.
- Take proof of residency.
- Sort the load so you can use the correct containers efficiently.
Check Horsham Recycling Centre
Horsham Bank Holiday, Christmas and New Year Collections
Do not hard-code a permanent “one day later” rule for Horsham.
Christmas and New Year can involve catch-up Saturdays and a separate garden-waste suspension, while other operational changes may differ.
Safest holiday routine
- Check the exact property calendar.
- Check whether green-top or blue-top is due.
- Check the weekly food-waste date.
- Check garden waste separately.
- Read any current council/app notification.
- Do not reuse last year’s Christmas calendar.
Moving Into Horsham District: First-Week Bin Checklist
Existing property
- Find the green-top general-waste bin.
- Find the blue-top recycling bin.
- Find the 23L orange-top outdoor food bin.
- Check whether a brown-top garden bin has a current subscription.
- Search your collection dates.
- Set collection reminders.
At an existing normal home, missing standard household wheelie bins are generally the householder’s responsibility to replace/purchase.
New-build home
For a new-build development, the developer is responsible for supplying the standard green-top refuse and blue-top recycling containers.
Five or more homes / flats
Developers and housing managers should involve Horsham’s Recycling & Waste Team early so container numbers, specifications, bin-store design and vehicle access can be assessed.
Do not buy random third-party bins
A third-party wheelie bin can be rejected if it does not meet the correct size, colour, EN840 manufacturing or collection-vehicle requirements.
Hiring Someone to Remove Waste? Check Their Waste Carrier Licence
Your household waste remains your responsibility until it has been disposed of correctly.
If you pay a trader to remove furniture, renovation waste or a house-clearance load, make sure the waste is handled lawfully.
Before handing waste over
- Ask for waste-carrier registration details.
- Check the registration.
- Get a receipt or other paperwork.
- Record who took the waste.
- Be suspicious of unusually cheap unsolicited offers.
If your waste is later fly-tipped, using an unlicensed or irresponsible carrier can create problems for the householder as well as the trader.
Horsham Bin Problem Solver: What Should You Do Right Now?
| Problem | First action | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t know which bin is due | Use postcode calendar. | Do not copy another household. |
| Bin still full before 3pm | Allow normal round to finish. | Do not report prematurely. |
| Hanger/tag left | Read and fix rejection reason. | Do not call it a missed bin. |
| Green-top bin always full | Remove food and recyclable material, then check larger-bin eligibility. | Do not leave side sacks. |
| Blue-top bin contaminated | Remove incorrect/wet/dirty material. | Do not re-present unchanged. |
| Need more food capacity | Order another compatible 23L food bin. | Do not leave food bags beside caddy. |
| Brown-top bin not emptied | Check subscription, label, weight and contents. | Do not assume owning the bin equals active service. |
| Need batteries recycled | Clear sealed bag on top of large bin. | Never put loose batteries inside. |
| Old vape or small electrical | Book small-electrical recycling. | Do not put it in either household bin. |
| Needles/sharps | Use Medisort clinical route. | Never put sharps in ordinary waste. |
| Sofa/armchair | Use upholstered-seating booking. | Do not mix with standard bulky booking. |
| Large DIY load | Check HWRC quantity limit or use licensed disposal. | Do not exceed household DIY limits. |
| Going to Hop Oast | Book and take proof of residency. | Do not arrive on foot or with a trailer. |
Nearby Bin Collection Guides
Bin colours, presentation times and missed-bin deadlines change across council boundaries. If you move out of Horsham District, check the new authority rather than carrying Horsham’s rules with you.
Horsham Waste and Recycling Contact Details
Horsham waste/recycling Customer Care: 01403 733144
Main council number: 01403 215100
01403 733144 is relevant for
- Waste/recycling collection enquiries
- Bin orders
- Larger-bin applications
- Assisted collection
- Collection-vehicle bin damage
- Bulky household waste
- Waste-enforcement enquiries
- Street-cleaning/fly-tipping related waste enquiries
Garden waste
- Phone: 01403 733144
- Email: gardenwaste@horsham.gov.uk
Clinical waste
- Medisort: 01903 719646
- Email: ask@medisort.co.uk
Horsham Recycling Centre
Centre: 01403 253016
West Sussex booking enquiries
Book-to-Recycle telephone enquiries: 01243 642106.
Before contacting anyone
- Write down the full address and postcode.
- Know the bin colour/service involved.
- Know the scheduled date.
- Know when the bin was presented.
- Check for a rejection hanger.
- Check whether access was blocked.
- Have subscription/booking references ready.
Horsham Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my Horsham bin collection day?
Use Horsham District Council’s postcode collection-calendar search and choose the exact property. Confirm whether green-top or blue-top is due and remember that food waste is weekly.
What time should Horsham bins be put out?
The normal permanent rule is by 6am with handles facing the road. During the current August 2026 hot-weather alert, Horsham is temporarily asking residents to have bins out by 5:30am.
How often is the green-top bin collected?
General waste is normally collected every two weeks, alternating with the blue-top recycling collection.
How often is the blue-top recycling bin collected?
Blue-top mixed recycling is normally collected every two weeks.
Is Horsham food waste weekly?
Yes. The orange-top food-waste container is collected every week on the same collection day as either the general-waste or recycling service.
What size is the Horsham outdoor food bin?
The standard individual-household outdoor food-waste bin is 23 litres and has an orange top and locking mechanism.
What should I line my food caddy with?
The safest options are a compostable liner, kitchen roll, newspaper or no liner. Horsham’s live food page contains mixed wording about ordinary plastic liners, so this guide recommends avoiding conventional plastic liners.
How much is a replacement outdoor food bin?
Horsham currently lists its 23-litre outdoor food-waste bin as free.
Can glass bottles go in Horsham’s blue-top bin?
Yes. Normal bottles and jars such as wine bottles, beer bottles, perfume bottles, coffee jars, jam jars and sauce jars are accepted. Pyrex, mirrors, windows, drinking glasses and crockery are not.
Can plastic bags go in the blue-top recycling bin?
No. Horsham does not accept plastic carrier bags or recycling tied inside plastic bags in the blue-top bin. Many supermarkets provide separate soft-plastic collection points.
Can toothpaste tubes go in Horsham recycling?
Horsham’s current blue-top recycling list includes squeezy toothpaste tubes.
Can plastic plant pots go in the blue-top bin?
Current guidance accepts non-black plastic plant pots where they meet the minimum size requirement of approximately 40mm by 40mm. Seed trays and other garden plastics remain excluded.
Can I leave rubbish beside my green-top bin?
No. Routine excess general waste outside the designated container is not collected and can create an enforcement problem if waste is left on the highway.
How much is Horsham garden waste in 2026/27?
The current annual garden-waste subscription is £64 per bin for the service year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
How many garden-waste collections do I get?
Horsham schedules 25 collections per service year, normally every two weeks with a two-week Christmas suspension.
How much is the brown-top garden bin itself?
The current 240-litre garden-waste wheelie bin purchase price is £60.50. The £64 annual collection subscription is separate.
Does my garden bin need my house number?
Yes. Clearly mark the rear of the garden bin below the handles with the property’s house number or house name so the crew can match it to the active subscription.
What happens if I move within Horsham District?
The garden-waste service can be moved to the new address if you notify Horsham. Take the bin with you and update the property name/number on it.
When must a missed Horsham bin be reported?
By 12 noon on the day after the scheduled collection. A Friday miss can be reported up to 12 noon the following Monday.
How quickly will Horsham return for a genuine missed bin?
For a normal correctly presented collection confirmed as missed, Horsham says it aims to collect within 24 hours after the report. Garden-waste terms separately provide for return within two working days for a council error.
Why might my Horsham bin be rejected?
Common reasons include the wrong bin/week, open lid, contamination, excess side waste, excessive weight, frozen or compacted contents, wrong collection point or an incompatible unauthorised container.
How much is a new green-top bin?
The current 140-litre general-waste bin purchase price is £55.
How much is a Horsham recycling bin?
The current order page lists a 140-litre regular recycling bin at £25.50 and a 240-litre large recycling bin at £60.50.
Can I get a larger general-waste bin?
Possibly. Qualifying households include those with five or more permanent residents, three or more children in nappies, or qualifying medical needs. A waste assessment and £60.50 fee apply.
Does Horsham collect batteries from home?
Yes. Put accepted batteries into a sealed small clear bag and place that bag on top of your green-top or blue-top wheelie bin on collection day.
Does Horsham collect vapes?
Disposable vapes and e-cigarettes can use the bookable small-electrical recycling service. They must not be placed inside normal household bins.
Does Horsham collect clothes and textiles?
Yes. Eligible clean, dry textiles can use Horsham’s free bookable textiles and small-electrical recycling collection.
Does Horsham collect needles and sharps?
Yes, through the separate free weekly Medisort clinical-waste service. Sharps must not be put in ordinary household rubbish or recycling.
How much is Horsham bulky waste collection?
The standard large-item service costs £32 for the first item plus £27 for every additional item, with up to eight eligible items in one booking.
Can Horsham collect sofas and armchairs?
Yes, but upholstered domestic seating uses a separate upholstered-furniture collection rather than the ordinary large-item stream.
Where is Horsham Recycling Centre?
It is at Hopoast, Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 0AR.
Do I need to book Hop Oast?
Yes. West Sussex requires a booking before visiting Horsham Recycling Centre.
How many Recycling Centre visits can I make?
The current Book to Recycle system allows up to five visits per calendar month. Slots can be booked up to 14 days ahead or on the same day if availability remains.
Do I need proof of residency at Hop Oast?
Yes. West Sussex requires acceptable proof that you are a West Sussex resident/council taxpayer when using its Recycling Centres.
Can I take a trailer to Horsham Recycling Centre?
No. Horsham Recycling Centre currently prohibits trailers of every type.
Can I walk or cycle into Horsham Recycling Centre?
No. Horsham is excluded from West Sussex’s normal pedestrian Recycling Centre access because of local health and safety conditions.
How much DIY rubble can I take to a West Sussex Recycling Centre?
For household DIY building/construction waste, West Sussex’s normal limited allowance is approximately 200kg, roughly eight full 25kg rubble or sand bags or equivalent. Check material-specific rules before travelling.
Is Horsham’s council coffee-pod collection still operating?
Official council pages currently conflict: July 2026 updated news says the service was discontinued, while the dedicated Podback page still shows collection-booking instructions. Verify the live booking route before relying on the kerbside service.
Can I get help putting my bins out?
Eligible residents can apply for a free assisted collection where nobody at the property can physically move the bins. The normal assisted service does not apply to communal-bin facilities.
What is Horsham’s waste and recycling phone number?
For many recycling, waste, bin-order and collection enquiries, Horsham District Council lists 01403 733144.
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Yoast should output the core page/article graph. Google stopped showing FAQ rich results in May 2026 and removed the associated documentation in June 2026; generic HowTo rich-result support was already deprecated. The FAQs above remain useful, visible crawlable content without redundant search-feature markup.