Check Your Bin Day — Then Check Whether Weekly Food Waste Has Started
South Cambridgeshire households use Greater Cambridge Shared Waste for black, blue, green and 2026 food-waste collections.
Your exact property calendar matters because weekly food waste is being introduced in phases and temporary weather changes can alter normal presentation times.
Live service update — checked 17 August 2026: Greater Cambridge’s current website banner says collections are starting one hour earlier this week, at 5am instead of 6am, because of high temperatures. Residents are being asked to put bins out the night before.
The same live service currently says collections from small-electrical pink bins at recycling points are suspended following a processing-plant fire. Store small electricals safely or use an appropriate large Household Recycling Centre route until that service resumes.
Check current Greater Cambridge service noticesSouth Cambridgeshire Bin Collection 2026: Quick Answer
Use the exact property result as the final answer. Enter your postcode in the Greater Cambridge collection checker and select your house, flat or named property.
Black general waste and blue recycling normally alternate. The first green bin runs fortnightly from March to November and monthly from December to February. Weekly food-waste collections are being introduced property-by-property during 2026.
| Service | Normal pattern | Main use | Critical point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bin | Usually every 2 weeks | Residual household rubbish | Once food service begins, normal kitchen food should use the caddy. |
| Blue bin | Usually every 2 weeks | Mixed household recycling | South Cambs accepts some plastic bags/wrappers that many councils do not. |
| First green bin | Fortnightly Mar–Nov; monthly Dec–Feb | Garden/accepted compostable material | Routine food moves to the caddy after the weekly service starts. |
| Food waste | Weekly after rollout | Household food scraps | Start date is property-specific during 2026. |
How to Check South Cambridgeshire Bin Collection Dates by Postcode
-
Open the Greater Cambridge collection checker.
South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City share the Greater Cambridge household waste service. -
Enter the full postcode.
Use the postcode of the property whose collection you need. -
Select the exact address.
Do not stop at village or postcode level. New estates, rural roads, flats and neighbouring properties can differ. -
Read every service column.
The current result can show black, blue, green and food-waste dates. -
Check future dates too.
Look beyond the next collection when planning around holidays or travel. -
Check alerts before bin night.
Current weather, route or food-rollout notices can temporarily change normal instructions.
Check South Cambs bin dates
How the Normal South Cambs Bin Rotation Works
For a standard individual-bin property, black general waste and blue recycling normally operate on alternate weeks.
| Typical week | Main wheelie-bin collection | Food after rollout |
|---|---|---|
| Week A | Black general-waste bin | Outdoor food caddy also goes out |
| Week B | Blue recycling bin and green bin when scheduled | Outdoor food caddy also goes out |
Green bin frequency changes in winter
- March to November: normally every two weeks.
- December to February: normally once a month.
That is why a blue collection does not automatically mean the green bin is due during winter. Check the calendar.
2026 Food-Waste Change: Green Bin Before Rollout vs After Rollout
This is the most important 2026 distinction. Older general Greater Cambridge pages still describe the green bin as accepting food, while the newer service-specific food-waste page explains what changes when the weekly caddy reaches your address.
| Your address status | Where kitchen food goes | Green-bin rule |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly food collection has not started | Continue following the current pre-rollout green-bin guidance. | Food can continue using the existing green-bin route until your start date. |
| Weekly food collection has started | Use the separate outdoor food caddy every week. | Stop routinely putting kitchen food into the green bin. |
Greater Cambridge’s updated food-waste page explicitly tells households to stop putting food waste into the green bin once their weekly service begins.
Windfall fruit still counts as garden waste and can remain in the green bin.
South Cambridgeshire Weekly Food Waste Collection 2026
The new service is being introduced in phases across South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge during 2026.
How do I know when mine starts?
- Greater Cambridge writes to the household in advance.
- The start date appears in the address collection calendar.
- The postcode-based “In My Area” service can show local rollout information.
What containers are provided?
Indoor kitchen caddy
A small caddy is supplied for collecting food scraps inside the home.
Outdoor caddy
Individual-bin households receive a larger animal-resistant outdoor caddy with a lockable handle for weekly presentation.
Starter liners
A starter roll is supplied when the service begins. Greater Cambridge says it does not provide further rolls once those liners are used.
What liner can I use afterwards?
Any suitable liner can be used, including ordinary plastic or shop-bought compostable liners, or you can use no liner.
If using a plastic liner, the food must be visible through it so collection crews can see that the bag contains food waste only.
Accepted food waste
- All uneaten food and plate scrapings
- Raw and cooked food
- Mouldy food
- Fruit and vegetables
- Peelings
- Meat and fish
- Bones
- Cheese
- Eggs and eggshells
- Yoghurt
- Bread
- Cakes and pastries
- Rice and pasta
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
- Small amounts of kitchen roll used for food/drink
Keep these out
- Packaging of any kind
- Compostable plastic plates and cups
- Other non-food compostable packaging
- Milk and other liquids
- Cooking oil
- Liquid fat
- Anything that is not food waste
Powdered foods
Bag powders such as flour, icing sugar or powdered milk before putting them into the food caddy so they do not become airborne during collection.
Food-caddy hygiene
- Empty the indoor caddy frequently.
- In hot weather, daily emptying is recommended.
- Keep lids closed.
- Do not overfill liners.
- Tie liners tightly.
- Put the outdoor caddy out every week.
- Rinse both caddies when needed.
What happens to collected food?
The food goes to an anaerobic-digestion facility. Liners are mechanically removed and used for energy recovery, while the food produces biogas/electricity and agricultural fertiliser.
Lost or damaged outdoor caddy
After food collections have started for the address, Greater Cambridge says replacement outdoor caddies can be requested and delivery is normally arranged within about 10 days.
Current delivery update — checked 17 August 2026: the official food page currently says caddy deliveries are taking longer than normal for some residents who requested a caddy after their service began in May.
Missed individual outdoor caddy
Report it, but crews do not currently return specifically to empty an individual missed outdoor caddy.
If you run out of room before the next weekly collection:
- Put the excess food waste in the black bin, or
- Remove the food from plastic liners and put the food loose or in a paper liner into the green bin.
Do not put plastic or bio-bags into the green bin when using this fallback route.
Missed shared food bin at flats
That is handled differently. Use the missed-bin-at-flats route; Greater Cambridge says it will return for a genuine missed communal food-waste collection.
South Cambridgeshire Blue Bin: What Can Be Recycled?
The blue bin accepts a broader range of mixed recycling than many UK council kerbside systems.
Accepted examples
- Paper
- Newspapers and magazines
- Envelopes
- Cardboard
- Cartons such as Tetra Pak
- Empty plastic bags except black rubbish sacks
- Non-metallic plastic wrappers such as bread and pasta bags
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic pots
- Plastic tubs
- Plastic trays except excluded black plastic
- Food and drink cans
- Empty aerosols
- Greeting cards
- Non-metallic wrapping paper
- Tinfoil and foil trays
- Biscuit and sweet tins
- Glass jars and bottles
- Shredded paper when contained correctly
Keep these out
- Food and liquids
- Nappies
- Clothes, textiles and shoes
- Expanded polystyrene / Styrofoam
- Foam and sponge
- Non-packaging plastic such as toys
- Metallic wrappers such as many crisp packets
- Black refuse sacks
- Opaque bags containing recycling
- Flat glass and mirrors
- Pyrex
- Kitchen paper and tissues
- Dirty packaging
- Paint tins
- Batteries inside the bin
Shredded paper
Greater Cambridge currently accepts shredded paper when it is contained in a paper bag or clean plastic bag so it remains together during collection.
Do not copy another council’s soft-plastic rules. South Cambridgeshire currently accepts certain empty non-metallic plastic bags and wrappers in the blue bin.
South Cambridgeshire Green Bin: Garden Waste After Food Rollout
The first standard green-bin collection remains part of the ordinary household service.
It is normally collected fortnightly from March through November and monthly from December through February.
After weekly food starts, use the green bin mainly for…
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves
- Garden prunings
- Untreated wood and bark
- Straw and sawdust
- Windfall fruit
- Cooled wood ash inside an appropriate paper sack
- Other garden material accepted by the current Greater Cambridge A–Z
Windfall fruit
Windfall fruit remains classified as garden waste even after the separate food service starts.
Large quantities of fruit can make a green bin too heavy. The collection vehicle’s weight protection can prevent an overweight bin from being emptied.
Keep out
- Plastic bags and sacks
- Biodegradable/compostable plastic food bags
- Plastic garden items
- Cat and dog waste
- Soil
- Stones
- Turf
- Treated wood
- Rubble
- Loose ash
- Coal ash
- Batteries
Frozen contents
If wet garden material freezes inside the wheelie bin and does not fall out when the container is tipped, that does not qualify for a return missed-bin collection. Loosen it before the next scheduled date.
South Cambridgeshire Black Bin: General Household Waste
Use the black bin for normal household material that cannot use recycling, green waste, weekly food waste or another specialist route.
Typical accepted material
- General non-recyclable household waste
- Disposable nappies
- Polystyrene and Styrofoam
- Foam and sponge packaging
- Cooled ash when securely bagged
Keep these out
- Paint tins
- Rubble
- Bricks
- Soil
- Very heavy items
- Electrical items
- Loose ash
- Batteries inside the bin
After food rollout
Routine food should use the weekly outdoor caddy. The black bin is only one of the fallback options if an individual food caddy has genuinely been missed and becomes full before the next collection.
South Cambs Battery Collection: Bag on Top of the Bin
Never place loose household batteries inside a black, blue or green wheelie bin.
For common household batteries such as AA, AAA, button, C and D cells:
- Put them in a small plastic bag.
- Tie the bag securely.
- Place the bag loosely on top of the lid of a blue, green or black bin.
Batteries inside waste can cause serious fires in collection vehicles and processing facilities.
Small electrical items
Do not put electrical equipment into household wheelie bins.
The local pink recycling-point collection is currently suspended, so check the live service notice and use an appropriate Household Recycling Centre or retailer recycling route where needed.
Can You Leave Extra Recycling Beside the Blue Bin?
Yes — but only within Greater Cambridge’s specific extra-recycling allowance.
| Extra material | Collected? | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| One transparent sack of recycling | Yes | Place beside the blue bin. |
| One tied/taped cardboard bundle | Yes | Keep dry and manageable. |
| Black or coloured sack | No | Crews must be able to see the recycling. |
| Glass inside the extra sack | No | Glass must remain inside the blue bin for safety. |
| More than one sack/bundle | No | Consider another blue bin for regular overflow. |
Both the sack and cardboard bundle should be small enough that they could have fitted into the bin with the lid closed if space had been available.
During delayed rounds, crews may prioritise emptying wheelie bins over collecting extra recycling.
South Cambridgeshire Bin Collection Time: Normal 6am, Live 5am Heat Alert
The standing collection rule is 6am. Bins should be closed, correctly filled, accessible and ready before crews arrive.
Temporary update checked 17 August 2026: Greater Cambridge currently says rounds are starting at 5am instead of 6am this week because of high temperatures.
Put bins out the night before while that official alert remains active.
Normal presentation checklist
- Close all wheelie-bin lids.
- Use the normal collection point.
- Keep access clear.
- Do not overfill the bin.
- Make sure it is light enough to manoeuvre safely.
- Keep wrong materials out.
- Use the limited extra-recycling allowance only beside the blue bin.
South Cambridgeshire Missed Bin: Exact Reporting Window
A normal household missed bin can only be reported from 3:30pm on collection day.
The deadline is 3:30pm on the next weekday, Monday to Friday.
Before reporting
- Check the exact address calendar.
- Confirm that bin was actually due.
- Confirm it was presented by the required time.
- If the 5am heat alert applies, check it was out before the temporary earlier start.
- Make sure the collection point was accessible.
- Check that the lid was closed.
- Check for contamination or a reject card.
- Make sure the bin was not too heavy.
- Make sure the contents were not frozen.
- Check whether a live service notice explains the delay.
What happens after a valid normal report?
Greater Cambridge currently says it will return for qualifying normal missed bins within three working days after the scheduled collection.
Leave the bin available after reporting because the crew may return sooner if resources permit.
Individual food caddy exception
Greater Cambridge does not currently return to empty a missed individual outdoor food caddy.
Still submit the report because it helps identify recurring route problems.
Shared food bin at flats
A genuine missed communal food-waste bin uses the flats reporting route and can receive a return collection.
Why Was My South Cambs Bin Not Emptied?
| Problem | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong bin still full | It was not due | Recheck the postcode calendar. |
| Reject card/tag | Contamination | Remove the wrong material before the next collection. |
| Lid open / bin overfilled | Container not safely presented | Reduce the contents and fully close the lid. |
| Bin very heavy | Vehicle cannot safely lift it | Remove heavy material and use an appropriate disposal route. |
| Green bin partly/full after frost | Contents frozen inside | Loosen the material before the next collection. |
| Plastic/bio-bag in green bin | Green-bin contamination | Remove the bag; use paper/loose material where the green-bin fallback applies. |
| Individual food caddy missed | Crew miss | Report it, but do not expect a separate return collection. |
New, Extra, Lost and Replacement Bins in South Cambridgeshire
Standard wheelie-bin sizes
| Size | Capacity | Approximate dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 240 litres | 107 × 48 × 74cm |
| Small | 140 litres | 107 × 48 × 55.5cm |
Greater Cambridge decides which bin size is appropriate. All containers must be stored off the public highway.
Blue recycling bins
| Blue-bin request | Current charge |
|---|---|
| Second blue bin | Free delivery |
| Third blue bin | £31.50 |
| Fourth blue bin | £31.50 |
| Lost blue-bin replacement | £31.50 |
There is currently no additional collection charge for properly authorised blue recycling bins.
Green bins
- Up to four can currently be held at one property.
- Delivery of additional green bins is free.
- A lost green-bin replacement currently costs £31.50.
- The first green bin is emptied without an additional permit charge.
- Every additional green bin requires a valid annual permit to be emptied.
Additional black bin
- A second black bin is available only in certain circumstances.
- Delivery of an additional bin at council discretion currently costs £31.50.
- Additional capacity for approved medical need is free.
- A lost black-bin replacement currently costs £31.50.
- A bin recorded by Greater Cambridge as damaged/lost during emptying is replaced free.
Food-waste caddies
- A second outdoor caddy can be available in qualifying circumstances.
- Eligible additional outdoor caddy delivery is free.
- Lost or damaged outdoor caddies are currently replaced free.
- Greater Cambridge does not normally replace or provide additional indoor kitchen caddies.
Sack-service properties
A sack service can be arranged where there is not enough space to store bins off the public highway or where physical barriers make wheelie-bin movement unsafe.
- White sacks for general rubbish
- Brown paper sacks for appropriate garden/food material
- Clear sacks for recycling
Sacks replace the normal bins at qualifying properties. They are not an extra side-waste allowance.
New houses
A standard new house receives three 240L bins. The current one-off charge is £100 for the three-bin set where the cost is not already met by the developer through the relevant planning arrangement.
South Cambs Extra Green Bin Permit: Current £50 Price Ends 30 September 2026
Current published permit year: 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026.
Current published price: £50 per additional green bin.
Do not automatically carry the £50 price into the next permit year.
As of 17 August 2026, the live permit page still states £50 for the year ending 30 September 2026. Check the official page for the price applying from 1 October 2026 before renewing or publishing a future-year fee.
Maximum number of green bins
You can have up to three additional green bins, making four green bins in total.
No part-year discount
The annual permit is a fixed price irrespective of when you join during that permit year.
Permit sticker
- Allow up to 14 days after payment.
- Place the sticker on the rear body of the bin, underneath the handles.
- Present the bin with the handles towards the road where instructed.
- Do not expect the additional bin to be emptied before the permit is displayed.
Moving address
The additional bin can move with you within the Greater Cambridge shared collection area, but the address attached to the permit must be updated.
If you leave the service area, the annual charge is non-refundable.
South Cambridgeshire Bin Collections for Flats and Communal Stores
Shared-bin properties can operate differently from nearby houses with individual wheelie bins.
Normal communal pattern
Communal general rubbish is normally emptied one week, with communal blue recycling and green waste where provided on the alternate week.
2026 food-waste rollout
Flats are also being moved onto weekly separate food-waste collections.
Residents receive an indoor caddy and empty it into the shared outdoor food-waste bin supplied to the development.
Old flat guidance vs new food service
Before a building receives separate food waste, old building-specific black/green arrangements may still apply.
Once the weekly food service begins, follow the new caddy and shared-food-bin instructions supplied for the block.
Missed communal bins
Report a genuine missed shared collection by the next day so the crew can investigate.
Where the non-collection was caused by overloading, contamination, loose dumped waste or blocked access, the managing agent or housing officer may need to correct the problem first.
Bulky waste in bin stores
Do not leave furniture, mattresses or loose rubbish around communal bins. It is not part of the ordinary collection and can be treated as fly-tipping.
South Cambridgeshire Assisted Bin Collection
Assisted collection is designed for residents who cannot safely place their wheelie bin at the normal collection point.
You may qualify if…
- You have a disability or mobility problem that restricts you from putting the bin out.
- No other resident at the property can put the bin out for you.
How it works
The crew collects the bin from an agreed accessible location and returns it to the same place after emptying.
Keep the route accessible
- Use an easily reached position, preferably at the front.
- Unlock gates when necessary.
- Cut back branches or shrubs blocking access.
- A private-road collection can require permission from the road owner.
Greater Cambridge requests evidence of eligibility and currently reviews assisted-collection eligibility every three years.
Food waste
Existing assisted-collection customers automatically receive assisted food-waste collection when the weekly caddy service begins for their property.
South Cambridgeshire Bulky Waste Collection: 2026 Prices and Rules
| Booking type | Current published charge | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 standard items | £38 minimum | Some large objects count as multiple items. |
| Standard item 4–9 | £6.20 each | Maximum nine items per standard booking. |
| Large / hazardous electrical item | £31 each | Uses a separate collection and processing route. |
Standard bulky examples
- Common household furniture
- Suitable garden furniture/equipment
- Approximately one room’s worth of carpet
- Selected household equipment
- Up to three ordinary 80L bags of excess general rubbish
- Up to three ordinary 80L bags of garden waste
Large electrical examples
- Computer screens
- Empty, defrosted freezers
- Empty fridges
- Microwaves
- Televisions
- Washing machines
- Tumble dryers
- Cookers and hobs
- Dishwashers
Examples the council does not collect
- Vehicle tyres or batteries
- Pianos
- Chemicals
- Oil-contaminated objects
- Large industrial-style refrigeration
- Construction material
- Pallets
- Bathroom suites
- Paint
- Mobility scooters
- Gas canisters
- Sheds
- Anything not included in the confirmed booking
Presentation point
Items need to be outside at the front of the property where it meets the public highway, with vehicle access available.
Crews cannot enter the home.
Collections can start at 6am
Booked bulky items should be outside from 6am. Putting them out the night before is acceptable where safe.
How quickly can I get a booking?
The current South Cambs page says an available collection date can usually be found within the next 10 days.
Cancel or change
Contact Customer Services by 5pm two days before the booked collection where possible. Late amendments or refunds cannot be guaranteed.
Cambridgeshire Recycling Centres: Booking and E-Permit Rules
Normal Cambridgeshire Household Recycling Centre visits currently do not require booking.
Household Recycling Centres are operated by Cambridgeshire County Council, not South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Current access basics
- Household waste generated by Cambridgeshire residents only.
- Business/trade waste is not accepted as household waste.
- Waste created by tradespeople working at your home is business waste.
- Large construction/demolition projects are excluded.
- Cyclists can access the sites.
- Pedestrian access is not currently permitted.
Vehicle size limits
- Maximum vehicle length: 5.5 metres.
- Maximum vehicle height: 2.3 metres.
- Maximum trailer length: 2.5 metres excluding towing mechanism.
Which vehicles need an e-permit?
| Vehicle | E-permit? |
|---|---|
| Normal private car | Normally no |
| Van / crew-cab / combi van | Yes |
| Pick-up | Yes |
| Modified campervan/minibus used for goods | Yes |
| Trailer 1.5–2.5m or over 570L capacity | Yes |
E-permit allowance
- Free for Cambridgeshire residents.
- One e-permit per household.
- Maximum 12 permitted visits in 12 months.
- The permit is tied to household and vehicle details.
- A qualifying hire vehicle also needs the appropriate e-permit.
Milton redevelopment
Milton Household Recycling Centre is not yet confirmed as closed for construction.
The County Council says it will publish the closure timing after remaining project arrangements are complete.
Future temporary booking
While Milton is eventually closed, selected alternative recycling centres will temporarily require online booking to manage extra demand.
The planned temporary system is intended to offer real-time/same-day slots and telephone booking for people without internet access.
Do not confuse that future temporary system with today’s county-wide rule: normal HRC visits currently do not need a booking.
Opening times
Cambridgeshire centres moved to summer opening hours from 1 April 2026. Individual site hours vary and entrance gates close 10 minutes before the published closing time.
Check the selected site immediately before travelling.
South Cambs Clinical Waste, Sharps and Hygiene Waste
Non-infectious hygiene waste
Suitable non-infectious healthcare-related waste can normally be securely bagged inside the black bin.
Examples include:
- Drained catheter and stoma bags
- Non-infectious wound dressings
- Certain soiled bedding
- Sanitary waste
- Nappies
- Plasters
- Incontinence pads
Extra black-bin capacity
Qualifying households that do not have enough room for hygiene waste can be considered for extra black-bin capacity.
Sharps
GP surgeries can provide empty sharps boxes. Used sharps boxes can be returned to participating pharmacies.
If you self-medicate and cannot take full sharps boxes to a participating pharmacy, Greater Cambridge can collect a minimum of three full boxes approximately once a quarter.
Current sharps contact: 01954 713484.
Infectious clinical waste
- The household service is free for qualifying residents treating themselves at home under professional guidance.
- A GP or healthcare professional must apply on your behalf.
- Collections are currently every two weeks.
- Use only the sacks supplied for this service.
- Leave tied sacks outside the front door the evening before collection.
Where a healthcare professional is providing treatment in your home, that healthcare provider is responsible for its own clinical waste rather than using the resident household clinical-waste service.
South Cambridgeshire Bank Holiday and Christmas Bin Collections
Use the address calendar rather than applying a generic “one day late” rule.
Greater Cambridge can use different arrangements around Easter, Christmas and other holiday periods, including earlier or later collection days.
Christmas 2026 / New Year 2027
As of 17 August 2026, a detailed official Christmas 2026 / New Year 2027 household timetable was not identified in the current official material reviewed for this update.
Do not reuse a 2025/26 festive timetable as if it applies to the next Christmas period.
Use the address calendar once festive amendments are published.
South Cambridgeshire Bin Collection Contact Details
| Need | Route | Current detail |
|---|---|---|
| Collection date | Greater Cambridge calendar | Use postcode + exact address. |
| Missed normal bin | Online missed-bin service | 3:30pm collection day to 3:30pm next weekday. |
| General South Cambs help | Customer Services | 01954 713000 |
| Sharps collection | Refuse Team | 01954 713484 |
Current main telephone hours
- Monday: 8am–5:30pm
- Tuesday: 8am–5:30pm
- Wednesday: 8am–6:30pm
- Thursday: 8am–5:30pm
- Friday: 8am–5:30pm
Before contacting waste services
- Have the full address and postcode.
- Know which bin or caddy is affected.
- Check the scheduled date.
- Confirm the presentation time.
- Check whether the 5am heat alert applies.
- Check for contamination or a reject card.
- Keep any previous report reference.
South Cambs Bin Complaint: Report the Waste Problem First
A first missed bin should use the operational missed-collection route, not immediately become a formal complaint.
-
Report the correct service issue.
Use the missed-bin, food-caddy or container route. -
Save the confirmation.
Keep the date, affected bin and any report reference. -
Allow the service to respond.
Qualifying ordinary missed bins currently have a three-working-day return target. -
Contact Customer Services if unresolved.
Explain what has already been reported. -
Use formal feedback/complaints if service handling remains unsatisfactory.
Describe the service failure, previous reports and the outcome you are requesting.
Moving Between South Cambs and Cambridge City?
Both areas use Greater Cambridge Shared Waste, but you should still select the exact new address because collection dates and the phased food-waste start can differ.
South Cambridgeshire Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my South Cambridgeshire bin collection day?
Use the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste collection checker, enter your postcode, select the exact property and check the black, blue, green and food-waste dates shown for that address.
What time should South Cambs bins be put out?
The normal standing rule is 6am. However, the live Greater Cambridge alert checked on 17 August 2026 says collections are starting at 5am this week because of high temperatures, so residents should put bins out the night before while that alert remains active.
How often are South Cambs black and blue bins collected?
Standard household collections normally alternate black general waste one week with blue recycling the next. Always use the address calendar for the actual dates.
How often is the first South Cambs green bin collected?
The first green bin is normally collected every two weeks from March to November and once a month from December through February.
When does South Cambridgeshire weekly food-waste collection start?
The service is being introduced in phases during 2026. Greater Cambridge writes to residents in advance and adds the start date to the property’s online collection calendar.
Should food still go into the green bin?
Before weekly food waste starts, follow the existing green-bin food guidance. Once the weekly food-caddy service starts for your address, Greater Cambridge says routine food waste should stop going into the green bin and move to the caddy.
When can I report a missed South Cambridgeshire bin?
A normal missed household bin can be reported from 3:30pm on collection day and must be reported by 3:30pm on the next weekday, Monday to Friday.
Will crews return for a missed individual food caddy?
No. You should report a missed individual outdoor food caddy, but Greater Cambridge does not currently return specifically to empty it. Genuine missed communal food bins at flats use the flats reporting route and can receive a return collection.
Can I leave extra recycling beside the blue bin?
Yes, within the current limit: one transparent sack of recycling and one tied or taped bundle of cardboard. Glass must stay inside the blue bin, and black or coloured sacks are not accepted.
How much is an additional South Cambs green-bin permit?
The currently published permit price is £50 per additional green bin for the permit year ending 30 September 2026. Check the official permit page for the price applying from 1 October 2026 rather than assuming the same fee continues.
How much is South Cambridgeshire bulky waste collection?
The current published charge is £38 for up to three standard bulky items, then £6.20 for each standard item from four to nine. Separately processed large electrical items currently cost £31 each.
Do Cambridgeshire Household Recycling Centres require booking?
Normal Cambridgeshire Household Recycling Centre visits currently do not require booking. Certain vans, pick-ups and larger trailers need a free e-permit. Temporary booking is planned at selected alternative centres when Milton eventually closes for redevelopment.