Test Valley Bin Collection: Dates, Calendar & Bin Colours
Test Valley Borough Council collects ordinary household rubbish and recycling on alternate weeks. For most kerbside homes, the black household-waste bin is collected one week and the brown recycling bin the next. Food waste is now a separate weekly collection.
Your exact dates depend on your address, so use the council’s live collection calendar rather than copying a neighbour’s day or relying on an old printed timetable.
Test Valley Bin Collection: Quick Answer
Black household waste and brown recycling bins are normally collected on alternate weeks. The black bin is emptied one week and the brown bin the following week. Food waste is collected weekly for most households using a grey kerbside caddy or a shared grey-lidded food-waste bin at applicable communal properties.
Put the correct container at the edge of your property by 7am on the date shown for your address. Future bank-holiday and Christmas arrangements can change, so the live council calendar is safer than an old screenshot or printed schedule.
Jump to the Test Valley bin task you need
How to Check Your Test Valley Bin Collection Dates
The council’s address-based calendar is the correct place to check the next black-bin, brown-bin, food-waste and subscribed garden-waste dates. Do not assume every Test Valley street follows the same weekday.
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Open the council’s “When are my bins collected?” service.
Use the live Test Valley Borough Council page rather than an old annual calendar. -
Search for your property.
Enter the address details requested by the council lookup and choose the exact home. -
Check each waste stream separately.
Note whether the date is for black household waste, brown recycling, food waste or subscribed garden waste. -
Check the date again around bank holidays.
Collection arrangements can change during holiday weeks. -
Put the correct container out by 7am.
Place it at the edge of the property and bring it back in after collection.
Test Valley Collection Calendar: What the Normal Pattern Means
Standard household waste and dry recycling operate on alternate weeks. The two larger wheeled bins therefore normally share the same collection weekday but are emptied on different weeks. Food waste operates separately every week.
| Container | Main use | Normal frequency | Important point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bin | Non-recyclable household waste | Alternate weeks | Normally one authorised black bin per household. |
| Brown bin | Accepted dry recycling | Alternate weeks | Collected on the opposite week to the black bin. |
| Grey food caddy | Food scraps | Weekly | Present the kerbside caddy by 7am with lid closed and handle upright. |
| Garden waste | Subscribed garden material | Fortnightly | Chargeable service with a Christmas/New Year suspension. |
Test Valley Bin Colours Explained
Household waste
For ordinary domestic rubbish that cannot go into the council’s recycling or food-waste streams.
Dry recycling
For the specific paper, cardboard, metal and plastic-bottle items accepted by Test Valley.
Food waste
Most homes use a 23-litre kerbside caddy plus a smaller 5-litre kitchen caddy.
Label matters
A spare Test Valley wheeled bin can be reused for garden waste if the required garden-waste label is obtained.
What Goes in the Brown Recycling Bin?
Test Valley’s brown recycling bin accepts a narrower range than many residents expect. Packaging marked “recyclable” is not automatically suitable for the brown bin.
Put these in
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Food tins and drinks cans
- Household aerosols
- Plastic bottles
Common items to keep out
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic trays, tubs and pots
- Plastic carrier bags
- Polystyrene
- Shredded paper
- Food or garden waste
Recycling should be clean, dry and placed loose in the brown bin rather than tied inside plastic bags. Glass bottles and jars can be taken to suitable local recycling banks rather than placed in the brown wheeled bin.
Weekly Food Waste Collection in Test Valley
Test Valley introduced its borough-wide weekly food-waste service in October 2025. Most households use a grey 23-litre kerbside caddy, while properties that already share larger waste and recycling bins can use a 140-litre grey-lidded communal food-waste bin.
Inside the home
A 5-litre kitchen caddy is used to collect food scraps before they are transferred outside.
Collection frequency
Food waste is collected every week rather than alternating with the black and brown wheeled bins.
Set out correctly
Place the kerbside caddy at the property edge by 7am with the lid closed and the handle upright.
Food you can put in the caddy
- Plate scrapings and uneaten food
- Raw and cooked meat and fish, including bones
- Fruit and vegetables
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Eggs and eggshells
- Dairy products
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Pet food
Keep these out
- Packaging
- Glass
- Milk, gravy and other liquids
- Cooking oil
- Cat litter or animal faeces
- Pet bedding
- Garden waste
- Cut flowers
Test Valley Garden Waste Collection
Garden waste is a separate chargeable service and is collected fortnightly. The council’s current published terms list one annual subscription at £43, with additional subscriptions at £24 each.
Collection cycle
Fortnightly for subscribed households, with a two-week suspension during the Christmas and New Year period.
Subscription
The current published annual charge is £43 for the first subscription and £24 for each additional subscription.
Presentation
Place the authorised bin or sack at the property edge by 7am on the scheduled garden-waste day.
Only one authorised bin or sack is emptied per subscription. Residents can also reuse a spare Test Valley wheeled bin for garden waste after ordering the council’s garden-waste label.
What to Do if Your Test Valley Bin Was Not Emptied
Before reporting a missed collection, check that the correct container was due, it was at the property edge by 7am and there was no tag explaining why the crew could not empty it.
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Confirm the date.
Reopen the address calendar and make sure the correct stream was scheduled. -
Check the presentation point.
Confirm the bin was at the edge of the property before 7am. -
Look for a council information tag.
A contaminated, overloaded or otherwise non-compliant bin is not the same as an accidental missed collection. -
Check the container contents.
Remove incorrect recycling or prohibited material before the next appropriate collection if the bin was deliberately rejected. -
Use My Test Valley for a genuine missed bin.
The council provides an online missed-bin reporting route through its My Test Valley services.
Full bin? Match the problem first
Red, Yellow, Blue or Orange Tag on Your Bin?
Test Valley crews use information tags to explain contamination or another collection problem. Reading the tag can save an unnecessary missed-bin report.
| Tag | Usually used for | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Heavily contaminated brown recycling bin | Remove the item identified and present the bin on the next recycling collection. |
| Yellow | Brown bin emptied but contained some wrong material | Do not place the identified item in the recycling bin again. |
| Blue | Problem with black bin, or frozen garden waste depending on service context | Read the actual tag and correct the stated problem. |
| Orange | Garden-waste contamination, excessive weight, excess material or subscription issue | Correct the problem before the next eligible garden collection. |
New, Stolen or Damaged Wheeled Bin
Test Valley’s current published charges are £52.80 including VAT for a black wheeled bin and £37.20 including VAT for a brown recycling bin. The council says there is normally a charge for replacement bins unless damage is proven to have been caused by the collection team.
Black household-waste bin
Typical capacity is 240 litres. The council normally empties only one black bin unless extra capacity has been authorised.
Brown recycling bin
Residents can use more than one brown recycling bin, although additional containers must still be obtained through the appropriate council route.
Need More Black-Bin Capacity?
Test Valley will normally empty one black household-waste bin per property. Residents who genuinely need more residual-waste capacity can apply for Extra Bin Capacity.
Extra black bin
Approval is required. Authorised extra bins receive an EBC sticker so collection crews can identify them.
Extra recycling capacity
You do not need the same capacity assessment simply to put out an additional brown recycling bin.
If an extra black bin is put out without the required authorisation sticker, it can be left unemptied.
Assisted Bin Collection
Residents who have difficulty moving wheeled bins or a food-waste kerbside caddy can apply for an assisted collection. Test Valley assesses each application individually.
The application can be made through My Test Valley, or residents can contact Customer Services using the council numbers shown later in this guide.
Sofas, Furniture and Bulky Household Waste
Test Valley offers a chargeable bulky-waste collection for unwanted large household items and large amounts of garden waste. The charge depends on the number of items being collected.
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Consider reuse first.
If the item is still usable, donation, resale or giving it away may avoid disposal. -
Check that the item is accepted.
Building waste, some bathroom fixtures, car parts and other excluded material cannot be booked as ordinary bulky household items. -
Book the collection.
Tell the council exactly which items are being collected. -
Put items outside on your property.
They must be accessible from outside; crews do not remove furniture from inside the home. -
Use the date given in the booking.
The council says bulky items are usually collected within 10 working days after payment is received.
Household Waste Recycling Centres in Test Valley
Hampshire County Council operates the household waste recycling centres used by Test Valley residents. An appointment is required before visiting a Hampshire HWRC.
Scott Close HWRC
Walworth Business Park
Andover
SP10 5NU
Scott Close is the Test Valley site identified by the borough council for cement-bonded asbestos and hazardous household waste.
Casbrook (Bunny Lane) HWRC
Timsbury
near Romsey
SO51 0PG
Check the material list and booking availability before travelling.
| Period | Published hours | Before travelling |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April–30 September | 9am–6pm | Book an appointment and confirm site information. |
| 1 October–28 February | 9am–4pm | Check holiday closures and current access rules. |
| 1–31 March | 9am–5pm | Book before setting out. |
Bank Holidays, Christmas and Changed Collection Days
Test Valley warns that future Christmas and bank-holiday arrangements shown on a printed calendar may become inaccurate. Check the live property calendar again before a holiday week rather than automatically adding one day to the normal collection date.
Before a bank holiday
Reopen your property calendar and use the date currently displayed.
Christmas and New Year
Look for the council’s seasonal collection notice before putting out excess waste or changing your usual routine.
Garden waste
The garden-waste service includes a two-week Christmas/New Year suspension.
Make Sure Test Valley Is Your Collection Authority
Test Valley includes places such as Andover, Romsey and surrounding communities, but nearby addresses can fall under another council. Always use the authority responsible for the exact property.
Official Test Valley Waste Services
Test Valley collection calendar
Household waste service
Email: [email protected]
Book an HWRC appointment
Test Valley Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my Test Valley bin collection day?
Use Test Valley Borough Council’s “When are my bins collected?” service, search your property and read the dates shown for household waste, recycling, food waste and garden waste if you subscribe.
What colour is the household-waste bin in Test Valley?
The standard household-waste wheeled bin is black. It is used for domestic rubbish that cannot be handled through the council’s recycling, food-waste or other appropriate services.
What colour is the recycling bin in Test Valley?
The standard dry-recycling wheeled bin is brown. It accepts paper, cardboard, food tins, drinks cans, household aerosols and plastic bottles.
How often are black and brown bins collected?
Household waste and recycling normally alternate weekly: the black bin is collected one week and the brown recycling bin the following week.
What time should Test Valley bins be put out?
Bins and kerbside food-waste caddies should be placed at the edge of the property by 7am on the scheduled collection day.
How often is food waste collected in Test Valley?
Food waste is collected weekly for most households. Standard kerbside properties use a 23-litre grey caddy, while some communal properties use larger shared grey-lidded food-waste bins.
How much is Test Valley garden waste collection?
The council’s current published terms list one annual garden-waste subscription at £43 and additional subscriptions at £24 each. Recheck the live council page before payment because charges can change.
What should I do if my bin was not emptied?
First check the address calendar, confirm the container was out by 7am and look for an information tag. If the bin was genuinely missed rather than rejected, use the My Test Valley missed-bin service.
Do I need to book a Test Valley household waste recycling centre?
Yes. Hampshire County Council requires an appointment before visiting a Hampshire Household Waste Recycling Centre, including the Scott Close and Casbrook sites serving Test Valley.
Best Next Step: Check Your Exact Test Valley Address
Start with the council’s live collection calendar. Confirm which container is due, put it at the property edge by 7am and use the current council service if a genuine problem occurs.
The simple Test Valley routine is: black and brown alternate, food waste is weekly, and garden waste follows the subscribed calendar.
Independent guide: BinCollectionGuide.org is not Test Valley Borough Council or Hampshire County Council. Exact collection dates, subscriptions, payments, reports and recycling-centre bookings are completed through the official services linked above. Information checked against current official pages on 19 September 2026.