Crawley Bin Collection Day: Schedule, Calendar & Missed Bins
Crawley Borough Council collects household rubbish, REDtop recycling and subscribed GREENbin garden waste. A major service change starts on 28 September 2026: individual households move to fortnightly general-waste collections while a new weekly food-waste collection begins.
Your exact day depends on the neighbourhood and property, so use myCrawley or the council’s current collection calendar rather than relying only on a general Monday-to-Friday area list.
Crawley Bin Collection: Quick Answer
From Monday 28 September 2026, individual households in Crawley move to a new collection pattern: food waste every week, general waste every two weeks and REDtop recycling every two weeks on the alternate week. Garden waste remains a separate fortnightly subscription service.
Put the correct containers at the edge of your property before 6:30am. For exact dates and any live service issue, use myCrawley or Crawley Borough Council’s current collection-day page.
Important September 2026 Transition
As of 26 September 2026, Crawley is two days away from the new household collection system. Older council pages and saved calendars may still describe weekly general-waste collections because that was the previous arrangement.
For individual households, use the new calendar covering collections from 28 September onward. Properties with communal waste facilities remain on weekly general waste and fortnightly recycling for now; their weekly food-waste service is planned for 2027.
Jump to the Crawley bin task you need
How to Check Your Crawley Bin Collection Day
The most reliable method is the council’s address-specific service. A neighbourhood can give you the normal weekday, but it does not tell you whether general waste, recycling or garden waste is due that particular week.
-
Open the Crawley collection-day service.
Use the live council service rather than an old printed calendar if there has been a route or service change. -
Sign in to myCrawley or locate your address.
The personalised service shows collection dates and can also show the status of a current collection. -
Check the waste stream.
Confirm whether general waste or REDtop recycling is due and remember that individual-household food waste becomes weekly from 28 September 2026. -
Check GREENbin separately if subscribed.
Garden-waste rounds use a separate fortnightly calendar and may not fall on the same day as rubbish. -
Recheck around Christmas and New Year.
Those are the main bank-holiday periods when Crawley publishes alternative collection dates.
Crawley’s New Collection Schedule From 28 September 2026
Crawley Borough Council is changing the normal collection pattern for individual households at the same time as the weekly food-waste service starts.
| Service | From 28 September 2026 | Main rule |
|---|---|---|
| Food waste | Weekly | Collected on the household’s normal collection day. |
| General waste | Fortnightly | Collected on the opposite week to REDtop recycling. |
| REDtop recycling | Fortnightly | Existing dry mixed recycling service continues. |
| GREENbin garden waste | Fortnightly | Paid subscription; separate calendar applies. |
Crawley Collection Days by Area
Crawley Borough Council publishes weekday groupings for the new general-waste, recycling and food calendars. These help identify the normal weekday, but use myCrawley if you are unsure which group applies to your road.
| Day | Areas listed by Crawley Borough Council |
|---|---|
| Monday | Forge Wood, Langley Green, Northgate, Pound Hill North, Three Bridges and Tinsley Green. |
| Tuesday | Gossops Green, Ifield, Ifield Green, West Green and the Tinsley Lane area. |
| Wednesday | Furnace Green, Southgate, Tilgate and the Town Centre. |
| Thursday | Bewbush and Broadfield. |
| Friday | Pound Hill South, Maidenbower and Worth. |
Crawley Bin Types and Colours
General waste
Crawley’s standard general-waste bin has a black lid. It is for ordinary household rubbish that cannot use one of the available recycling services.
REDtop recycling
The standard recycling wheelie bin is green with a red lid and is used for accepted clean, dry and loose recyclable material.
Food-waste bin
Individual households receive a 23-litre grey outdoor food bin with an orange lid plus a smaller five-litre indoor kitchen caddy.
GREENbin
A separate 240-litre green wheelie bin is supplied to households subscribed to Crawley’s paid garden-waste service.
Crawley REDtop Recycling: What Goes In?
REDtop recycling is collected fortnightly. Material should be placed inside the bin clean, dry and loose, not tied inside plastic bags.
Accepted examples
- Paper and envelopes
- Newspapers and magazines
- Cereal and egg boxes
- Cartons
- Food and drink cans
- Empty aerosols
- Foil and foil containers
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic tubs, trays and containers
- Some larger non-black plastic plant pots
Keep out
- Batteries
- Electrical items
- Plastic bags and film
- Crisp packets
- Polystyrene
- Crockery
- Drinking glasses
- Pyrex
- Shredded paper
- Plastic toys and furniture
Textiles beside the REDtop bin
Crawley also accepts small quantities of clean, dry textiles on the scheduled recycling day. Put acceptable textiles in a tied standard carrier bag, clearly label the bag and leave it beside the REDtop bin.
Accepted examples include clothing, paired shoes, curtains, sheets, blankets and towels. Duvets, pillows, rugs and carpets are not part of this kerbside textile collection.
Crawley Weekly Food Waste From 28 September 2026
Weekly food-waste collection begins for households with individual bins on 28 September 2026. Each starter setup includes a lockable 23-litre outdoor grey bin with an orange lid, a five-litre indoor caddy and an initial roll of compostable liners.
Food accepted
- Plate scrapings
- Fruit and vegetables
- Meat and bones
- Fish and shellfish
- Dairy products
- Eggs and eggshells
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Pet food
- Mouldy or out-of-date food
Keep out
- Cooking oil and liquids
- Flowers
- Animal waste
- Pet bedding
- Food packaging
- Other non-food items
What happens when the starter liners run out?
The council recommends suitable small compostable liners, but using a liner is not compulsory. Food can be placed loose in the kitchen caddy, and newspaper or kitchen roll can help absorb small amounts of moisture.
Crawley General Waste Bin Rules
General waste is for normal household rubbish that cannot be recycled through the REDtop, food-waste, textile, electrical, battery, garden-waste or specialist services.
From 28 September 2026, individual households move from weekly to fortnightly general-waste collection. Waste must fit inside the wheelie bin; ordinary rubbish left beside the bin is not collected.
Examples accepted
- Non-recyclable household rubbish
- Used nappies
- Bagged pet litter
- Safely wrapped broken crockery or glass
Keep out
- REDtop recyclables
- Food waste
- Garden waste
- Large bulky items
- Commercial waste
Small electricals and batteries
Crawley provides separate kerbside options for small electrical items and household batteries on the rubbish collection day. These should not be buried inside the rubbish bin.
Crawley Collection-Day Rules: Before 6:30am
Out before 6:30am
Collections operate from 6:30am, so have the correct bin or container ready before this time.
Use the property edge
Leave the bin just inside the edge of your property boundary at the point nearest the public highway unless another collection position has been agreed.
Keep pavements clear
The container should be clearly visible to the crew without unnecessarily obstructing pedestrians.
Crawley Missed Bin: Check These Before Reporting
Crawley requires a missed collection to be reported within 72 hours of the scheduled collection day. Reports made after that deadline are not accepted.
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Confirm the collection date.
Check myCrawley to make sure the container was genuinely due. -
Check the presentation time.
The bin should have been at the collection point before 6:30am. -
Check the collection point.
It should be clearly visible at the edge of the property unless an assisted or alternative arrangement applies. -
Check the contents.
Contamination, an overfilled garden bin or another service-rule problem can result in a bin being left. -
Check the live collection status.
myCrawley can show whether the crew has recorded an issue. -
Report within 72 hours.
Do not leave the report until the next collection cycle.
Crawley GREENbin Garden Waste Service
GREENbin is an optional paid service using a 240-litre green wheelie bin. Collections are normally every two weeks, with a two-week service break over Christmas.
| GREENbin detail | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Annual charge | £78.10 |
| Bin size | 240 litres |
| Frequency | Fortnightly |
| Presentation | At the property edge by 6:30am |
Crawley’s current service information states that payment is by Direct Debit. After the first payment, the council sends the subscriber a welcome pack and normally supplies the garden bin within two weeks.
Accepted garden material
- Grass cuttings
- Flowers and plants
- Leaves
- Weeds
Keep out
- Food and kitchen waste
- Animal waste
- Soil and turf
- Stones, rubble and concrete
- Plastic bags and plant pots
- Large branches over the published size limit
- Specified invasive or notifiable plants
Crawley Flats and Communal Bin Collections
The September 2026 change does not apply in exactly the same way to properties using shared communal waste facilities.
General waste
Communal properties remain on weekly general-waste collection under the current arrangement.
Recycling
Communal recycling remains fortnightly.
Food waste
Weekly food-waste collection for communal properties is due to roll out in 2027 rather than September 2026.
If you live in a flat, use the communal containers and collection point assigned to the building rather than applying the individual-household setup automatically.
Damaged, Missing or Wrong-Size Crawley Bin
Crawley Borough Council provides an online bin-change service. You can use it to request an additional recycling or food-waste bin, report a damaged or missing bin, request removal of an unwanted bin or apply for a larger general-waste container.
Standard general-waste size
Crawley identifies the standard general-waste wheelie bin as 140 litres when explaining applications for a larger container.
REDtop standard size
The standard council-provided REDtop recycling bin is 240 litres.
Crawley Assisted Bin Collection
Crawley offers an assisted collection service for residents who are physically unable to take their household containers to the normal collection point.
Who may qualify?
- A resident unable to present bins because of age and infirmity.
- A disabled resident.
- A household where the council decides special circumstances apply.
Normally, assistance is not provided when another person living at the property is able to present the bins. Residents using communal waste facilities are also outside the standard assisted-bin arrangement.
After an application, the council can arrange a suitable agreed collection position inside the property boundary. Crews need safe access and cannot normally drag bins over steps, gravel, grass, soil or other unsuitable surfaces.
Crawley Bulky Waste Collection
Crawley Borough Council offers a charged bulky-waste service for household items that are too large for the normal bin. A booking can cover up to 10 eligible household items.
| Item category | Current charge | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Small | £26.20 | Microwave or ironing board |
| Medium | £31.40 | Washing machine or lawn mower |
| Large | £36.70 | Standard fridge freezer or sofa |
| Extra large | £41.90 | Corner sofa, double bed or American-style fridge freezer |
Collections are made on weekdays, excluding bank holidays, between 7:30am and 4pm. The council provides the date but not a specific arrival time.
Crawley Recycling Centre: Metcalf Way
Crawley Recycling Centre is operated through West Sussex County Council rather than Crawley Borough Council.
Crawley Recycling Centre
Address: Metcalf Way, Crawley, RH11 7XN
Phone: 01293 537975
Residents arriving by vehicle must book a slot before visiting. West Sussex also requires users to meet its household-residency and site-use conditions.
| Season | Opening pattern |
|---|---|
| 1 April–30 September | 9am–6pm daily |
| 1 October–31 March | 9am–4pm daily |
Crawley Bank Holiday and Christmas Bin Collections
Crawley normally continues household collections on bank holidays. The main exceptions are Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, when alternative dates are published.
Collections do continue on substitute bank holidays. For example, when a public holiday is formally observed on the following Monday, the council can still collect on that Monday if it is the normal scheduled day.
Official Crawley Waste Services
Crawley Borough Council collection days
New collection service
GREENbin garden waste
West Sussex Crawley Recycling Centre
Crawley Bin Collection FAQs
How do I find my Crawley bin collection day?
Use Crawley Borough Council’s collection-day service or myCrawley to view the dates for your property. The council also publishes weekday calendars by neighbourhood.
What changes on 28 September 2026?
Individual households begin weekly food-waste collections and general waste moves to fortnightly collection. REDtop recycling remains fortnightly on the alternate week.
What time should Crawley bins be out?
Containers should be at the correct collection point before 6:30am on the scheduled day.
How often is Crawley recycling collected?
REDtop household recycling is normally collected once every two weeks.
How often will Crawley general waste be collected?
For individual households, general waste changes to fortnightly collection from 28 September 2026. Communal properties remain on weekly general-waste collection under the current arrangement.
How long do I have to report a missed Crawley bin?
Missed collections must be reported within 72 hours of the scheduled collection day.
How much is Crawley garden waste?
Crawley Borough Council currently lists the annual GREENbin charge as £78.10.
Where is Crawley Recycling Centre?
Crawley Recycling Centre is at Metcalf Way, Crawley, RH11 7XN. Vehicle visits require a booking through West Sussex County Council.
Do Crawley flats get weekly food waste from September 2026?
Not yet. Properties with communal bins remain on their current arrangements and the council plans to roll out weekly food-waste collections to these properties in 2027.
Check the Current Crawley Calendar Before Putting the Bin Out
Crawley’s collection system changes on 28 September 2026, so older reminders can quickly become misleading. Individual households should now think in a simple cycle: weekly food waste, with general waste and REDtop recycling alternating every two weeks.
Check the exact property date, have containers ready before 6:30am and report a genuine missed collection within the council’s 72-hour deadline.
Independent guide: BinCollectionGuide.org is not Crawley Borough Council or West Sussex County Council. Live collection records, missed-bin reports, subscriptions, bookings and service changes should be checked or completed through the relevant official authority.