Check Your Aberdeen Bin Day, Then Follow the Fortnightly Pattern
Aberdeen wheelie-bin households normally alternate between a mixed-recycling and brown-bin collection week and a general-waste week. Individual household bins remain on a fortnightly collection cycle in 2026.
Your exact address is still the final answer. Search the official Aberdeen City Council calendar, select your property and have the correct container at the collection point by 7am.
Aberdeen Bin Collection 2026: Quick Answer
Use Aberdeen City Council’s address-based collection checker for the exact date. For many wheelie-bin households, general waste is collected one fortnight and mixed recycling plus the brown food/garden bin are collected the alternate fortnight.
Put the correct wheelie bin out by 7am. If it is not emptied, confirm it was actually due, check for contamination or presentation problems and read the council’s live disruption information before reporting an individual missed collection.
Find the Aberdeen bin information you need
How to Check Your Aberdeen Bin Collection Day
Aberdeen does not have one collection weekday that applies across the city. Torry, Dyce, Bridge of Don, Rosemount, Cults, Cove, Kincorth, Garthdee and other neighbourhoods all need the property-specific council result.
-
Open Aberdeen City Council’s collection-day checker.
Use the official service rather than an old screenshot, leaflet or neighbour’s calendar. -
Enter your street or postcode.
Select the exact property from the results. -
Read the date and waste stream together.
Check whether the next collection is general waste or mixed recycling with brown-bin waste. -
Save the property calendar.
Download it, bookmark the checker or add the next collections to your own calendar. -
Present the correct container by 7am.
Do not rely on the collection vehicle arriving at its usual time.
Aberdeen Bin Collection Schedule: How the Alternating Weeks Work
The standard individual-wheelie-bin service remains fortnightly. Mixed recycling and brown-bin material are collected together on one collection week, while general waste is collected on the alternate week.
| Collection week | Put out | Main purpose | Important check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recycling week | Mixed recycling + brown bin where applicable | Recyclables plus food/garden waste | Keep each material in its correct container. |
| General-waste week | General waste bin | Non-recyclable household rubbish | Waste must fit inside with the lid closed. |
| Communal property | Follow the shared-bin arrangement | Depends on the communal containers provided | Do not apply a private wheelie-bin timetable automatically. |
Aberdeen General Waste, Mixed Recycling and Brown Bins
Non-recyclable rubbish
Use this bin for ordinary household waste that cannot be reused, recycled through the mixed-recycling service or placed in the food/garden stream.
Keep the lid closed and do not treat routine side bags as part of the standard collection.
Dry household recycling
Aberdeen’s mixed-recycling system accepts several materials together in one wheelie bin, including paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, accepted plastics, tins, cans, foil and food/drink cartons.
Food and garden waste
Wheelie-bin properties can use the brown container for accepted food and garden material. Flats with communal waste arrangements generally use a separate food-waste service rather than a garden-waste collection.
What Goes in Aberdeen’s Mixed Recycling Bin?
Aberdeen uses a mixed system, so accepted dry recyclable materials can be placed together instead of being separated into several kerbside bins.
Accepted material includes
- Paper and cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays
- Steel and aluminium tins and cans
- Clean aluminium foil
- Food and drink cartons
- Suitable empty aerosols
Common contamination
- Food waste
- Garden waste
- Plastic bags and film
- Nappies
- Clothing and textiles
- General household rubbish
Aberdeen Brown Bin and Garden Waste Permit Rules for 2026
Aberdeen combines food and garden waste in the brown wheelie bin at eligible household properties. The council’s 2026/27 fee schedule lists the permit for a household’s first brown bin at £0. Permits for a second and third brown bin cost £40 each from April 2026.
| Brown bin | 2026/27 permit charge | Resident action |
|---|---|---|
| First bin | £0 | Follow the live permit/registration instructions applying to your property. |
| Second bin | £40 | Obtain the required additional permit before garden-waste collection. |
| Third bin | £40 | A maximum of three permitted brown bins is described in council garden-waste policy. |
Food Waste in Houses, Flats and Tenements
Households served by the brown wheelie-bin system can place accepted food waste into that collection. Flatted properties using communal bins normally receive a food-waste-only service because they do not generally produce household garden waste.
Typical food waste
- Cooked and uncooked food
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Meat and fish
- Bones
- Bread, rice and pasta
- Plate scrapings
- Tea and coffee waste
Keep packaging separate
Remove ordinary plastic, metal or glass packaging before putting food into the food-waste system. Recyclable packaging should use its appropriate recycling route.
Aberdeen also provides food-caddy liner collection points around the city.
Aberdeen Collection-Day Rules: Out by 7am
By 7am
Place the scheduled wheelie bin at the required collection point by 7am.
Lid closed
Do not overfill the general-waste bin or leave the lid forced open.
Correct contents
Contamination can prevent a recycling or brown bin from being emptied.
Clear access
Parked vehicles, roadworks, weather and access problems can affect the collection vehicle.
Aberdeen Flats, Tenements and Communal Bins
Many flats and tenements use shared communal waste and recycling containers instead of individual wheelie bins. Follow the labels on the actual containers serving your building rather than copying the schedule used by a nearby house.
Shared general waste
Use the correct communal general-waste container and keep bags inside rather than creating piles around the bin.
Shared mixed recycling
Contamination can cause recyclable material from several households to be rejected, so check the communal-bin label before using it.
Food waste
Communal properties can have dedicated food-waste facilities even though garden waste is not collected from the communal service.
Aberdeen Missed Bin: What to Check Before Reporting
A bin that is still full during the day is not automatically missed. Collection times can change, and wider service disruptions can affect whole routes.
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Confirm the bin was actually due.
Check your exact property calendar and the waste stream shown. -
Confirm it was out by 7am.
Late presentation can mean the vehicle has already passed. -
Look for a reason it was left.
Check contamination, excess weight, an open lid or another presentation problem. -
Check the live disruption page.
Weather, access, operational issues or wider route disruption may already be known to the council. -
Use the missed wheelie-bin service if appropriate.
Communal overflowing bins use a different reporting route.
Choose the correct reporting route
Need Help Putting Your Bin Out?
Aberdeen City Council provides a route for residents who need help presenting household bins. This is separate from ordinary collection-day convenience and is intended for people who cannot safely manage the normal presentation requirement.
Use the council’s current assessment route rather than asking a collection crew informally, because the agreed pickup point needs to be recorded against the property.
Additional, Missing or Replacement Aberdeen Bins
Aberdeen has a dedicated additional-or-replacement-bin service. Recycling and organic capacity should be used fully before a household seeks extra general-waste capacity.
More recycling capacity
Additional mixed-recycling capacity can be available without the same eligibility test used for extra residual waste.
More brown-bin capacity
Households can have up to three permitted brown bins, with the 2026 charge applying to the second and third garden-waste permits.
More general-waste capacity
Extra residual capacity is restricted and normally requires qualifying circumstances plus evidence that available recycling services are being used.
If a container is missing, check nearby properties after collection first. If it is damaged or genuinely lost, use the council’s current replacement-bin route rather than buying an unsupported container yourself.
Aberdeen Bulky Uplift 2026: Current Charge and Booking
Furniture and other large household items should not be left beside wheelie bins or communal bin stores. Aberdeen City Council provides a paid bulky-uplift service.
| Service | 2026 charge | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 bulky items | £47 | Book the collection before putting items out. |
| Housing / Council Tax benefit rate | £23.50 | Applies where the council’s stated benefit criteria are met. |
| Council tenants | Up to 4 collections per year included | Provided as part of the tenancy arrangement under the current service. |
Before booking
- Check whether the item can be donated or reused.
- Confirm the item is accepted by the council service.
- Do not place it beside a communal bin before you have the correct collection instruction.
- Consider an HWRC if the item is accepted there and you can transport it safely.
Aberdeen Household Waste and Recycling Centres in 2026
The older version of this article listed Bridge of Don, Bucksburn, Hazlehead and Tullos as four active HWRCs. That is no longer a safe 2026 summary.
Aberdeen City Council’s 2025 budget programme provided for closure of Sclattie/Bucksburn and East Tullos while retaining Hazlehead and Bridge of Don. A new Bridge of Don recycling centre at Claymore Drive opened on 19 November 2025, replacing the old Scotstown Road site.
Bridge of Don
The newer Claymore Drive facility replaced the previous Scotstown Road recycling centre and provides modern household recycling and reuse facilities.
Hazlehead
Hazlehead remains part of the retained household recycling-centre network and also has a reuse shop.
Do I need an appointment?
Aberdeen provides an online recycling-centre appointment service. Current HWRC policy says cars and small vans carrying household waste can normally access centres without booking, while larger vehicles and trailers require an appointment. Site-specific instructions still take priority.
- Take proof of Aberdeen address when required.
- Household centres are not for commercial or industrial waste.
- Check accepted materials before loading the vehicle.
- Check vehicle restrictions before travelling with a van or trailer.
- Use the live finder for current opening arrangements.
Batteries, Vapes and Small Electrical Items
Batteries and electrical items should not be hidden inside ordinary household bins. Damaged lithium batteries in particular can create serious fire risks in collection vehicles and waste-processing equipment.
Small electrical recycling bins
Aberdeen operates dedicated small-electrical recycling points around the city, including locations at supermarkets, community sites and recycling points.
The current council finder includes locations such as Asda Bridge of Don, Asda Dyce, Tesco Danestone and Tesco Wellington Road.
Batteries and vapes
Do not put loose batteries or vapes into normal general-waste or mixed-recycling bins. Use an appropriate specialist battery, electrical or retailer take-back route.
Christmas, New Year and Severe-Weather Collections
Do not assume a public holiday automatically moves your collection one day later. Aberdeen can publish special festive arrangements, brown-bin suspensions or temporary service changes separately.
Check your address
Start with the live household calendar rather than shifting a date manually.
Brown-bin changes
The council suspended brown-bin collections for four weeks over the 2025 festive period, showing why previous winter routines should not be assumed for 2026/27.
Snow and access
Weather, road conditions or unsafe access can affect a collection round. Follow the current disruption notice rather than guessing a catch-up date.
Aberdeen City Is Not Aberdeenshire
This page covers addresses served by Aberdeen City Council. The neighbouring Aberdeenshire Council uses a different three-week blue-lid, orange-lid and black-bin system.
Official Aberdeen City Council Waste Services
Open Aberdeen collection-day checker
Open bin collections
Open missed-bin service
Check bin disruptions
Open recycling-bin guidance
Open brown-bin guidance
Open bin request service
Book bulky uplift
Open Aberdeen HWRC guidance
Aberdeen Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my exact Aberdeen bin collection day?
Use Aberdeen City Council’s official collection-day checker, enter your street or postcode and select the exact property. Use the date and waste stream shown for that address.
How often are Aberdeen household wheelie bins collected?
Individual household general-waste, mixed-recycling and brown bins remain on a normal fortnightly cycle in 2026. General waste normally alternates with mixed recycling and brown-bin collection.
What time should my Aberdeen bin be out?
Have the scheduled wheelie bin at the required collection point by 7am on collection day.
What goes in Aberdeen’s mixed-recycling bin?
Accepted materials include paper and cardboard, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, metal tins and cans, clean foil and food or drink cartons.
How much is the Aberdeen brown-bin garden-waste permit in 2026?
The 2026/27 council fee schedule lists the first household brown-bin permit at £0. Permits for the second and third brown bins are £40 each.
What should I do if my Aberdeen bin is missed?
Confirm the bin was scheduled and presented by 7am, check for contamination or another rejection reason, then check current service disruptions. If it appears to be a genuine individual wheelie-bin miss, use the council’s missed-bin service.
How much is a bulky uplift in Aberdeen in 2026?
The current standard charge is £47 for collection of up to four bulky items. The published reduced price is £23.50 for eligible residents receiving housing or council tax benefits. Council tenants can currently arrange up to four collections each year without an additional charge as part of their tenancy arrangement.
How many household recycling centres does Aberdeen have now?
The council’s 2025 budget programme retained Hazlehead and Bridge of Don while closing the Bucksburn/Sclattie and East Tullos centres. The new Bridge of Don centre at Claymore Drive opened in November 2025. Check the live council finder before travelling because older indexed pages can still show the previous four-centre network.
Is Aberdeen City the same bin service as Aberdeenshire?
No. Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council operate different household waste systems. Always use the authority that serves your exact address.
Best Next Step: Check Your Aberdeen Address
Aberdeen’s household collection system is straightforward once you know the property calendar: general waste normally alternates with mixed recycling and the brown-bin collection, and the scheduled container should be ready by 7am.
For changing information such as missed-round instructions, brown-bin permits, bulky-waste charges and recycling-centre access, use the live Aberdeen City Council service rather than an old saved page.
Independent publisher: BinCollectionGuide.org is not Aberdeen City Council. Live collection records, service requests, permits, payments, eligibility decisions and operational updates must be completed or confirmed through Aberdeen City Council.
Information reviewed against current Aberdeen City Council material on 21 September 2026. Property dates, fees, festive arrangements and temporary collection or HWRC restrictions can change.