Arun Bin Collection: Check Your Date, Calendar, Bin Type & Missed Report
Arun’s household waste system changed significantly in April 2026. Most homes now receive general rubbish every two weeks in a 180-litre wheeled bin, dry mixed recycling remains fortnightly, and food waste is collected every week.
Your actual dates are property-specific. Use Arun District Council’s postcode checker rather than calculating a date from another street or an old calendar. Have rubbish, recycling, food waste or an eligible garden-waste container ready from 7am on its scheduled day.
Arun Bin Collection: Quick Answer
Enter your postcode in Arun District Council’s official collection-date service and select the exact address. Since April 2026, the normal household pattern is fortnightly general waste, fortnightly dry mixed recycling and weekly food waste. Garden waste remains a separate paid fortnightly service.
Collection crews have until 5pm to complete their rounds. If an eligible collection is genuinely missed, Arun requires the report within two working days of the normal collection date.
Jump to the Arun waste task you need
- Check collection date
- 2026 service changes
- Collection schedule
- Bin colours & types
- General waste
- Recycling bin
- Food waste
- Missed collection
- Garden waste
- Extra bin capacity
- Flats & communal bins
- Assisted collections
- Electrical items
- Bulky waste
- Recycling centres
- Holiday changes
- Official services
- FAQs
How to Check Your Arun Bin Collection Date
Arun’s online checker is the safest answer for Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Arundel, Rustington, Felpham, Aldwick, East Preston, Barnham, Yapton and other homes inside the district. The service uses the property postcode and address rather than one district-wide calendar.
-
Open the official Arun collection checker.
Use the current service rather than an old screenshot or a neighbour’s rota. -
Enter a postcode in the Arun district.
You will also need the property name or number. -
Select the exact address.
This is important because new 2026 rounds changed some household collection days. -
Read the next date for each applicable service.
General waste, recycling and food waste now run at different frequencies. -
Check again around operational changes.
The Arun app can also provide reminders and service-change notifications.
What Changed to Arun Bin Collections in 2026?
Arun introduced its new household waste system from 13 April 2026. The change added weekly food-waste collections across the district and moved most household general waste to a fortnightly collection using a smaller 180-litre bin.
General waste changed
Most households moved to one 180-litre or smaller approved general-waste bin collected every two weeks.
Food waste became weekly
Households received a food-waste service so cooked and uncooked food can be separated from general rubbish.
Recycling stayed fortnightly
Dry mixed recycling continues every two weeks, although some properties received a different collection day when rounds changed.
Arun Bin Collection Schedule After the 2026 Changes
| Waste service | Container | Current normal frequency | Main action |
|---|---|---|---|
| General rubbish | 180-litre or smaller approved wheeled bin | Every 2 weeks | One qualifying bin per standard household |
| Dry mixed recycling | Green bin with blue lid | Every 2 weeks | Keep recycling clean, dry and loose |
| Food waste | Grey outdoor bin with orange lid | Every week | No plastic bags or packaging |
| Garden waste | Brown Green Waste Club bin | Every 2 weeks | Paid Biffa subscription required |
| Small electrical items | Standard carrier bag beside rubbish bin | Each normal rubbish collection | Item must fit the council size limit |
Arun Bin Colours and Containers Explained
Arun’s current pages identify recycling, food and garden-waste containers clearly by colour. For general rubbish, the most important current requirement is the 180-litre-or-smaller approved wheeled bin; do not rely on colour alone to decide whether an old container is valid.
General rubbish
Non-recyclable household waste that cannot use the recycling, food, garden, electrical or specialist-waste services.
Dry mixed recycling
Clean, dry, loose accepted paper, card, glass, tins, cartons and suitable plastic packaging.
Food waste
The outdoor 23-litre food bin is paired with a small 5-litre indoor caddy for most standard households.
Garden waste
The Green Waste Club brown bin is available through a separate paid subscription administered by Biffa.
Arun General Rubbish Bin: 180 Litres Every Two Weeks
Arun now collects a maximum of one 180-litre or smaller approved wheeled bin per standard household every two weeks. Extra bags placed beside the container are not part of the normal general-waste collection.
Typical general-waste items
- Plastic bags
- Polystyrene
- Sanitary products
- Nappies
- Crisp packets
- Animal bedding and waste
- Non-recyclable glassware such as Pyrex and mirrors
Keep these out
- Recyclable packaging
- Food waste
- Garden waste
- Electrical items
- Textiles
- Rubble, bricks and tiles
- Clinical sharps
Ash, vacuum-cleaner dust, personal hygiene products and animal waste should be bagged before they go into the general-waste bin.
Green Bin With Blue Lid: Arun Recycling Rules
Arun’s blue-lidded recycling bin is collected fortnightly. Accepted items should be clean, dry, loose and squashed where practical. Do not bag ordinary mixed recycling inside the wheelie bin.
Paper & card
- Junk mail
- Cereal and egg boxes
- Newspapers and magazines
- Catalogues and directories
- Scrunchable wrapping paper
Glass & metal
- Wine and beer bottles
- Jam and sauce jars
- Food and drink cans
- Empty aerosols
- Clean foil and foil trays
Plastic & cartons
- Milk and drink bottles
- Bathroom and laundry bottles
- Pots, tubs and trays
- Food and drink cartons
- Suitable moulded plastic packaging
Common recycling mistakes
- Plastic bags and film
- Crisp packets
- Polystyrene
- Pyrex, drinking glasses and crockery
- Batteries
- Electrical items
- Shredded paper
- Paper towels and tissues
- Black plant pots
Arun Food Waste: Weekly Collection Since April 2026
Weekly household food-waste collections began across Arun on 13 April 2026. Most standard households receive a 23-litre grey outdoor bin with an orange lid plus a 5-litre indoor caddy and starter roll of liners.
Food that can go in
- Meat and bones
- Fish and shellfish
- Dairy products
- Fruit and vegetables
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Plate scrapings
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Solid fats
- Pet food
Keep these out
- Packaging
- Cooking oils
- Liquids
- Animal waste
- Animal bedding
- Flowers
- Non-food items
- Plastic carrier bags
Food-waste participation is strongly encouraged but is not compulsory. If you choose not to use the caddy, your general-waste service still remains fortnightly and additional refuse bags are not accepted.
Arun Missed Bin: When and How to Report It
Arun collection crews have until 5pm to complete a scheduled round. A bin should not be reported as missed simply because the vehicle has not arrived at its usual time.
Current missed-collection rules
-
Check the property date.
Make sure the relevant rubbish, recycling, food or garden service was actually scheduled. -
Confirm it was ready from 7am.
Late presentation is a stated reason for non-collection. -
Check the collection point.
The bin should be near the kerbside and clearly visible to the crew. -
Check contamination and capacity.
Incorrect recycling, unsuitable rubbish containers and overflowing waste can stop a collection. -
Look for a note or sticker.
If there is a known problem, crews may leave information at the property or on the recycling bin. -
Report within two working days.
The online service asks for the property postcode and address.
Arun Garden Waste: Green Waste Club Prices and Collections
Garden waste is not included in the standard household waste service. Arun residents can join Biffa’s Green Waste Club for a brown 240-litre garden-waste bin collected every two weeks.
| Garden-waste item | Current published cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Annual renewal | £91.78 | Current annual subscription renewal |
| New subscription | £91.78 + £25 | Annual subscription plus bin supply/delivery |
| Second subscription / bin | £91.78 + £25 | Second subscription and supplied bin |
| Bin removal | £12 | Removal after expiry or termination |
| Lost / damaged bin | £25 | Replacement where the stated charge applies |
What can go in the brown garden bin?
- Leaves
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge cuttings
- Suitable tree cuttings
What should stay out?
- Kitchen or food waste
- Soil
- Hardcore, bricks or concrete
- Animal bedding and animal waste
- Bagged garden waste
- Large woody material over the published size limit
Need More General-Waste Capacity?
The normal limit is one 180-litre general-waste bin. Arun can consider an additional bin where there is a justified need and the household is already making reasonable use of the available recycling and food-waste services.
Larger household
A household of five or more people is one example the council gives for circumstances where extra capacity may be considered.
Nappies or medical waste
Some households can have unavoidable additional non-recyclable waste due to nappies or a medical condition.
Use recycling first
Applicants are expected to use the fortnightly recycling and weekly food-waste services before an extra refuse bin is justified.
Arun Bin Collections for Flats and Communal Properties
Purpose-built flats and communal properties do not necessarily follow the same container setup as a standard house. Arun assessed blocks separately during the 2026 rollout because bin-store space, access and existing arrangements vary.
Food caddy for each flat
Residents receive a small indoor food caddy and guidance for separating food waste.
Individual or shared outdoor bin
A block can receive individual 23-litre outdoor food bins or shared 140-litre food containers depending on its layout.
Some weekly refuse remains
Where fortnightly refuse is clearly impractical because of communal-bin capacity, some blocks can continue to receive weekly general-waste collection.
Arun Assisted Bin Collections
Residents who are genuinely unable to move their bins because of a temporary or permanent incapacity or disability may qualify for an assisted collection when nobody in the household or immediate neighbourhood can reasonably help.
Arun can agree an alternative accessible collection point. The arrangement is reviewed, and crews must be able to reach the bins safely without entering locked areas or spaces containing free-running animals.
Small Electrical Items With Your Arun Rubbish Collection
Small unwanted electrical items can be collected alongside a normal rubbish collection if they fit inside a standard carrier bag. Leave the bag beside the rubbish bin rather than putting electrical equipment inside the general-waste container.
Examples accepted
- Small kitchen appliances
- Mobile phones
- Chargers
- Remote controls
- Hairdryers
- Game consoles
- Small power tools
Too large for this service
- Vacuum cleaners
- TVs and monitors
- Laptops
- Printers
- Fridges and freezers
- Washing machines
- Cookers and microwaves
Arun’s current size limit is 35cm × 40cm because larger items do not fit the collection vehicle’s electrical-storage cage.
Arun Bulky Waste: Sofas, Beds, Mattresses and Appliances
Arun offers a paid bulky-household collection for larger items such as sofas, beds, mattresses, fridges and cookers. The service can collect up to eight booked items.
Before the bulky crew arrives
- Place booked items outside but within the property boundary by 7am.
- The crew cannot enter your home to remove furniture.
- Only items included in the booking will be collected.
- Items must be safe and manageable for the crew.
- Changes or cancellations must be made at least two working days before the collection date for the council’s stated refund terms to apply.
Recycling Centres Near Arun: Littlehampton and Bognor Regis
Household recycling centres are operated by West Sussex County Council, not Arun District Council. Vehicle visitors must book a slot before using the Littlehampton or Bognor Regis sites.
Littlehampton Recycling Centre
Mill Lane, Littlehampton, BN17 7PH
April–September: open 9am–6pm on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
October–March: the published seasonal closing time changes to 4pm on opening days.
Bognor Regis Recycling Centre
Arun Business Park, Shripney Road, Bognor Regis, PO22 9SX
April–September: open 9am–6pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Closed Thursday and Friday.
October–March: the published seasonal closing time changes to 4pm on opening days.
Christmas, Bank Holidays and Collection Changes
Do not assume every Arun service follows the same bank-holiday rule. Household rubbish and recycling arrangements can differ from Biffa’s Green Waste Club schedule, and festive changes can be communicated separately.
Check the postcode service
Use the live property dates rather than shifting the normal weekday yourself.
Use the Arun app
The council app supports personalised collection reminders and operational-change notifications, including Christmas collection information.
Check garden waste separately
Green Waste Club uses its own downloadable calendar, so verify the Biffa garden-waste date independently.
Official Arun Waste Services
Open Arun collection-date checker
Open Arun Simpler Recycling guidance
Open Arun bin-content guidance
Open garden-waste guidance
Open West Sussex recycling centres
Arun Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my Arun bin collection date?
Use Arun District Council’s official collection-date checker. Enter a postcode in the district, select the exact property and check the upcoming rubbish and recycling dates shown for that address.
How often is general rubbish collected in Arun in 2026?
Most standard households now receive general-waste collection every two weeks using one 180-litre or smaller approved wheeled bin.
How often is recycling collected in Arun?
Dry mixed recycling is normally collected every two weeks. Use the property checker for the exact date because some collection days changed when new rounds were introduced in 2026.
Is food waste collected weekly in Arun?
Yes. Weekly food-waste collections began across the district in April 2026. Most standard households use a grey outdoor food bin with an orange lid.
What colour is the recycling bin in Arun?
The standard dry mixed recycling container is a green wheelie bin with a blue lid. Some Arundel properties use recycling sacks instead, and glass must not go into those sacks.
When can I report a missed Arun bin?
Collection crews have until 5pm to finish their rounds. A genuine missed collection should be reported within two working days of the scheduled collection date.
What time should my Arun bin be ready?
Arun’s missed-bin guidance says rubbish, recycling, garden waste, food waste and eligible electrical items must be ready from 7am on the scheduled collection day.
How much is Arun garden-waste collection?
The current published annual Green Waste Club subscription is £91.78. A new subscription also carries a £25 bin supply and delivery charge. Check the live service before paying because prices can change.
Can I leave extra rubbish beside my general-waste bin?
No. The normal service collects a maximum of one 180-litre or smaller approved general-waste bin. Extra refuse placed beside it is not included in the standard collection.
Do I need to book Littlehampton or Bognor Regis Recycling Centre?
Vehicle visitors currently need to book a slot before visiting either West Sussex recycling centre. Check the live centre page before travelling for current hours and vehicle restrictions.
Best Next Step: Check Your Arun Property Before Moving a Bin
Arun’s April 2026 changes mean old rubbish patterns are no longer reliable. Start with the official property checker, confirm which service is due and have the correct container ready from 7am.
Remember the three main frequencies: general waste every two weeks, recycling every two weeks and food waste every week. If an eligible collection is genuinely missed, report it within two working days.
Independent guide: BinCollectionGuide.org is not Arun District Council, West Sussex County Council or Biffa. It cannot view collection records, change rounds, manage Green Waste Club subscriptions or submit reports on your behalf. Complete live actions through the official services linked above.