Dartford Bin Collection Calendar: Dates, Days & Bin Colours

by
Dartford Borough • Updated September 2026

Dartford Bin Collection Calendar: Dates, Days & Bin Colours

Dartford households normally have a weekly green refuse collection and a fortnightly grey recycling collection. Brown garden-waste bins are also collected fortnightly for subscribed properties. Your exact date depends on your address and calendar group, so the council’s live collection checker is the safest place to confirm which bin is due.

There is also an important 2026 change: Dartford Borough Council is introducing separate weekly food-waste collections for houses from November 2026, with caddies being delivered during the autumn. Flats and other eligible properties are planned to follow in early 2027.

Check My Bin Day Which Bin? Missed Collection

Dartford Bin Collection: Quick Answer

Green refuse bins are normally emptied weekly. Grey recycling bins are normally emptied every two weeks, on the same collection day as the green bin when recycling is due. Brown garden-waste collections are fortnightly for subscribed households.

Put bins at the front boundary of the property by 6am on the scheduled collection day. Because bank holidays and temporary operational changes can alter dates, use Dartford Borough Council’s live collection-day service for your own address instead of relying only on a neighbour’s schedule or an old printed calendar.

Official Dartford Collection Checker Report or Check a Bin Problem
Green refuse Weekly
Grey recycling Fortnightly
Presentation Front boundary by 6am
Missed collection Report within 48 hours
Jump to the Dartford bin information you need

How to Check Your Dartford Bin Collection Day

Dartford Borough Council provides an online collection service that shows upcoming refuse, recycling and garden-waste dates for the property. It also reflects bank-holiday and temporary schedule changes, making it more useful than trying to calculate future collections from an old calendar.

  1. Open Dartford Borough Council’s collection-day page.
    Use the council route rather than an unofficial postcode calendar when you need the final collection date.
  2. Open the online collections tool.
    Search for the property requested by the council system.
  3. Check each waste stream separately.
    Green refuse, grey recycling and subscribed garden waste do not all have the same frequency.
  4. Look at the actual date, not only the weekday.
    Bank-holiday weeks can move your normal collection day.
  5. Put the correct container out by 6am.
    Present it at the front boundary closest to the road unless the council has agreed another collection arrangement.
Best option: use the live address result whenever you are unsure whether you are on a Week 1 or Week 2 recycling pattern. This avoids guessing from another road’s fortnightly cycle.
Check Official Dartford Bin Dates

Dartford Bin Collection Calendar 2026

Dartford’s standard system is easier to understand if you separate the collection day from the recycling week. General refuse is normally weekly. Recycling is fortnightly, so households fall into alternating recycling calendar groups. When grey recycling is due, it is collected on the same day as the normal refuse round.

Every week

Green refuse

Your green household-rubbish container follows the normal weekly refuse round.

Every 2 weeks

Grey recycling

Dry recycling is collected fortnightly according to the recycling calendar assigned to the property.

Subscription

Brown garden waste

Subscribed brown bins are collected fortnightly according to the property’s garden-waste schedule.

Week 1 or Week 2? Do not choose a recycling calendar because a nearby street uses it. Check your address through the council’s online service first, then use the relevant calendar if you want a printable pattern.
Official Week 1 Calendar Official Week 2 Calendar

Dartford Bin Colours: Green, Grey, Brown & Food Caddies

Container Main use Normal frequency Important point
Green bin Non-recyclable household rubbish Weekly No ordinary refuse side waste beside a wheeled bin.
Grey bin Accepted dry mixed recycling, including glass bottles and jars Fortnightly Recycling should be loose or in clear/translucent sacks, not black sacks.
Brown bin Eligible garden waste Fortnightly Paid subscription service.
Food caddies Separate household food waste Weekly when rollout begins House collections begin from November 2026 in phases.

Green Bin: Weekly General Waste Collection

The standard Dartford green wheeled bin is for household waste that cannot be recycled through the grey-bin service. The council’s current refuse guidance describes a standard 180-litre green container for most individual properties, with communal or alternative arrangements applying where normal wheeled-bin access is unsuitable.

Typical green-bin waste

  • Nappies and sanitary products
  • Pet litter
  • Polystyrene
  • Plastic film and carrier bags
  • Crisp packets and wrappers
  • Used tissues and paper towels
  • Food-soiled paper and card

Keep these out

  • Garden waste
  • DIY and building materials
  • Bulky furniture
  • Batteries and vapes
  • Gas canisters
  • Hazardous chemicals
  • Electrical appliances
No normal refuse side waste: extra bags or loose household rubbish left beside a green wheeled bin are not normally collected. Waste should fit inside the container with the lid closed.
Food-waste transition: until the new separate service has actually started for your property, follow the current council arrangement shown for your household. Houses are due to move to weekly separate food-waste collections from November 2026 in phases.

Grey Bin: Fortnightly Recycling Collection

Dartford’s 240-litre grey wheeled bin is the main dry-recycling container. Glass bottles and jars now go into the grey bin with the other accepted recycling, so residents no longer need to rely on the old separate black glass box.

Accepted recycling

  • Paper and newspapers
  • Magazines, catalogues and envelopes
  • Flattened cardboard
  • Food and drink cans
  • Metal jar lids and clean foil
  • Plastic bottles
  • Accepted plastic pots, tubs and trays
  • Glass bottles and jars

Common contamination

  • Food waste
  • Food-soiled pizza boxes
  • Crisp packets
  • Polystyrene
  • Wood
  • Plant pots
  • Books
  • Clothing and bedding
  • Black sacks

Recycling can be placed loose in the grey bin or in clear translucent sacks. The council also allows limited recycling side waste: fewer than three translucent sacks or neatly folded cardboard can be presented beside the grey bin without blocking the pavement.

Check Current Dartford Recycling List

New Dartford Weekly Food-Waste Collection From November 2026

Dartford Borough Council announced the new food-waste service on 15 September 2026. Caddies are being delivered to houses during the autumn, with the first separate weekly collections beginning in November 2026.

Autumn 2026

Houses across the borough begin receiving a small indoor kitchen caddy and a larger outdoor food-waste caddy.

November 2026

Separate weekly food-waste collections begin for houses in phases.

Early 2027

Flats and other eligible properties are planned to move into the service after the initial house rollout.

Food the council says will be accepted

  • Fruit and vegetable peelings
  • Meat and fish
  • Bones
  • Dairy products
  • Bread
  • Rice and pasta
  • Leftovers and plate scrapings
Do not switch early just because you have read about the rollout. Follow the instructions delivered for your property and the dates shown by the council as the phased service begins.
Read Official Food-Waste Announcement

Brown Garden Waste Bin: Cost, Dates & Rules

Dartford’s brown-bin garden-waste service is optional and subscription based. The current annual subscription is £53. A new 240-litre brown wheeled bin carries a separate one-off payment of £56.

The subscription year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Residents can join later in the year, with the annual charge reducing on a sliding scale. Collections are normally fortnightly and the brown bin must be at the front boundary by 6am.

Accepted garden waste

  • Grass cuttings
  • Dead flowers
  • Weeds
  • Leaves
  • Plants and foliage
  • Twigs
  • Hedge trimmings
  • Small branches under the council’s stated size limit

Not accepted

  • Soil, stone or gravel
  • Food
  • Rubble
  • Turf
  • Plant pots
  • Wood and logs
  • Plastic sacks
  • Specified invasive or poisonous plants
If you do not subscribe, Dartford Borough Council recommends home composting or taking suitable garden waste to a household waste recycling centre. Garden waste must not be placed in the green refuse or grey recycling bin.
Check or Join Garden Waste Service

How to Put Your Dartford Bins Out Correctly

By 6am

Have the scheduled bin or sacks ready by 6am on collection day unless a live service notice gives different instructions.

Front boundary

Present containers at the front boundary of the property closest to the road.

Not too early

The council’s presentation rules say bins should not be put out earlier than the evening before collection.

Bring it back

Return the bin to your property after collection rather than storing it permanently on the street.

Extreme heat exception: Dartford has previously brought collection starts forward during very hot weather. Check live service updates when extreme temperatures are forecast instead of assuming the normal operational start time will always apply.

Dartford Bin Not Collected? Report It Within 48 Hours

Dartford Borough Council says missed refuse, recycling and garden-waste collections must be reported within 48 hours of the scheduled collection day if the contractor is to return.

  1. Confirm your collection was actually due.
    Check the live address schedule, especially during a bank-holiday week.
  2. Check presentation.
    Make sure the bin was at the correct boundary location in time for the round.
  3. Look for contamination or an overfilled bin.
    A sticker or visible incorrect material may explain why the crew did not empty it.
  4. Check for a wider service delay.
    Weather, access or operational problems can affect more than one property.
  5. Report a genuine missed collection within 48 hours.
    Keep the missed bin at the edge of the property until the contractor has dealt with the report.

Important reporting details

Both bins missed? Dartford asks residents to report refuse and recycling misses separately.
Neighbour’s bin? You cannot submit a missed-bin report on behalf of a neighbour through the normal service.
Already reported? The council service also lets you check an existing problem or request.
Report or Check a Missed Bin

Assisted Bin Collections for Elderly or Disabled Residents

Dartford provides a free assisted-collection service for elderly or disabled residents who have difficulty moving bins to and from the normal collection point. Where approved, residents do not need to move the bin to the kerbside or bring it back after collection.

The service can cover household waste, recycling and garden waste. It is linked to the address, so an existing arrangement does not automatically transfer when a resident moves home.

Current application route: Dartford Borough Council directs residents to Customer Services on 01322 343434 for assisted-collection applications.

Dartford Bulky Waste Collection

Dartford Borough Council offers a paid bulky household-waste collection for borough residents. The current charge shown by the council is £39.50 for up to 10 items, with up to four additional items charged at £2 each.

Examples the service can cover

  • Sofas
  • Beds
  • Wardrobes
  • Tables and chairs
  • Carpets
  • Televisions
  • Washing machines

Check before booking

Item restrictions can change. The council currently warns that fridge and freezer collection is affected by national treatment-capacity issues, and upholstered seating may require separate handling because of persistent organic pollutant rules.

Check Current Bulky Waste Service

Dartford Household Waste Recycling Centres

Household Waste Recycling Centres in the area are operated by Kent County Council, not Dartford Borough Council. You must book a slot before visiting. Check material and vehicle restrictions before loading the car because not every item is accepted at every site.

Dartford Household Waste Recycling Centre

Old Rochester Way
Dartford Heath
Dartford
DA1 3QU
Monday–Saturday 8am–4:30pm
Sunday 9am–4pm
Bank holidays 9am–4pm
Entry Advance booking required
Check Dartford HWRC before visiting

Pepperhill Household Waste Recycling Centre

Pepperhill
Station Road
Southfleet
DA13 9PA
Monday–Saturday 8am–4:30pm
Sunday 9am–4pm
Bank holidays 9am–4pm
Entry Advance booking required
Check Pepperhill HWRC before visiting
Dartford resident permit change: the old Dartford HWRC permit scheme ended in 2023. Visits are now managed through Kent’s booking system. Vehicle restrictions and booking requirements still apply.
Book a Kent Recycling Centre Slot

Dartford Christmas & New Year Bin Changes 2026–27

Dartford’s online collection checker automatically takes bank-holiday changes into account. For the 2026 Christmas and 2027 New Year period, the council has also published the following anticipated changes.

Usual collection Anticipated collection What changes
Mon 21 Dec 2026 Mon 21 Dec 2026 No change
Tue 22 Dec 2026 Tue 22 Dec 2026 No change
Wed 23 Dec 2026 Wed 23 Dec 2026 No change
Thu 24 Dec 2026 Thu 24 Dec 2026 No change
Fri 25 Dec 2026 Tue 29 Dec 2026 Christmas Day round delayed
Mon 28 Dec 2026 Wed 30 Dec 2026 Delayed
Tue 29 Dec 2026 Thu 31 Dec 2026 Delayed
Wed 30 Dec 2026 Sat 2 Jan 2027 Delayed
Thu 31 Dec 2026 Mon 4 Jan 2027 Delayed
Fri 1 Jan 2027 Tue 5 Jan 2027 New Year’s Day round delayed
Mon 4 Jan 2027 Wed 6 Jan 2027 Catch-up continues
Tue 5 Jan 2027 Thu 7 Jan 2027 Catch-up continues
Wed 6 Jan 2027 Fri 8 Jan 2027 Catch-up continues
Thu 7 Jan 2027 Sat 9 Jan 2027 Catch-up continues
Fri 8 Jan 2027 Mon 11 Jan 2027 Catch-up continues
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Tue 12 Jan 2027 One day later
Tue 12 Jan 2027 Wed 13 Jan 2027 One day later
Wed 13 Jan 2027 Thu 14 Jan 2027 One day later
Thu 14 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 One day later
Fri 15 Jan 2027 Sat 16 Jan 2027 One day later
These are anticipated dates. Snow, ice, extreme heat or another operational disruption can still delay a round. Use the live collection tool close to the date and follow any current council service notice.
Check Latest Bank-Holiday Changes

Damaged, Missing or Replacement Bin

Dartford’s reporting system can be used for problems such as damaged or missing containers. A green bin damaged through normal wear and tear may qualify for replacement, while a missing bin can be treated differently.

Bin charges shown across council pages can depend on the situation and container type, so use the current request route for the price that applies to your property instead of relying on an older standalone figure.

Request a New or Replacement Bin

Dartford Bin Collection FAQs

How do I check my Dartford bin collection day?

Use Dartford Borough Council’s online collection-day service for your property. It shows upcoming refuse, recycling and garden-waste dates and takes bank-holiday and temporary changes into account.

Is the green bin collected weekly in Dartford?

Yes. Dartford’s standard household refuse service is weekly. The green bin is for household rubbish that cannot be recycled through the grey-bin service.

How often is the grey recycling bin collected?

The standard grey recycling-bin service is fortnightly. Check your property to confirm whether your recycling falls into the relevant Week 1 or Week 2 pattern.

What time should Dartford bins be put out?

Present the scheduled container at the front boundary of the property by 6am on collection day unless the council issues a temporary service instruction.

Can glass go in the grey recycling bin?

Yes. Dartford accepts glass bottles and jars in the grey wheeled recycling bin with other accepted dry recycling. The old separate black glass box is no longer required for the standard service.

When does Dartford food-waste collection start?

The council announced that separate weekly food-waste collections for houses will begin in phases from November 2026, after caddies are delivered during autumn 2026. Flats and other eligible properties are planned to follow in early 2027.

How much is Dartford garden-waste collection?

The current annual brown-bin garden-waste subscription is £53. A new 240-litre brown wheeled bin currently carries a separate one-off £56 payment. Check the council before paying because charges can change.

How quickly must a missed Dartford bin be reported?

Dartford Borough Council says a missed collection should be reported within 48 hours of the scheduled collection day if the contractor is to return.

Do I need to book Dartford Household Waste Recycling Centre?

Yes. Kent County Council requires an advance booking for Dartford and Pepperhill Household Waste Recycling Centres. Check vehicle and material restrictions before travelling.

Check Your Dartford Collection Before Putting the Bin Out

For most residents, the basic pattern is simple: green refuse weekly, grey recycling fortnightly, and brown garden waste fortnightly if subscribed. The exact calendar still depends on the property, and holiday changes can move the normal day.

Use the council’s live collection service, put the correct container at the front boundary by 6am and report a genuine missed collection within 48 hours. During autumn 2026, also watch for property-specific instructions about the new weekly food-waste service beginning from November.

Check My Official Dartford Bin Date Report a Bin Problem

Independent guide: BinCollectionGuide.org is not Dartford Borough Council or Kent County Council and does not operate collections, process subscriptions or manage recycling-centre bookings. Always complete live council actions through the official links provided above.