Your Dorset Bin Day Is More Than One Wheelie Bin
Recycle for Dorset combines fortnightly rubbish, fortnightly mixed recycling, separate fortnightly glass, weekly food waste and a kerbside battery service, plus optional paid garden waste.
Check the exact address first, then use this guide for the 6am rule, every container, missed collections, bigger bins, nappies, gull-proof sacks, new homes, garden prices and Dorset recycling centres.
Dorset Bin Collection 2026: Quick Answer
Your exact Dorset collection dates are address-specific. Do not rely on a neighbour’s bin, an old screenshot or a county-wide guessed calendar.
For the standard Recycle for Dorset service, food waste is weekly while rubbish, mixed recycling and separate glass are normally fortnightly.
| Container/service | Normal frequency | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 240L green-lid recycling bin | Every 2 weeks | Paper, card, cartons, foil, suitable rigid plastics, tins, cans and empty aerosols. |
| 40L glass box | Every 2 weeks | Suitable glass bottles and jars. |
| 23L outdoor food container | Every week | Cooked and uncooked food waste. |
| 140L rubbish bin | Every 2 weeks | Non-recyclable residual household waste. |
| Reusable battery bag | With appropriate recycling/food collection round | Suitable small household batteries. |
| 240L brown-lid garden bin | Every 2 weeks | Optional paid garden-waste subscription. |
Some properties cannot safely store or present wheelie bins. Dorset can instead provide an assessed bag-and-box service using recycling boxes and authorised blue rubbish sacks.
How to Check Your Dorset Bin Collection Day
The live address result is the answer for searches such as “Dorset bin collection today”, “what bin is it this week?” and “Dorset recycling day”.
-
Open Dorset’s local-information service.
Start with the live council service rather than a saved calendar from another property. -
Find the exact property.
Use your postcode/address and select the correct house, flat or named property. -
Check recycling and rubbish separately.
These are normally fortnightly on alternating weeks. -
Check weekly food waste.
The food container continues every week. -
Check the glass box.
Glass is collected separately from the main mixed-recycling bin. -
Check garden waste only if subscribed.
Paid garden waste follows its own dates. -
Save the actual dates.
Dorset normally provides the calendar online rather than routinely posting paper calendars.
Check my Dorset bin collection dates
2026 Bin-Day Changes: Weymouth, Portland, Chickerell and Osmington
Around 32,000 homes were affected by redesigned collection rounds from 13 April 2026.
The change covered routes operated from the Weymouth depot, including households in Weymouth, Portland, Chickerell and Osmington.
What residents may have seen
- A different collection weekday.
- The same weekday but a different collection time.
- No change where the existing route remained suitable.
- A council letter explaining the new arrangement.
- Temporary transition arrangements for certain affected addresses.
A temporary transition allowance given to a specific household in April 2026 does not create a permanent right to leave extra rubbish beside the bin.
If you live in the affected area, use the live calendar now rather than an early-2026 printed reminder.
How the Recycle for Dorset Collection Rotation Works
Typical recycling week
- Main mixed-recycling bin
- Separate glass box
- Food-waste container
- Battery bag where used
Typical rubbish week
- Residual rubbish bin
- Food-waste container
Dorset aims to keep rubbish and recycling collections on the same normal weekday for an area, with food collected every week.
Local access/operational issues can create exceptions, so always use the property calendar as the final schedule.
What if wheelie bins cannot be used?
Dorset can assess a property for its non-standard authorised sack/bag-and-box service where storage, access, steps or other physical conditions make wheelie bins unsuitable.
Authorised blue rubbish sacks
Eligible bag-and-box properties normally receive an annual supply of authorised blue rubbish sacks. The standard rubbish allowance equates to two authorised sacks per fortnight.
Ordinary black sacks are not a substitute for the authorised Dorset sacks.
Dorset’s 6am Bin Rule
All containers should be ready for collection by 6am.
Dorset’s service policy says bins should not normally be presented before 6pm on the previous evening.
Normal collection position
- At the boundary/edge of the property.
- Adjacent to the publicly maintained road.
- At another collection point only where Dorset Council has agreed it.
- Clearly visible to the crew.
- With safe pedestrian and vehicle access.
Before 6am check
- Correct service is due.
- Wrong items removed.
- Rubbish-bin lid closes completely.
- Heavy waste has not made the bin unsafe.
- Glass box is not filled above its rim.
- Food caddy is visible.
- Battery bag is presented clearly if used.
- No unauthorised rubbish side waste.
After collection
Bring containers back within the property boundary no later than the evening of collection day.
Dorset Recycling Bin: Complete Accepted-Items Guide
The standard mixed-recycling container is a 240-litre wheelie bin with a green lid. An assessed bag-and-box property uses recycling boxes instead.
Paper and cardboard
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Directories
- Envelopes
- Cereal boxes
- Greeting cards without foil or glitter
- Corrugated cardboard
- Cardboard inner tubes
- Cardboard tube-shaped food containers
- Small amounts of shredded paper contained inside an envelope or cardboard box
Cartons, foil and cups
- Juice cartons
- Soup cartons
- Laundry-detergent cartons
- Clean foil and foil trays, scrunched together
- Accepted take-away paper cups and lids, excluding compostable types
Hard plastic packaging
- Milk bottles
- Soft-drink bottles
- Shampoo bottles
- Shower-gel bottles
- Cleaning-product bottles
- Yoghurt pots
- Cream/soup pots
- Margarine and butter tubs
- Ice-cream tubs
- Plastic food trays and punnets
- Plastic lids placed back on suitable bottles, pots and tubs
Metal
- Tins
- Cans
- Empty aerosols
Keep these out
- Plastic carrier bags
- Plastic film
- Crisp packets
- Sweet wrappers
- Bubble wrap
- Toothpaste tubes
- Polystyrene
- Plant pots and seed trays
- Plastic toys
- Roll-on deodorants
- Glass bottles/jars — use glass box
- Batteries — use battery bag
- Electrical items
- Food waste
- Garden waste
- Nappies
- Textiles
- Clinical sharps
- Wood
- General rubbish
How clean does recycling need to be?
Remove excess food or liquid. Dorset does not require every plastic item to be scrubbed spotless.
Can I put out extra recycling?
Yes, but the rules depend on the material.
Paper and cardboard should stay dry and be placed in the main recycling bin. Extra tins, cans and suitable plastic bottles can be placed in an extra recycling box or another sturdy appropriate container.
Check Dorset recycling rules
Dorset Glass Box: Bottles, Jars and Extra Glass
Standard glass container: 40-litre box, normally collected every two weeks.
Accepted
- Glass bottles
- Glass jars
- Metal bottle/jar lids left on
- Cosmetic jars
- Perfume bottles with spray lids removed
- Room-diffuser scent bottles
Not accepted
- Broken glass
- Drinking glasses
- Light bulbs
- Pyrex or other oven-proof glass
- Window glass
- Sheet/plate glass
- Plastic lids
- General mixed recycling
Extra glass
Extra accepted glass can be collected if it is placed in another sturdy container that one person can safely lift and empty.
Never fill the official glass box higher than the top edge. Heavy glass can create a manual-handling risk.
Waiting for a replacement glass box?
Dorset currently warns of supply delays. While waiting, use an open rigid plastic container such as a storage tub or washing-up bowl.
Do not use a cardboard box for temporary glass storage.
Check Dorset glass recycling
Dorset Food Waste: Weekly 23L Collection
Food waste is collected every week.
Standard households use a 7-litre indoor kitchen caddy and a 23-litre outdoor food-waste container.
Accepted food
- Raw and cooked meat
- Fish
- Bones
- Fruit
- Nuts
- Vegetable peelings
- Cheese
- Dairy products
- Bread
- Cakes and pastries
- Leftovers
- Plate scrapings
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
- Pasta
- Rice
- Eggshells
Keep these out
- Plastic carrier bags
- Ordinary plastic liners
- Food packaging
- Garden waste
- Pet waste
- Liquids
- Liquid cooking oil/fats
- Disposable cups
- Disposable plates
- Disposable cutlery
- Wooden sticks and skewers
What can I line the caddy with?
Use newspaper or a suitable compostable caddy liner carrying the recognised compostable logo.
Dorset Council does not supply kitchen-caddy liners. They are available from supermarkets and other local retailers.
Small amounts of fat
A small amount absorbed into kitchen roll can be accepted. Do not pour liquid oil or fat into the caddy.
Check Dorset food-waste rules
Dorset Rubbish Bin: Fortnightly Residual Waste
The standard residual-waste container is 140 litres and is normally emptied every two weeks.
Examples for residual rubbish
- Disposable nappies
- Plastic bags and film that cannot use another recycling route
- Polystyrene
- Broken glass safely wrapped in paper
- Cold ashes
- Pet waste
- Cat litter
- Non-clinical medical and sanitary waste
- Disposable razors wrapped safely
- Tissues
- Paper towels
- Foil-based wrapping paper
- Glittery greeting cards
Keep these out
- Garden waste
- Hot ashes
- Medical sharps
- Hazardous chemicals
- Paint
- Oil
- Gas bottles
- Non-empty hazardous aerosols
- Electrical items
- Business waste
- Construction rubble
- Industrial/landscaping waste
Bin lid must close
Waste piled above the rim or an open lid can result in the bin being refused.
Dorset Battery Bag: Kerbside Battery Recycling
Suitable small household batteries can be presented in Dorset’s reusable battery bag or in a small clear plastic bag of your own.
Accepted
- AA batteries
- AAA batteries
- Button batteries
- Suitable household rechargeable batteries
Not accepted in the kerbside bag
- Car batteries
- Mobile-phone batteries
- Laptop batteries
- Tablet batteries
Those larger or specialist batteries can be taken to a household recycling centre.
Where should the bag be?
Put it in clear view with the recycling containers. Do not empty loose batteries into the main recycling bin.
Battery bag not collected?
Battery collections can be made by either the food-waste vehicle or the recycling vehicle. Wait until both relevant crews have attended and do not report the battery bag as missed before 4pm.
Check Dorset battery collection
Dorset Garden Waste 2026/27: Prices, Dates and Rules
Garden waste is an optional paid service using a 240-litre brown-lid wheelie bin. Eligible properties unable to use a wheelie bin can receive authorised compostable paper sacks.
| Service start | Scheduled collections | 2026/27 price |
|---|---|---|
| April | 25 | £74 |
| May | 23 | £69.50 |
| June | 21 | £67 |
| July | 19 | £64 |
| August | 17 | £58.50 |
| September | 15 | £53.50 |
| October | 13 | £49.50 |
| November | 10 | £47 |
| December | 8 | £45 |
How the service year works
- Collections are normally fortnightly.
- Subscription renews from 1 April.
- Renewal window is January–March.
- A new Direct Debit should be submitted by 28 February for the 1 April start/payment.
- Applications need to be made at least 31 days before the chosen start month.
- Garden collections pause over Christmas and New Year.
Sack service
Eligible properties unable to use the wheelie bin can receive 50 authorised compostable paper sacks for the annual service, with two sacks presented at each collection.
Accepted
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves
- Hedge cuttings
- Plants
- Cut flowers
- Twigs
- Small branches
- Small amounts of home-grown fruit and vegetables
Keep these out
- General rubbish
- Mixed recycling
- Food waste
- Plastic bags or liners
- Compostable packaging/liners
- Plant pots
- Seed trays
- Animal waste or bedding
- Soil
- Bricks
- Rubble
- Stones and rocks
- Ashes
- Tree stumps
- Logs
- Large/thick branches
- Invasive weeds
Branch-size caution: different Dorset Council garden pages use inconsistent numeric descriptions for when a branch is “too large”. The safest household rule is to use the brown-lid bin only for twigs and small branches and take substantial woody material to a recycling centre.
Frozen or jammed waste
Wet garden material can freeze or compact inside the bin. Crews mechanically shake containers, but if the contents will not release safely they can leave an orange tag and will not necessarily return before the next scheduled collection.
Moving house
A subscription can be transferred to another eligible Dorset address after you notify the council. Take the subscribed garden container with you and wait for the new collection details.
Check Dorset garden-waste service
Dorset Missed Bin: Exact Reporting Process
Do not report until the street is marked complete or until after 4pm on collection day.
For a genuine household miss, Dorset currently aims to return within five working days.
Before reporting
- Collection was definitely due.
- Correct container was out by 6am.
- It was at the correct boundary/agreed location.
- Access was clear.
- It was not too heavy.
- Rubbish-bin lid closed.
- No contamination tag was left.
Valid report
Submit the report after the street is complete/after 4pm, then leave the missed container out for the return visit.
Why this guide uses five working days
The current dedicated missed-bin page and current Recycle for Dorset Service Policy both use a five-working-day return target. Some older charging terms still contain an earlier three-working-day sentence; the live missed-bin workflow is the safer source for a current household report.
Garden-waste missed-bin deadline
Garden-waste terms require a missed garden collection to be reported no later than one working day after the scheduled collection day.
A justified garden miss is also targeted within five working days.
Do not report as missed when
- Bin was presented after 6am.
- Wrong container was put out.
- Access was blocked.
- Rubbish lid was open.
- Unauthorised side waste caused the problem.
- Recycling/food/garden waste was contaminated.
- Garden waste was frozen or jammed.
- Container was too heavy.
Report a Dorset missed bin
Dorset Extra Waste: What Can and Cannot Go Beside the Bin?
Extra general rubbish
Ordinary unauthorised residual side waste is not collected.
Black sacks, boxes or loose residual rubbish left beside the standard bin can be left with a pink sticker.
Extra mixed recycling
Some additional correctly sorted recycling can be presented in a suitable sturdy recycling container, but paper/card should be kept dry and inside the main recycling bin where possible.
Extra glass
Accepted glass can be placed in a separate sturdy container that one person can safely lift and empty.
First rubbish collection after Christmas
Dorset’s service policy allows a maximum of two additional residual-waste sacks on the first rubbish collection after the Christmas period.
That is a specific festive exception. It is not a year-round side-waste entitlement.
Missing or Damaged Dorset Bin, Box or Caddy
Replacement wheelie-bin target: within 20 working days.
Before reporting a missing bin
- Check neighbours.
- Check the normal return point.
- Look further along the road/lane.
- Make sure another household did not accidentally take it.
Damaged wheelie bin
Dorset repairs bins where practical. If the bin cannot be repaired, a replacement is provided.
Boxes and caddies
Report the missing/damaged item first. The report can provide a reference number that allows you to collect a replacement at one of Dorset’s local collection points.
Phone the collection point before travelling to make sure the required item is in stock.
Glass-box delay
Dorset currently warns that glass-box supply problems can make delivery longer than the normal 20-working-day target.
Request a Dorset replacement container
New-Build or Newly Registered Dorset Property: Bin Cost
Current full-set charge: £85.50.
The charge applies to containers supplied for newly built, redeveloped or newly Council Tax registered properties where the required set has not already been paid for.
Before paying
-
Ask the developer or agent.
They may already have paid and arranged delivery. - Check the address is registered correctly.
- Only order if the container set has not already been arranged.
Council-supplied containers remain Dorset Council property and should remain at the premises.
Developer orders
New development sites may need a waste-storage/access assessment. Dorset says developer bin deliveries can take up to eight weeks depending on stock.
Check Dorset new-property bins
Bigger Dorset Rubbish Bin, Nappy Sacks and Medical Waste
Five or more permanent residents
A household with five or more permanent residents can apply for a larger residual rubbish bin.
Dorset assesses whether the household is making reasonable use of recycling and weekly food-waste services before authorising additional residual capacity.
| Household | Normal residual capacity |
|---|---|
| Up to 4 permanent residents | Standard 140L rubbish bin |
| 5 or more permanent residents | Can apply for 240L rubbish bin |
An administration/delivery charge applies to an approved larger-bin change.
Disposable nappies
Households with a child under three who uses disposable nappies can apply annually for authorised extra rubbish sacks.
- Current administration/delivery charge: £22.50.
- 26 authorised sacks are supplied.
- That is equivalent to one additional authorised sack per fortnightly rubbish collection.
- Delivery target is within 30 calendar days.
- Application must be renewed each year.
- No automatic renewal reminder is guaranteed.
- A household with an approved larger rubbish bin cannot simultaneously use the nappy-sack scheme.
Important nappy-sack detail
The authorised sack increases total residual capacity. It does not have to contain nappies only.
Medical reasons
Residents or carers can apply for additional capacity where a medical condition creates unavoidable extra residual household waste.
Dorset assesses the nature of the waste and decides the appropriate container/collection arrangement.
Check Dorset extra-capacity options
Dorset Gull-Proof Sacks for Coastal Properties
Gulls can tear open ordinary sacks in coastal areas, creating litter and presenting collection problems.
Dorset’s eligible gull-proof sacks are supplied free of charge.
Lost or damaged sack
One replacement can be provided free within a two-year period. Further replacement requests within that period can be chargeable.
Delivery
Current target is within 20 working days.
Extra-capacity households
Where a property has approved medical or larger-family capacity, Dorset can provide the appropriate number of gull-proof sacks where relevant.
Request a Dorset gull-proof sack
Dorset Assisted Collection: Help Moving Your Bins
Dorset offers an alternative collection point where a household genuinely cannot move its containers safely.
Who can qualify?
- Household members are temporarily or permanently incapacitated; or
- a physical disability makes kerbside presentation difficult or impossible;
- there is no able-bodied person over 14 living at the property who can help; and
- no suitable family member, friend, carer or neighbour is available to provide the regular help.
Application
- Suggest an alternative permanent collection point.
- Answer the eligibility questions.
- Supporting evidence such as a doctor’s note may be requested.
- A home visit may be required.
Collection-day access
The agreed containers need to be accessible to crews from 6am.
Collection staff may enter the private property to reach the agreed container point, but they are not authorised to enter the resident’s home.
Temporary assistance
Assistance can also be requested for a short-term need—for example, recovery from a medical issue or when the person who normally helps will be away for an extended period.
Request help moving Dorset bins
Dorset Bulky Waste: Sofas, Mattresses, Fridges and Appliances
Dorset Council’s household bulky route is linked to Dorset Reclaim and other reuse organisations rather than a simple universal council price table.
Common bulky items
- Sofas
- Armchairs
- Beds
- Mattresses
- Fridges
- Freezers
- Washing machines
- Televisions
- Reusable furniture
- Other large household appliances
Is bulky collection free?
Dorset Council says a Dorset Reclaim collection may or may not carry a charge depending on the item’s condition, quality and potential for reuse.
That means a fixed old “Dorset Council bulky waste price” from a third-party page should not be treated as reliable.
Before disposal
- Ask whether the item can be reused.
- Consider local furniture charities.
- Use a household recycling centre where accepted.
- Use a licensed waste carrier for material unsuitable for council/reuse routes.
Check Dorset bulky-waste options
Dorset Household Recycling Centres: 2026 Booking and Permit Rules
Dorset Council operates ten household recycling centres. The important 2026 change is that four now require a booking for ordinary household visits.
| Recycling centre | Ordinary household booking? | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| Dorchester | Yes | Booking required for ordinary visits, including foot/bike access. |
| Wimborne | Yes | Current site page says no glass-bottle/jar recycling facility because of limited space. |
| Shaftesbury | Yes | 30-minute booked arrival window. |
| Sherborne | Yes | 30-minute booked arrival window. |
| Weymouth / Lodmoor | Ordinary household visit: no | Book for DIY or asbestos where applicable. |
| Blandford | Ordinary household visit: no | Book for DIY or asbestos where applicable. |
| Wareham | Ordinary household visit: no | Book for DIY or asbestos where applicable. |
| Bridport / Broomhills | Ordinary household visit: no | DIY waste requires booking. |
| Swanage | Ordinary household visit: no | DIY waste requires booking. |
| Portland | Ordinary household visit: no | DIY waste requires booking. |
Four booking sites
From 23 March 2026, Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury and Sherborne require a booking even if you arrive on foot or by bicycle.
Bookings use a 30-minute arrival window.
DIY waste
DIY waste requires a booking at every Dorset household recycling centre.
Current booking policy allows a maximum of four DIY-waste bookings per household in any four-week period.
Opening hours
Current individual site listings should be checked immediately before travelling. Dorset states that opening times change on 1 April and 1 October to reflect daylight hours.
Sites are normally open on ordinary Bank Holidays but close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Non-Dorset residents
Anyone can use the centres for household waste, but non-Dorset Council residents using the booking system currently pay a non-refundable £8.50 fee.
Vehicle permit required
- Vans up to 3.5 tonnes
- Single-cab pick-ups
- Dual-cab pick-ups
- Car-derived vans
No permit normally required
- Cars
- Estate cars
- People carriers
- Camper vans
- Minibuses
- Eligible hire vans hired for no more than three days, with the hire agreement
Permit visit allowance
Eligible permit holders receive either 6 or 12 household recycling-centre visits per year, depending on the information provided when applying.
Permits must be renewed each year. Renewing early cancels unused visits on the previous permit.
Trailer rules
- A vehicle that does not need a permit can normally tow a trailer with a bed no larger than 1.8m × 1.2m.
- A vehicle that requires a permit cannot tow a trailer into the site.
- Hire vans cannot tow trailers into the site.
Vehicles not allowed
- Vans over 3.5 tonnes
- Vans towing trailers
- Pick-ups towing trailers
- Oversized trailers
- Luton box vans
- Flatbed vans
- Tipper vans
- Tractors
- Horse boxes
- Agricultural vehicles
- Hire vans hired for more than three days
Household asbestos
Only Blandford, Wareham and Weymouth are licensed to accept cement-bonded household asbestos.
Use the specialist asbestos booking process before travelling.
Other common materials
- Paper and cardboard
- Garden waste
- Furniture
- Mattresses
- Carpet
- Electrical items
- Vapes
- Household batteries
- Car batteries
- Fridges and freezers
- Scrap metal
- Wood
- Textiles
- Paint
- Cooking oil
- Engine oil subject to limits
- Household chemicals subject to limits
- Soil, rubble and plasterboard subject to current DIY/charge rules
- Tyres subject to current charges
Before leaving home
- Choose the exact site.
- Check whether an ordinary booking is required.
- Book if taking DIY waste.
- Check vehicle permit requirements.
- Separate materials before loading.
- Check the individual site’s live opening time.
Find a Dorset recycling centre
Dorset Bank Holiday and Christmas Collections
Ordinary public holidays normally operate as usual. Christmas and New Year are different.
Christmas/New Year
Dorset changes normal collection dates during the Christmas/New Year period, so use the live property calendar once the new festive schedule is published.
Useful standing festive rules
- Garden waste pauses over Christmas/New Year.
- First residual collection after Christmas allows up to two extra rubbish sacks.
- Extra correctly separated recycling can be accepted under festive arrangements.
- Extra glass can use a sturdy safe container.
- Food waste should remain separated.
- HRCs close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Do not copy a 2025/26 festive timetable into Christmas 2026/27. Exact shifted dates need the live address calendar.
Christmas trees
Dorset does not collect whole Christmas trees with normal rubbish or recycling.
- Home compost where practical.
- Cut into acceptable small garden material for a subscribed service where suitable.
- Take the tree to a household recycling centre.
- Use a legitimate local charity/tree collection where available.
Dorset Council or BCP Council? Check the Authority First
Dorset Council covers communities including Dorchester, Weymouth, Portland, Bridport, Lyme Regis, Wareham, Swanage, Blandford Forum, Wimborne, Ferndown, Sherborne, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and many surrounding villages.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are not part of Dorset Council’s household waste service. They use BCP Council’s separate collection system.
If you have recently moved across the local-authority boundary, do not reuse the old home’s bin colours, collection time or missed-bin rules.
Nearby Bin Collection Guides
Dorset Waste Services Contact Details
| Route | Detail | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset Council customer services | 01305 221000 | General council support. |
| Dorset Waste Services | 01305 221040 | Waste-service, garden and container enquiries where a dedicated online form is not suitable. |
| HRC telephone booking | 01305 221037 | Required recycling-centre booking where the resident cannot use the online booking system. |
| General customer-service hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5pm | Current published customer-service telephone hours. |
Prepare before contacting Waste Services
- Full address
- Postcode
- Container type
- Scheduled collection date
- Whether it was out before 6am
- Any tag/sticker colour
- Whether access was blocked
- Whether the bin was overweight/overfilled
- Any existing report/reference number
30-Second Dorset Bin-Night Checklist
- Exact property calendar checked
- Rubbish or recycling week confirmed
- Weekly food container ready
- Glass box ready if due
- Battery bag visible if used
- Garden date/subscription checked
- Wrong material removed
- Rubbish lid fully closed
- No unauthorised rubbish sacks
- Extra recycling safely contained
- Glass not overfilled
- Collection point accessible
- Everything ready by 6am
Dorset Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my Dorset bin collection day?
Use Dorset Council’s live local-information service, select the exact property and check the dates shown for rubbish, recycling, food waste, glass and garden waste where subscribed.
What time do Dorset bins need to be out?
Containers should be ready at the correct collection point by 6am. Dorset’s service policy says they should not normally be presented before 6pm the previous evening.
How often is Dorset rubbish collected?
The standard residual rubbish service is fortnightly and normally uses a 140-litre household rubbish bin.
How often is Dorset recycling collected?
Mixed recycling is normally collected every two weeks, with a separate glass collection on the recycling round.
Is Dorset food waste collected every week?
Yes. Standard households use a 7-litre indoor caddy and 23-litre outdoor food-waste container, with the outdoor container emptied weekly.
Does Dorset supply food-caddy liners?
No. Use newspaper or suitable compostable caddy liners bought from supermarkets or other local retailers.
Does Dorset collect glass separately?
Yes. Standard households use a 40-litre glass box for suitable glass bottles and jars, normally collected fortnightly.
Can I leave extra glass out?
Yes, if it is accepted glass and placed in another sturdy container that one person can safely lift and empty. Never overfill the official glass box above its top edge.
Can I leave extra rubbish beside my Dorset bin?
Not normally. Unauthorised residual side waste is refused. The first rubbish collection after Christmas has a specific exception allowing up to two extra sacks.
Can I put out extra Dorset recycling?
Some additional correctly sorted recycling can be collected when presented in an appropriate sturdy container. Paper and card should be kept dry and inside the main recycling bin where possible.
When can I report a Dorset missed bin?
Wait until the street is marked complete or until after 4pm on the scheduled collection day. A genuine household miss is currently targeted for return within five working days.
How much is Dorset garden waste in 2026/27?
An April start costs £74 for 25 scheduled collections. Part-year prices reduce according to the starting month, reaching £45 for a December start.
Can I get a larger Dorset rubbish bin?
A household with five or more permanent residents can apply for a 240-litre residual rubbish bin after Dorset assesses the household’s use of recycling and food-waste services. An administration and delivery charge applies.
How much is Dorset’s extra nappy-sack service?
The current administration and delivery charge is £22.50. Approved households with a child under three using disposable nappies receive 26 authorised rubbish sacks and must reapply annually.
How much is a full set of bins for a new Dorset property?
Dorset currently charges £85.50 for a full set of containers for newly built, redeveloped or newly Council Tax registered properties where the developer has not already paid and arranged provision.
How long does a replacement Dorset wheelie bin take?
The normal delivery target is within 20 working days. Glass-box replacements can currently take longer because of supply shortages.
Are Dorset gull-proof sacks free?
Eligible gull-proof sacks are supplied free. One lost or damaged replacement can be free within a two-year period; further replacement requests in that period may be charged.
Who can get help moving bins in Dorset?
Residents may qualify where disability or incapacity prevents safe kerbside presentation and no suitable household member, family member, friend, carer or neighbour can provide regular help.
Do all Dorset recycling centres require booking?
No. Ordinary visits to Dorchester, Wimborne, Shaftesbury and Sherborne require bookings. The other six sites do not require routine bookings for ordinary Dorset household waste, although DIY waste requires booking at every site.
How many Dorset HRC permit visits can I get?
Eligible vehicle permits provide either six or twelve recycling-centre visits per year, depending on the information provided in the application.
Which Dorset tips take household asbestos?
Only Blandford, Wareham and Weymouth are currently licensed for cement-bonded household asbestos, and the specialist booking procedure must be followed.
Does a van need a Dorset recycling-centre permit?
Eligible vans up to 3.5 tonnes, pick-ups and car-derived vans need permits. Vehicles requiring a permit cannot tow a trailer into the recycling centre.
Are Bank Holiday bin collections delayed in Dorset?
Ordinary public holidays normally operate as usual. Collection dates change over Christmas and New Year, so check the live property calendar during the festive period.
Are Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole part of Recycle for Dorset?
No. Those areas are served by BCP Council and use different collection calendars, presentation times and waste-service rules.