East Lothian Bin Collection Calendar: Dates, Days & Bin

by
East Lothian • 2026 household collection guide

East Lothian Bin Collection Calendar: Dates, Days & the Right Bin

Start with East Lothian Council’s official postcode checker. Enter your postcode, choose the correct property when prompted and use the dates returned for that address. Do not calculate your next collection from a neighbour’s bin or an old screenshot.

The standard household service currently combines three-weekly non-recyclable waste with weekly kerbside recycling and food waste. Garden waste follows a separate paid permit calendar.

Check My Bin Date Which Container? Bin Not Collected

East Lothian Bin Collection: Quick Answer

Check the official collection calendar using your postcode. East Lothian Council currently operates a standard three-weekly green-bin service for non-recyclable waste, while recycling and food waste are collected weekly. Exact dates still depend on your property, so the live postcode result is the final timetable to use.

Put the correct council container at the kerbside by 7:00am. A collection is not treated as missed until after 4:00pm on the scheduled day.

Open Official Collection Checker Official Missed Collection Help
Green bin Normally every 3 weeks
Recycling + food Weekly service
Put containers out By 7:00am
Missed threshold After 4:00pm
Jump to the East Lothian task you need

How to Check Your East Lothian Bin Collection Date

The council’s live collection checker is more reliable than trying to work forward from a previous green-bin date. Start with the postcode and make sure the result belongs to your property before saving any dates.

  1. Open the official collection date checker.
    Use the East Lothian Council service rather than an old printable calendar or a neighbouring street’s schedule.
  2. Enter your full postcode.
    For example, an East Lothian postcode such as EH39 4DG can be entered into the official search field.
  3. Choose the correct property if an address list appears.
    Match the house number, name or flat carefully.
  4. Read the container and collection date together.
    Record “green bin — date” or “recycling and food — date” rather than remembering only the weekday.
  5. Recheck the calendar around service changes or festive periods.
    Your live council result should take priority over a saved screenshot.
Best method: bookmark the official postcode checker. It prevents one of the most common collection mistakes—using the right weekday but the wrong collection week.
Check My East Lothian Date

How Often Are East Lothian Bins Collected?

East Lothian’s household service deliberately separates residual waste from recyclable material. The council moved its green-bin non-recyclable service to a three-week cycle while retaining weekly recycling collections.

Service Typical current frequency Container Important check
Non-recyclable waste Every 3 weeks Green bin Use your postcode calendar for the exact date.
Kerbside recycling Weekly Blue box/bag, white weighted bag and glass box Keep materials in the correct separate container.
Food waste Weekly Silver outdoor caddy Use East Lothian Council liners only.
Garden waste Fortnightly for permit holders Brown bin Follow the day/week shown on the valid permit pack.
Do not turn frequency into a guessed date. “Every three weeks” does not tell you which Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday applies to your address. Use the official property calendar.

What Goes in Each East Lothian Bin, Box, Bag and Caddy?

East Lothian does not use one mixed-recycling wheelie bin for everything. Paper, containers, glass and food are kept in separate council containers so the material can be collected in separate compartments.

Green bin

Non-recyclable waste

Use the green bin for household waste that cannot be recycled through the council’s other kerbside containers.

Blue box / bag

Paper and cardboard

Use for paper, card and flattened cardboard. Remove protective materials such as polystyrene and bubble wrap.

White weighted bag

Plastics, metals and cartons

Use the reusable weighted white bag for accepted plastic packaging, metal cans and cartons.

Green / black box

Glass bottles and jars

Use the glass recycling box for accepted glass bottles and jars of all colours.

Silver caddy

Food waste

Cooked and uncooked food, including meat, fish, bones, fruit, vegetables, bread, rice, pasta and tea bags can go in the food-waste service.

Brown bin

Garden waste

For grass cuttings, hedge clippings, leaves, plants, weeds and small twigs when the property has a valid garden-waste permit.

Contamination can stop a collection. If a box, bag, caddy or bin contains the wrong material, the crew can leave it and attach information explaining the problem. Remove the incorrect material and present the container on its next scheduled collection.
Check Official Sorting Rules

How to Put Household Batteries Out for Recycling

East Lothian has a specific kerbside method for household batteries. Do not mix loose batteries into an ordinary recycling box or green bin.

  1. Collect the household batteries.
    The council accepts ordinary household batteries and battery packs through this kerbside route.
  2. Put them in an empty council food-caddy liner.
    Tie the liner securely.
  3. Place the tied bag on top of your covered glass box.
    Have it at the kerbside by 7:00am on the relevant collection day.
Car batteries and electrical equipment use a different route. East Lothian Council directs these to appropriate recycling-centre facilities rather than the household battery bag.
Read Battery Recycling Instructions

East Lothian Collection-Day Rules: Be Ready by 7am

Present by 7:00am

Your scheduled containers should be at the kerbside or agreed collection point by 7am.

Keep the lid closed

An overfilled or excessively heavy wheelie bin can be left unemptied.

Use council containers

Waste and recycling should be presented using the appropriate East Lothian Council-provided containers.

Keep access clear

Parked vehicles, roadworks and other access problems can prevent the collection vehicle reaching your containers.

Collection time can vary. Do not wait until you hear or see the lorry. A container that was not available when the crew reached the property may need to wait until its next scheduled collection.

East Lothian Bin Not Collected? Check These Rules First

East Lothian Council does not class the collection as missed until after 4:00pm on the scheduled collection day. Before reporting it, check whether the container was correctly presented and eligible to be emptied.

  1. Confirm that today was the correct collection date.
    Reopen the official postcode checker rather than relying on memory.
  2. Confirm it was available from 7am until 4pm.
    Reporting before 4pm is too early.
  3. Check the lid, weight and contents.
    A contaminated, overloaded or excessively heavy container is not the same as a missed collection.
  4. Look for a council sticker.
    A sticker can explain why the container was rejected.
  5. Check access.
    Parked vehicles, roadworks or severe weather can delay a route.
  6. Report a genuine missed collection promptly.
    The council asks residents to report it by the end of the next working day and keep the container available.

What happens next?

Green-bin miss Council aims to catch up reported eligible collections within two working days.
Recycling / food miss Council also states an aim of catching up eligible reported collections within two working days.
Garden waste miss The council says it will arrange collection as soon as possible but does not guarantee a fixed timescale.
Weekend rule: if a missed container would otherwise be left presented on Saturday or Sunday, the council asks residents to present it for 7am on Monday instead.
Open Official Missed-Collection Page

East Lothian Garden Waste Permit 2026/27

The brown-bin garden-waste service is separate from the ordinary weekly food-waste collection. For the 2026/27 permit year, the charge is £40 and permitted brown bins are collected fortnightly.

2026/27 permit £40
Collection frequency Every 2 weeks
Service begins 31 Aug 2026
Service ends 27 Aug 2027
Current timing: the standard 2026/27 application window closed at 4pm on 6 July 2026. If you did not register, check the live council permit page for any later registration opportunity. Do not assume that a mid-year application window is available.

A valid permit sticker must be attached to the brown bin and match the registered property. The council currently limits the scheme to one permitted brown bin per household.

Accepted garden material

  • Grass cuttings
  • Hedge clippings
  • Leaves
  • Plants, weeds and flowers
  • Twigs and small branches
  • Shrub prunings

Keep these out

  • Plastic bags or liners
  • Kitchen food waste
  • Soil or turf
  • Stones, bricks or rubble
  • Plant pots or polystyrene
  • Animal faeces or bedding
Check Current Garden Permit Status

Order a Box, White Bag, Caddy or Repair a Bin

East Lothian residents can order recycling boxes, covers, reusable white sacks, food caddies and liners through the council. The council states a target of delivering orders within 10 working days, although a current backlog notice warns that some deliveries may take longer.

Recycling containers

Order new or additional blue/black recycling boxes, covers and reusable white sacks through myeastlothian.

Food caddies and liners

New or additional food caddies and liners can also be ordered online.

Green bin capacity

There is normally one non-recyclable green bin per household. A larger green bin may be available where six or more people permanently live at the address and recycling services are being used.

Green or brown bin repair

The council can repair or replace components such as lids, axles and wheels. Waste Services can also advise on missing or damaged wheelie bins.

Order or Fix a Container

Assisted Bin Collections in East Lothian

An assisted collection is available for residents who cannot present their containers because of disability, age or ill health and do not have someone living in the household who can help.

The service can cover the green bin, permitted brown bin, recycling containers and food caddies. Apply through myeastlothian or contact Waste Services if online access is unsuitable.

Check Assisted-Collection Eligibility

East Lothian Bulky Waste Collection

East Lothian Council provides a paid collection service for qualifying large household items such as mattresses, indoor furniture and large kitchen appliances. The current charge is £5 for each individual item.

Reuse first

If furniture or an appliance is still usable, consider an appropriate reuse route before paying for disposal.

Book exact items

The crew collects only the items listed on the confirmed order. The booking cannot be edited after confirmation.

Kerbside by 7am

Booked items must be presented safely at the kerbside. Crews do not collect from inside homes, sheds, garages, gardens or driveways.

Booking availability can vary. The council says weekly slots are limited, so the next available appointment may not be immediate.
Check or Book Bulky Waste

East Lothian Recycling Centres: Locations, Hours and Van Rules

East Lothian Council currently lists three household recycling centres: Dunbar, Kinwegar at Wallyford and North Berwick. The standard published hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm, seven days a week, subject to festive closures and early closing on specified holiday dates.

Recycling centre Address Regular hours Van / trailer rule
Dunbar Spott Road Industrial Estate, Dunbar, EH42 1RS 7 days, 8:30am–5pm Prebook; accepted 10am–11:45am
Kinwegar A199 Haddington Road, Wallyford, EH21 8JU 7 days, 8:30am–5pm Prebook; accepted 10am–11:45am
North Berwick Heugh Brae, North Berwick, EH39 5PS 7 days, 8:30am–5pm Prebook; accepted 10am–11:45am
Take photographic ID. The centres are for household waste generated by East Lothian residents. Site staff cannot unload your vehicle for you, and children and pets should remain in the vehicle.
Do not travel to Macmerry Recycling Centre. East Lothian Council’s directory records Macmerry as permanently closed and directs residents to Kinwegar, North Berwick or Dunbar.

Using a van or trailer

Any van and any vehicle towing a trailer needs an advance booking. Bookings can be made for the same day when space is available. Bring the booking confirmation and photo ID, and arrive during the council’s restricted van/trailer access period of 10am to 11:45am.

A 12-visits-per-year fair-use policy applies to this van/trailer booking system. Commercial or trade waste is not accepted through the household service.

Check Recycling Centre Rules Van & Trailer Booking Rules

Christmas, New Year and Public-Holiday Bin Collections

East Lothian Council says non-recyclable collections normally continue on most public holidays, with Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1 January and 2 January treated differently. Alternative dates are published through the collection calendar and seasonal waste notices.

Do not reuse last Christmas’s timetable. The seasonal council page available during this research still describes the previous festive schedule. For Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027, recheck the live collection calendar and the council’s latest seasonal notice before putting containers out.

East Lothian Bin Collection FAQs

How do I check my East Lothian bin collection date?

Use East Lothian Council’s official collection date checker. Enter your postcode, select the correct property when required and use the container dates shown for that address.

How often is the East Lothian green bin collected?

East Lothian’s standard non-recyclable green-bin service currently operates on a three-week cycle. Use the official postcode calendar for your exact collection date.

How often is East Lothian recycling collected?

Kerbside recycling and food waste are collected weekly. East Lothian uses separate containers for paper and card, plastics/metals/cartons, glass and food waste.

What time should East Lothian bins be out?

Present the correct containers at the kerbside or agreed collection point by 7:00am on the scheduled collection day.

When is an East Lothian bin officially missed?

The council does not class a collection as missed until after 4:00pm on the scheduled day. Check the date, presentation time, lid, contents, weight and vehicle access before reporting it.

How much is the East Lothian garden waste permit for 2026/27?

The 2026/27 permit costs £40. Permit holders receive fortnightly collections from 31 August 2026 to 27 August 2027. The standard application window closed on 6 July 2026, so check the council website for any later registration opportunity.

How much is an East Lothian bulky waste collection?

The current household bulky-waste service charges £5 for each individual booked item. Availability is limited and all booked items must be presented correctly at the kerbside by 7am.

Where are East Lothian’s recycling centres?

The three current household recycling centres are Dunbar, Kinwegar at Wallyford and North Berwick. Standard published hours are 8:30am to 5pm seven days a week, with festive exceptions. Vans and trailers need advance booking.

Best Next Step: Check the Official Postcode Calendar

For the next East Lothian bin collection, start with the postcode checker rather than counting forward from the last green-bin date. Save the container name together with the collection date and have it presented correctly by 7am.

If the container remains full after 4pm, work through the eligibility checks before reporting it as missed.

Check My Official Bin Date Missed Bin Help

Independent guide: BinCollectionGuide.org is not East Lothian Council and cannot access or alter council collection records. Exact dates, disruptions, permit availability, reports, payments and bookings should be completed or confirmed through the official council services linked above.