Lisburn & Castlereagh Bin Collection 2026: Find Your Calendar, Container and Correct Collection Route
Lisburn & Castlereagh does not currently use one identical household recycling system at every address. Some properties use ordinary wheelie bins, while others still use kerbie boxes or wheelie boxes. Start with the exact property and then follow the calendar and container system assigned to it.
The council also approved a new standardised kerbside service in May 2026, but rollout is phased. Continue using your existing bins or boxes until Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council gives your household specific changeover instructions.
Lisburn & Castlereagh Bin Collection: 30-Second Answer
For ordinary bins and wheelie boxes, use Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s collection-day page and enter the first line of your address plus postcode. Kerbie-box households are directed through a separate collection-day route.
The council publishes four 2026 schedules: Calendar A and B for bins, and Calendar C and D for bins plus kerbie-box routes. Wheelie bins should normally be presented by 6am; current kerbie and wheelie-box guidance uses 7am.
Jump to the waste task you need
How to Check Your Lisburn & Castlereagh Bin Collection Day
The collection lookup should be your first stop because council-wide calendar labels do not tell you which route belongs to an individual property.
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Open the council’s Collection Days page.
Choose the household collection route that matches the containers used at your property. -
For bins and wheelie boxes, enter the first line of the address and postcode.
Use the exact property rather than a nearby address that happens to share part of the postcode. -
For a kerbie-box route, use the separate box collection-day link.
Do not assume its collection day follows the ordinary wheelie-bin lookup. -
Identify the correct Calendar A, B, C or D.
Save the calendar only after confirming which schedule belongs to the property. -
Recheck after any household-specific service-change notice.
The phased 2026 recycling transition means a direct council instruction can supersede an older saved calendar.
Lisburn & Castlereagh 2026 Calendars A, B, C and D
The council’s live collection page separates its printable schedules into four route calendars. They are not four borough-wide choices that residents select themselves.
Bins
Use only when the address is assigned to the Week A bin schedule.
Bins
A different bin pattern. Confirm the exact address before downloading it.
Bins + kerbie boxes
Used for routes where the published calendar also contains box-collection information.
Bins + kerbie boxes
Another route pattern combining bin and box information.
Important 2026 Change: A New Standardised Kerbside Service Is Coming
On 26 May 2026, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council approved a new in-house, standardised household collection model. The planned service is designed to make recycling arrangements more consistent across the council area.
Residual waste
Fortnightly under the approved future standard model.
Recycling
Fortnightly, with household glass included in the new recycling-bin system.
Food + garden waste
Fortnightly under the approved standard arrangement.
Rollout
Phased. Residents are to receive information in advance as implementation plans are finalised.
Households currently using kerbie boxes or wheelie boxes are expected to be supported through the move to a standard recycling-bin model. The council also says assisted or back-door arrangements will continue to be considered as the new system is introduced.
Which Bin or Box Should You Use Right Now?
During the transition, the correct answer depends on the containers already supplied to your property. Do not copy bin colours from Belfast or another Northern Ireland council.
Non-recyclable waste
Use the residual or landfill bin for household rubbish that cannot go through your available recycling or organic-waste service.
Dry recyclables
Current mixed-recycling bins accept materials such as paper, cardboard, cans, foil, cartons and accepted plastic pots, tubs, trays and bottles.
Food + garden waste
Used for accepted food scraps, food-contaminated paper and card, grass, leaves, pruning material and other approved organic waste.
Separated recycling
Kerbie and wheelie-box routes separate paper/card, container recycling and glass into the designated material groups.
Kerbie and Wheelie Box Sorting Rules
Box routes require residents to keep recycling separated into the correct groups. A box can contain recyclable material and still be left behind if those materials are mixed incorrectly.
| Group | Typical materials | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Paper & card | Paper, catalogues, newspapers, envelopes and cardboard packaging. | Keep clean and dry. |
| Containers | Accepted cans, aerosols, foil, cartons and plastic packaging. | Empty and clean items before presenting them. |
| Glass | Accepted glass bottles and jars. | Keep glass in the designated box; do not put glass in overflow bags. |
If you have only one or two kerbie boxes, current council guidance allows you to alternate material groups between weeks according to household need rather than mixing all groups together.
Brown Bin: Food Waste and Garden Waste
The brown bin is the council’s combined food-and-garden-waste container. Food packaging should be removed before food waste is placed into the bin.
Food waste
- Bread and pastries
- Fruit and vegetables
- Meat and bones
- Fish and bones
- Rice and pasta
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
Garden waste
- Grass
- Leaves
- Shrubs and weeds
- Cuttings and prunings
- Twigs and branches
- Natural Christmas trees
Keep out
- Plastic packaging
- Plastic bags
- Plant pots
- Japanese Knotweed
- Giant Hogweed
- Other prohibited material
Collection-Day Rules That Can Decide Whether Your Bin Is Emptied
Bins by 6am
Residual, mixed-recycling and brown wheelie-bin guidance uses a 6am presentation time.
Boxes by 7am
Current kerbie and wheelie-box guidance asks residents to present boxes by 7am.
Lid closed
Wheelie-bin lids should be fully closed and handles should face outward for collection.
No routine side waste
Additional side waste is not normally collected unless the council announces an exceptional arrangement.
Bin or Box Not Collected? Check These Things First
Lisburn & Castlereagh directs residents with an uncollected bin or box to check current service updates or disruptions first. A full container is not automatically a missed collection.
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Confirm the exact collection was due.
Recheck the property lookup and the correct Calendar A, B, C or D. -
Check for a wider service disruption.
Weather, vehicle problems, road closures or access issues can affect more than one property. -
Confirm the presentation time.
Standard wheelie bins use the 6am rule; kerbie and wheelie boxes use the current 7am instruction. -
Look for a contamination sticker or card.
A rejected contaminated container should be corrected and presented on the next scheduled collection day. -
Contact Waste & Recycling if the collection still appears genuinely missed.
Have the exact address, postcode, container type and expected collection date ready.
Fast missed-collection decision
Need a Larger or Additional Residual Bin?
Larger or additional residual capacity can be considered where a household produces extra unavoidable waste because of circumstances such as disposable nappies, medical waste or a large number of permanent occupants.
The council does not normally supply the standard residual bin itself. Residents needing one are advised to check the correct required size with the council before purchasing from a local supplier.
Assisted Bin Collection for Residents Who Cannot Move Containers
A household can apply for collection assistance where nobody living at the property is able to put the bins or boxes out for normal collection.
Who should consider it?
A household where no resident can safely move the containers to the ordinary presentation point.
How to request it
Use the council’s Assisted Bin Collection Request form or contact Waste & Recycling if you need to discuss the circumstances first.
Order a Recycling Bin, Brown Bin, Box, Caddy or Composter
| Item / service | Current route or price | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed recycling bin | Contact council | Phone or email Waste & Recycling to order. |
| Brown food/garden bin | Contact council | One normal household brown-bin service is separate from paid additional collections. |
| Additional brown-bin collection | £60 per year | Annual period runs 1 April to 31 March and availability depends on the route. |
| Additional brown bin itself | £30 | Applies when an additional physical container is also required. |
| Kitchen caddy | Council collection points / contact | Used for household food-waste separation before transfer to the brown bin. |
| Kerbie / wheelie box | Contact council | Order according to the collection system serving the property. |
| Home composter | £20 | Payment is required in advance of delivery. |
Lisburn & Castlereagh Bulky Waste Collection
The household bulky-waste service is intended for large unwanted items such as eligible furniture and domestic appliances that should not be left beside an ordinary bin.
Up to 3 items
A single bulky collection can contain up to three eligible items.
3 free collections
Each household can currently receive a maximum of three free bulky collections per year.
Additional collection
Further bulky collections currently cost £10, paid in advance and non-refundable.
Examples the service can accept
- Mattresses, kept dry to avoid excessive weight.
- Suitable upholstered furniture, also kept dry.
- Fridges and freezers prepared according to the booking instructions.
- Washing machines and cookers.
- Accepted electrical items.
- Rolled or folded floor coverings within the stated size limit.
- Suitable bundled wood with no exposed nails.
Examples outside the normal service
- Dangerous waste such as asbestos or chemicals.
- Building and repair waste.
- Permanent household fixtures.
- Garden waste or garden structures.
- Tyres, vehicle parts and engines.
- Gas canisters.
- Domestic heating-oil tanks.
Household Recycling Centres in Lisburn & Castlereagh
The council operates three Household Recycling Centres. They are for residents of the Lisburn & Castlereagh council area, and visitors should be ready to show photographic ID with proof of address. If the photo ID does not show the current address, the council advises bringing a recent utility bill as well.
The Cutts HRC
DerriaghyCo Antrim
BT17 9HN Household recycling centre
Drumlough HRC
Dromara RoadHillsborough, Co Down
BT26 6QA Household recycling centre
Carryduff HRC
8 Comber RoadCarryduff, Co Down
BT8 8AN Household recycling centre
Current council-wide opening pattern
| Day | 1 Apr–30 Sep | 1 Oct–31 Mar |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10am–5pm | 10am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–5pm | 10am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 10am–7pm | 10am–5pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed |
Before driving to a recycling centre
- Bring suitable proof that you live in the council area.
- Sort waste by material before arriving.
- Bag ordinary non-recyclable household waste.
- Keep garden waste loose.
- Keep recyclable cardboard and similar materials separated rather than bagging them with general rubbish.
- Do not arrive on foot; pedestrian access is not permitted.
- Children and pets must remain inside the vehicle.
- Domestic heating-oil tanks are not accepted at the centres.
Bank Holidays and Christmas Collections
Holiday arrangements are published separately for ordinary bin collections and kerbie or wheelie-box collections. They do not always move in the same way.
| 2026 date | Bins | Kerbie / wheelie boxes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May | As normal | As normal |
| 25 May | As normal | As normal |
| 13 July | Saturday 11 July | Saturday 11 July |
| 14 July | Alternative weekend collection | As normal |
| 31 August | As normal | As normal |
If a bin is not emptied on a published alternative collection day, current council guidance tells residents to continue leaving it at the collection point until it is emptied.
Make Sure You Are Using the Right Council
Carryduff, Lisburn, Hillsborough and other parts of the Lisburn & Castlereagh council area use this authority’s waste system. A nearby Belfast address can have different container colours, collection providers and reporting rules.
Inside Lisburn & Castlereagh?
Use the address lookup, A–D calendars and council services linked on this page.
Inside Belfast City Council?
Use the Belfast bin collection guide instead of applying Lisburn & Castlereagh rules to that property.
Lisburn & Castlereagh Waste Contact Details
Waste & Recycling phone
028 9244 7300
Useful for collection-calendar problems, bin issues, recycling questions and service eligibility.
Waste & Recycling email
Useful where an address, collection issue or container question is easier to explain in writing.
Official Lisburn & Castlereagh Waste Services
Open official collection information
Open collection help
Open bin and box guidance
Read official service-change notice
Open bulky-waste service
Open HRC information
Lisburn & Castlereagh Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my Lisburn & Castlereagh bin collection day?
Use the council’s Collection Days page. For bins and wheelie boxes, enter the first line of the property address and postcode. Kerbie-box households should use the separate box collection-day route.
What are Calendars A, B, C and D?
They are the council’s published collection schedules for different routes. Calendars A and B cover bin routes, while C and D include bin and kerbie-box information. Confirm the property before choosing a calendar.
What time should wheelie bins be put out?
Current residual, mixed-recycling and brown-bin guidance says wheelie bins should be at the kerbside or property curtilage by 6am.
What time should kerbie or wheelie boxes be put out?
The council’s current box guidance uses a 7am presentation time.
What should I do if my bin was not collected?
Check the exact collection date and current service disruptions first. Then check presentation time, access and any contamination sticker. If the collection still appears genuinely missed, contact the council’s waste team.
Is Lisburn & Castlereagh changing its bin service in 2026?
Yes. The council approved a new standardised model in May 2026 with fortnightly residual, recycling and food-and-garden waste collections. The rollout is phased, so continue using the existing service until your household receives specific instructions.
How much does an additional brown-bin collection cost?
The current annual charge is £60 for each additional brown bin collected. If an additional physical brown bin is also required, the current container charge is £30.
How many free bulky collections can a household receive?
The current service provides up to three free bulky collections per household per year, with up to three eligible items in each collection. Additional collections currently cost £10.
Where are the Lisburn & Castlereagh recycling centres?
The three council Household Recycling Centres are The Cutts in Derriaghy, Drumlough on Dromara Road in Hillsborough and Carryduff at 8 Comber Road.
Best Next Step: Check the Address Before Choosing a Calendar
Start with the exact property, identify whether you have a normal bin, wheelie-box or kerbie-box route, then use the correct Calendar A, B, C or D.
Keep following the service already assigned to your home while the 2026 standardised kerbside model is being introduced. A council-wide approval is not the same as a household changeover notice.
Independent guide: BinCollectionGuide.org is not Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. It cannot access household collection records, change a route, accept council payments or process waste-service applications. Use the official council services above for live property-specific actions.