Mid Sussex Bin Collection Now Runs on a 1-2-3 Cycle
Food waste is collected every week, mixed recycling every two weeks and black-bin rubbish every three weeks. Checking the exact property date is now more reliable than remembering an old fortnightly rubbish routine.
Use this guide to find your collection day, sort recycling correctly, manage weekly food waste, report a missed bin, check garden-waste costs, dispose of electricals and plan recycling-centre or bulky-waste trips.
Mid Sussex Bin Collection 2026: Quick Answer
Check the exact property before deciding which bin goes out.
The current Mid Sussex routine is weekly food waste, fortnightly mixed recycling and three-weekly general rubbish.
| Service | Frequency | Container | Main check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food waste | Every week | 23L green outdoor food bin | No packaging or ordinary plastic liners. |
| Mixed recycling | Every 2 weeks | Blue / blue-lidded wheelie bin | Clean, dry and loose. |
| General rubbish | Every 3 weeks | Black-lidded wheelie bin | Food waste and recyclables kept out. |
| Garden waste | Every 2 weeks | Subscribed 240L green-lidded bin | Active £99.50 annual service. |
| Small electricals | With 3-weekly rubbish | Separate carrier-size bag | Not inside the black bin. |
Mid Sussex 1-2-3 Waste Collection: What Changed?
The district-wide 1-2-3 system started for all households on 3 November 2025.
1 — Food every week
Cooked and uncooked food goes through the dedicated green food-waste service rather than the black rubbish bin.
2 — Recycling every second week
The existing blue or blue-lidded wheelie bin continues to take accepted mixed dry recycling.
3 — Rubbish every third week
Non-recyclable residual waste is collected every three weeks from the black-lidded bin.
Garden stays fortnightly
The separate paid garden-waste service remains a 25-collection annual subscription.
Why the change matters
Mid Sussex’s earlier food-waste trials found that as much as 40% of general rubbish could be food waste. Separating that material weekly reduces the volume and smell inside the three-week rubbish bin.
Do not rely on an old fortnightly black-bin reminder. The rubbish cycle changed and many households also received revised collection calendars during rollout.
How to Check Your Mid Sussex Bin Collection Day
-
Open the official collection-date service.
Do not start with an old saved calendar. -
Enter your postcode.
Use the postcode for the property where the containers are collected. -
Select the exact address.
This matters for flats, converted properties and similar addresses. -
Read the waste stream and date together.
Food, recycling and rubbish all use different frequencies. -
Save the next dates.
Record “food”, “recycling” or “rubbish” beside each date. -
Recheck at Christmas and New Year.
Temporary festive changes can interrupt the normal repeating pattern.
Set Mid Sussex Bin Reminders on Your Phone
Mid Sussex District Council’s mobile app can show local bin dates after you select your address.
Useful app features
- Check bin collection dates.
- Set bin-date reminders.
- Enable council notifications.
- Read recycling information.
- Locate recycling centres and other council services.
A reminder is useful for the three-week rubbish cycle because “same weekday every fortnight” no longer works.
What Bin Goes Out Today in Mid Sussex?
| Calendar says | Put out | Before 7am check |
|---|---|---|
| Food waste | 23L outdoor green food bin | Packaging removed and lid closed. |
| Recycling | Blue / blue-lidded bin | Clean, dry, loose material only. |
| Rubbish | Black-lidded bin | Lid closes; no food waste. |
| Garden | Subscribed green-lidded bin | Subscription active and bin safely liftable. |
| Rubbish + electricals | Black bin + separate eligible electrical/battery bags | Correct bag size and one-bag limits. |
Mid Sussex Collection Time: Before 7am, Wait Until After 3pm
Have bins ready before 7am.
Collections can take place between 7am and 3pm.
Presentation checklist
- Use a council-provided container where required.
- Put it at the edge of the property.
- Make it clearly visible from the public highway.
- Close the lid.
- Do not overfill it.
- Make sure the lid moves freely.
- Keep vehicle and crew access clear.
A bin is not missed at 11am, 1pm or 2:45pm. Wait until after 3pm before submitting a missed-bin report.
Mid Sussex Blue Recycling Bin: Complete Current Sorting Guide
Everything must be clean, dry and loose. Do not put recycling into plastic bags inside the blue bin.
Paper and cardboard — yes
- Junk mail
- Cereal boxes
- Egg boxes
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Catalogues
- Directories
- Scrunchable wrapping paper
- Coffee cups and lids listed by the current council guide
Paper/card — no
- Shredded paper
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- Polystyrene cups
Shredded paper is currently listed as black-bin rubbish rather than blue-bin recycling.
Foil — yes
- Clean foil takeaway containers
- Clean foil trays
- Clean tin foil
Keep out: food pouches, pet-food pouches and crisp packets.
Glass bottles and jars — yes
- Wine bottles
- Beer bottles
- Perfume bottles
- Jam jars
- Sauce jars
Keep out: Pyrex, drinking glasses and crockery.
Metal cans and aerosols — yes
- Food cans
- Drink cans
- Pet-food cans
- Empty aerosols
- Biscuit tins
- Sweet tins
Keep out: batteries, cables and electrical items.
Cartons — yes
- Fruit-juice cartons
- Custard cartons
- Soup cartons
- Milk cartons
Current guidance allows applicable carton lids to remain on.
Plastic bottles and containers — yes
- Milk and drinks bottles
- Bathroom and laundry bottles
- Plastic tubs
- Moulded plastic packaging
- Food pots
- Fruit trays
- Ready-meal trays
- Plastic container lids
Plastic — no
- Plastic toys
- Plastic furniture
- Plant pots and seed trays
- Plastic bags
- Plastic film
- Polystyrene
Current-rule correction: the latest Mid Sussex recycling page excludes plant pots and seed trays. Do not use an older guide claiming non-black plant pots can go in the kerbside recycling bin.
Why a blue bin may be rejected
| Problem | Why | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong item | Contamination | Remove the non-recyclable item. |
| Recycling inside bags | Items must be loose | Empty recycling loose into the bin. |
| Overfilled | Unsafe to empty | Reduce contents so lid closes. |
| Frozen/jammed contents | Contents cannot fall out safely | Loosen them before the next collection. |
| Blocked access | Vehicle or crew cannot reach bin | Remove avoidable obstruction. |
A contaminated recycling bin is normally left until its next scheduled recycling collection after the contamination has been removed.
Mid Sussex Food Waste: 5L Kitchen Caddy + 23L Weekly Bin
Food waste is collected every week.
Ordinary households use a 5-litre silver indoor caddy and a 23-litre green outdoor bin.
Accepted food
- Meat, including bones
- Fish and shellfish
- Cheese, yoghurt and other dairy
- Fruit and vegetables
- Peelings
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Plate scrapings
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
- Egg shells
- Solid fats
- Pet food
- Mouldy and out-of-date food
Keep out
- Food packaging
- Other non-food products
- Wood/bamboo compostable containers or cutlery
- Oils and liquids
- Animal waste
- Animal bedding
- Garden waste
- Cut flowers
Food-caddy liner rules
Do not use normal plastic liners, carrier bags, bread bags, sandwich bags or storage bags.
If you want a liner, use newspaper or an appropriate compostable liner. Mid Sussex does not supply compostable liners.
Keep the food bin cleaner
- Click the lid securely closed.
- Empty the indoor caddy regularly.
- Rinse after collection.
- Keep the outdoor bin away from direct sun where practical.
- Clean with washing-up liquid, lemon juice or white vinegar.
Flats and communal buildings
Residents receive an individual 5L caddy. The communal bin store uses a shared 140L food-waste wheelie bin that is emptied weekly.
Mid Sussex Black Rubbish Bin: Every Three Weeks
General non-recyclable rubbish is collected every three weeks.
Examples currently allowed
- Nappies
- Pet waste
- Non-recyclable packaging
- Shredded paper
- Plastic wrap and packaging
- Polystyrene
- Crockery
Keep out
- Food waste
- Kerbside recyclable material
- Electrical items
- Textiles, clothes and shoes suitable for recycling
- Garden waste
- DIY rubble and building waste
- Hazardous material
- Sharps and infectious clinical waste
- Bulky household items
- Business waste
Food waste should no longer go into the black rubbish bin. Use the weekly food collection.
Make the three-week bin easier to manage
- Remove all accepted food waste weekly.
- Use the blue recycling bin fully.
- Recycle eligible electricals at the kerbside.
- Use textile/reuse routes.
- Take small DIY loads to an eligible West Sussex centre.
- Book bulky waste for furniture and large appliances.
Mid Sussex Extra Rubbish Capacity, Nappies and Smaller Bins
Can you get a second rubbish bin?
An extra bin is assessed rather than automatically supplied.
You may be considered where:
- Six or more people live permanently at the property and children use disposable nappies.
- There is unavoidable additional incontinence waste.
- A disability creates unavoidable additional waste.
Medical/disability situations are considered case by case.
Two children using disposable nappies full-time
Mid Sussex says this can qualify a household for a temporary extra rubbish bin.
Important AHP service update
Older Mid Sussex trial information mentions a separate free Absorbent Hygiene Product collection.
The current 1-2-3 FAQ says demand during the trial was low and a district-wide separate AHP collection is not currently offered.
Nappy smell management
- Seal used nappies in a nappy sack before putting them into the rubbish bin.
- Keep the black bin out of direct sun where possible.
- Use weekly food-waste collection so food is not adding odour to the rubbish bin.
Want a smaller bin?
Residents producing little rubbish can request a smaller 140-litre bin.
The 140L bin is roughly the same height as the standard 240L bin but narrower.
One-off extra rubbish
For a temporary increase after a move, party or clear-out, use a booked recycling-centre visit rather than trying to permanently exceed the black-bin capacity.
For an assessed capacity request call Waste Management on 01444 477440.
Mid Sussex Missed Bin: Report Only After 3pm
Wait until after 3pm on the scheduled collection day.
If everything was presented correctly and the bin remains uncollected, report it as soon as possible through the council service.
Check first
- Was the correct waste stream due?
- Was the container ready before 7am?
- Was it at the edge of the property?
- Was it clearly visible?
- Was it an approved council container?
- Was the lid closed?
- Was it overfilled?
- Was recycling contaminated?
- Were contents frozen or jammed?
- Was road access blocked?
- Was garden subscription active?
No invented next-day deadline
Mid Sussex’s current public guidance does not state a fixed “report by X time tomorrow” cut-off. It says to wait until after 3pm and report the missed collection as soon as possible.
What can be reported?
- Food waste
- Mixed recycling
- General rubbish
- Subscribed garden waste
- Registered clinical waste
Frozen or jammed bin
If the crew cannot empty a bin safely because the contents are frozen or stuck, the council may leave it until the next scheduled collection rather than treating it as a normal missed collection.
Mid Sussex Garden Waste 2026: £99.50, 240L Bin, 25 Collections
Current annual fee: £99.50 paid by Direct Debit.
The service includes a 240-litre green-lidded bin and 25 fortnightly collections.
Christmas break
Garden-waste collection has a two-week break over Christmas and New Year.
Collection rules
- Put the bin out before 7am.
- Use the edge of the property boundary.
- Make it visible and accessible from the highway.
- Keep the lid closed.
- Do not leave additional garden waste beside it.
- Do not compact waste so tightly that the bin becomes too heavy.
Frozen garden bin
Frozen lids and compacted frozen contents can stop the collection because the bin can be damaged by the lifting equipment.
Mid Sussex suggests placing twigs or newspaper at the bottom to reduce garden waste sticking inside the container.
Keep these out
- Pet bedding and pet waste, including hay/straw
- Fruit and fruit peelings
- Kitchen food waste
- Vegetable peelings
- Ash-dieback affected leaves or wood
- Large quantities of soil
- Household rubbish
- Normal household recycling
- Japanese Knotweed
- Giant Hogweed
- Himalayan Balsam
- Australian Swamp Stonecrop
- Parrot’s Feather
- Floating Pennywort
- Creeping Water Primrose
Moving within Mid Sussex
Use the garden-waste change-of-address form at least 14 days before moving.
The current page says subscribers moving to another property within Mid Sussex should take their garden wheelie bin(s) with them. Follow the move form’s current instructions carefully because the page also contains collection/removal instructions associated with address changes.
Moving out of Mid Sussex
Cancel the service so future Direct Debit payments are not taken.
Cancellation refund
Mid Sussex states that no refund is given when a garden-waste subscription is cancelled before the end of the 12-month period.
Direct Debit changes
Update bank/payment details well before the next renewal; the council recommends doing this around four weeks before money is due to be taken.
Mid Sussex Assisted Bin Collection
Residents who are physically unable to move bins to the roadside can apply for collection assistance.
The service can cover
- Household rubbish
- Mixed recycling
- Outdoor food-waste bin
- Subscribed garden waste
- Registered clinical waste
How it works
The crew can collect the wheelie bin from an agreed position outside the home, including an agreed place in the garden where appropriate.
Allow three working days for the assisted arrangement to be set up.
If the next collection happens during those first three working days, use the normal presentation point for that collection if you are able to.
You can also apply on behalf of another resident.
Mid Sussex Flats, Communal Homes and Flats Above Shops
Wheelie bins at flats above shops
Wheelie bins can be used where there is enough ground-level storage and the landowner permits it.
No space for wheelie bins?
Some properties can use:
- Council blue bags for general rubbish.
- A recycling box.
Contact Mid Sussex when allocated blue rubbish bags are running low. The council FAQ asks residents to allow around two weeks for blue-bag delivery.
Blocks and communal homes
The number and size of communal rubbish and recycling bins depend on available space.
Shared bins should be kept in the designated bin store or waste area inside the property boundary.
Who should explain your setup?
- Landlord
- Managing agent
- Housing association
No communal recycling container?
Some blocks cannot accommodate communal recycling because of limited space. Residents can use community recycling points or West Sussex recycling centres instead.
Communal food waste
Communal buildings now use a shared 140L food-waste wheelie bin in the bin store, emptied every week.
Mid Sussex Small Electricals, Batteries and Vapes
Kerbside small-electrical and household-battery collection follows the three-weekly rubbish collection.
Put eligible bags beside the black-lidded bin or council rubbish sacks — never inside the rubbish bin.
Stale wording warning: the official page currently says “every three weeks” in its heading, FAQ and later instructions, but one older paragraph still says “every two weeks”.
Use your live three-weekly rubbish date.
Presentation rules
- Use a carrier-size plastic bag no larger than about 35cm × 40cm.
- Do not use a black bin bag.
- Tie the bag securely.
- Place it beside the rubbish bin by 7am.
- Use a separate tied bag for household batteries.
- Do not place electrical items inside the rubbish bin.
How many bags?
Maximum per collection: one bag of small electricals + one separate bag of household batteries.
Examples accepted
- Mobile phones
- Chargers and cables
- Radios
- Remote controls
- Games controllers
- Small speakers
- Hair dryers
- Hair straighteners
- Toasters
- Kettles
- Irons
- Small fans
- Handheld vacuum cleaners
- Small power tools
- Torches
- Electric toothbrushes
- Smoke/CO alarms
- Small smart devices
- Air fryers that fit within the bag-size rules
Household batteries
- AA
- AAA
- C
- D
- 6V
- 9V
- Button batteries
- Suitable mobile-phone batteries
Vapes
- Disposable vape: leave its built-in battery in place; do not try to dismantle it.
- Rechargeable vape: remove a removable battery and put that battery in the separate battery bag.
- Never put vapes in the black rubbish bin because lithium batteries can cause fires.
Not accepted at kerbside
- Microwaves
- TVs
- Computer monitors
- Laptops
- Tablets / e-readers
- Printers
- Fluorescent tubes
- Energy-saving bulbs
- Corroded batteries
- Motorbike batteries
- Industrial batteries
- 12V leisure batteries
- Items larger than 35cm × 40cm
Missed electrical bag
Vehicle storage is limited. If the rubbish bin is emptied but the electrical bag is left, no return visit is made. Store it safely and present it with the next rubbish collection or use a recycling centre.
Communal properties
The kerbside electrical service is not currently available where household rubbish uses a communal bin store.
Mid Sussex Bulky Waste Collection 2026
| Booking | Current charge |
|---|---|
| First item | £27.50 |
| Each additional item, items 2–10 | £18 each |
| Maximum per booking | 10 items |
Possible 50% discount
Residents receiving the council’s stated qualifying support may be entitled to a 50% reduction, including qualifying Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit or housing element of Universal Credit cases.
How long does it take?
- Complete the request and payment.
- Serco normally contacts you within 5 working days.
- The overall collection process can take up to 10 working days.
- High demand can extend those times.
Common accepted items
- Sofas and armchairs
- Mattresses
- Freestanding furniture
- Domestic fridges/freezers with food removed
- Washing machines
- Tumble dryers
- Dishwashers
- Domestic electrical equipment
- Bicycles
- Portable garden furniture
- Suitable mobility aids
Common exclusions
- Black-bag rubbish
- Carpets and underlay
- Kitchen units/worktops
- Bathroom fixtures
- Doors and windows
- Fence panels
- Sheds
- Building/DIY waste
- Rubble
- Garden waste
- Commercial waste
- Hazardous waste
Collection-day preparation
- Put items outside at ground level.
- Keep them close to vehicle access.
- Keep all booked items together.
- Have them available by 7am.
- Protect sofas/mattresses from rain.
- Disconnect and empty white goods.
- Crews do not enter buildings.
Two-person-lift rule
The item must be a size and weight that two crew members can move and load safely.
Change or cancel booking
Changes or cancellations need to reach the council before 2:30pm on the working day before collection. Missing that cut-off can affect refund eligibility.
Burgess Hill and East Grinstead Recycling Centres
West Sussex County Council operates household recycling centres. Mid Sussex District Council does not operate these sites.
Normal vehicle visits require a Book-to-Recycle slot.
| Centre | Address | Summer hours | Important difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgess Hill | Fairbridge Way, Burgess Hill, RH15 8AR | 9am–6pm daily, 1 Apr–30 Sep | Vehicles over 2.2m can use the site, subject to other restrictions. |
| East Grinstead | High Grove, Imberhorne Lane, East Grinstead, RH19 1TZ | 9am–6pm Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun; closed Tue/Wed in summer | Vehicles over 2.2m prohibited; plasterboard not accepted. |
Winter hours
From 1 October to 31 March, the two centre pages state that closing time moves to 4pm. Check the live site page for the exact open days before travelling.
Book-to-Recycle rules
- Maximum 5 booked visits per calendar month.
- Book up to 14 days in advance.
- Same-day booking is possible where a slot remains.
- Enter the vehicle registration correctly.
- The registration cannot simply be edited after booking.
- Cancel and rebook if the registration is wrong.
- The booking must be in the attendee’s name.
What to bring
- Booking confirmation if requested.
- Proof that you live in West Sussex.
- Vehicle-hire paperwork where applicable.
Entry can be refused if you cannot provide the required proof of residency.
Walking, cycling or mobility scooter
Burgess Hill and East Grinstead allow residents to visit on foot, bicycle or mobility scooter without a normal vehicle booking.
Recycling-Centre Van, Trailer and Vehicle Rules
There is no separate household vehicle-permit scheme.
Instead, book your slot and comply with the restrictions for the centre you are visiting.
Common prohibited vehicle types
- Luton-type vans
- Horseboxes
- Twin-axle trailers
- Tipper trucks
- Flatbed trucks
- Drop-side trucks
- Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight
Burgess Hill height
Burgess Hill specifically states that vehicles over 2.2 metres high can use the centre, subject to the other restrictions.
East Grinstead height
East Grinstead prohibits vehicles exceeding 2.2 metres high.
Special East Grinstead Surrey arrangement
Certain nearby Surrey postcode areas are also allowed to use East Grinstead under a special arrangement, but Surrey residents using that arrangement cannot bring a van, trailer or pickup.
DIY, Rubble and Building Waste: West Sussex Household Limit
Current household DIY allowance: up to 200kg per permitted visit.
West Sussex describes this as roughly eight full 25kg rubble/sand bags or an equivalent small household load.
Examples
- Bricks
- Rubble
- Concrete
- Tiles
- Soil
- Hardcore
- Plasterboard where the chosen centre accepts it
East Grinstead plasterboard exception
East Grinstead Recycling Centre does not accept plasterboard.
Burgess Hill is therefore the more relevant of these two local sites when plasterboard is part of a permitted household DIY load, subject to the live A–Z rules.
Larger renovation project
If the job creates more than the household recycling-centre allowance, arrange a lawful skip, licensed waste contractor or other commercial disposal route instead of treating a construction project as ordinary household bin waste.
Community Recycling Points for Textiles, Shoes, Books and Batteries
Mid Sussex also maintains community recycling and bring-site information for items that do not need to wait for a household recycling-centre trip.
Available streams vary by site and can include:
- Textiles
- Shoes
- Books
- Batteries
Do not assume every bring bank takes every material. Check the current Mid Sussex site table before travelling.
Mid Sussex Sharps and Clinical Waste
One-off and regular hazardous/infectious clinical-waste collections can be arranged by calling 01444 477440.
Healthcare provider first
- Ask the healthcare professional what collection type you need.
- The healthcare provider supplies the first container.
- Mid Sussex can normally issue one replacement container at a time.
- Cytotoxic/anatomical replacement containers must come from the GP or healthcare provider.
Specialist sharps containers collected
- Yellow-lidded: infectious clinical sharps including needles/syringes.
- Red-lidded: specified anatomical waste.
- Purple-lidded: cytotoxic/cytostatic waste.
Other hazardous clinical waste
- Infectious or contaminated swabs
- Infectious wound dressings
- Infectious human tissue/blood waste
- Wound-vacuum drains/pumps
Do not put these materials in the blue recycling bin or black rubbish bin.
Non-hazardous healthcare waste
Current guidance says these can normally be double-bagged and placed in the black rubbish bin:
- Non-infectious dressings and plasters
- Bandages
- Incontinence pads
- Nappies
- Sanitary waste
- Stoma bags
- Catheter waste
- Specified non-infectious home-dialysis waste
Medicines
Take unwanted or expired medicines to a pharmacy or follow the healthcare provider’s instructions.
Clinical collection days vary by town
The council maintains a dedicated clinical schedule. Examples include:
- Burgess Hill — Thursday
- Haywards Heath — Wednesday
- East Grinstead — Tuesday
Use the specialist schedule rather than assuming the clinical collection follows your ordinary rubbish day.
Mid Sussex Bank Holidays, Christmas and New Year
The council says normal collection dates repeat in the same pattern through the year, with Christmas and New Year being the stated period when temporary changes apply.
Best festive routine
- Recheck the exact property calendar in December.
- Check food-waste dates independently because food is weekly.
- Check the three-week rubbish date rather than assuming a simple one-day delay.
- Remember garden waste has a two-week festive break.
- Do not reuse last year’s Christmas screenshot or social post.
New to Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead or Mid Sussex?
-
Search the exact property calendar.
Do not copy the former resident’s dates. -
Find the blue recycling bin.
Current recycling is fortnightly. -
Find the black rubbish bin.
Current rubbish collection is every three weeks. -
Find both food containers.
A standard home uses a silver 5L indoor caddy and green 23L outdoor bin. -
Request any missing containers.
Use the council’s Bins and Waste service. -
Check garden waste separately.
A green-lidded garden bin sitting at the property does not by itself prove the current subscription is active.
Which Mid Sussex Waste Service Should You Use?
Mid Sussex Bins and Recycling Contact Details
Waste Management: 01444 477440
General waste email: wastematters@midsussex.gov.uk
Garden-waste email: gardenwaste@midsussex.gov.uk
Prepare before contacting the council
- Full address
- Postcode
- Waste stream
- Scheduled date
- Whether it was out before 7am
- Whether it remained uncollected after 3pm
- Any contamination/rejection issue
- Garden-subscription details where relevant
- Existing case/reference number
West Sussex recycling-centre booking help
The current Book-to-Recycle enquiry number is 01243 642106, with advisors available during the times shown on the county booking page.
Nearby Council Bin Collection Guides
Collection frequencies and missed-bin rules change across council boundaries, so do not carry Mid Sussex’s 1-2-3 system into another district.
Mid Sussex Bin-Night Checklist
- ✓ Exact property date checked.
- ✓ Food waste ready weekly.
- ✓ Recycling date confirmed for the two-week cycle.
- ✓ Rubbish date confirmed for the three-week cycle.
- ✓ Food removed from black-bin rubbish.
- ✓ Recycling clean.
- ✓ Recycling dry.
- ✓ Recycling loose, not bagged.
- ✓ Plant pots and seed trays kept out of blue recycling.
- ✓ Bin lid closes.
- ✓ Container is visible from the road.
- ✓ Everything ready before 7am.
- ✓ Garden subscription active if green garden bin is out.
- ✓ Electrical bag is no larger than about 35×40cm.
- ✓ Batteries are in a separate bag.
- ✓ No missed-bin report will be submitted before 3pm.
Mid Sussex Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my Mid Sussex bin collection day?
Use Mid Sussex District Council’s collection-date service, enter your postcode, select the exact property and read the waste stream and date shown.
What is the Mid Sussex 1-2-3 collection system?
Food waste is collected every week, mixed recycling every two weeks and black-bin general rubbish every three weeks.
When did the Mid Sussex 1-2-3 system start?
The district-wide service started for all households on 3 November 2025.
How often is the blue recycling bin collected?
The blue or blue-lidded mixed recycling bin is normally collected every two weeks.
How often is the black rubbish bin collected?
General household rubbish is normally collected every three weeks.
How often is food waste collected?
The outdoor green food-waste bin is collected every week.
What time should Mid Sussex bins be put out?
Have bins ready at the property edge before 7am. Collections can continue until 3pm.
When can I report a missed Mid Sussex bin?
Do not report before 3pm on collection day. If the container was presented correctly and remains uncollected after 3pm, report it as soon as possible.
Does Mid Sussex have a fixed next-day missed-bin deadline?
The current public guidance does not state a fixed next-day clock-time deadline. It says to wait until after 3pm and report a qualifying miss as soon as possible.
Does recycling have to be loose?
Yes. Mid Sussex requires recycling to be clean, dry and loose rather than placed inside plastic bags.
Can Mid Sussex recycle coffee cups?
The current council recycling page lists coffee cups and lids among accepted paper-and-card items.
Can shredded paper go in the blue recycling bin?
No. Shredded paper is excluded from the blue recycling bin and is currently listed with black-bin household rubbish.
Can plant pots go in Mid Sussex kerbside recycling?
No. The current Mid Sussex recycling page lists plant pots and seed trays among items that should not go in the blue recycling bin.
Can plastic bags and film go in the blue bin?
No. Plastic bags and plastic film are excluded from the current mixed-recycling stream.
What size are Mid Sussex food-waste containers?
An ordinary household uses a 5-litre indoor silver kitchen caddy and a 23-litre green outdoor food bin.
Can I use a normal plastic bag as a food-caddy liner?
No. Current Mid Sussex 1-2-3 guidance says not to use plastic liners, carrier bags, bread bags or storage bags. Newspaper or an appropriate compostable liner can be used.
What food can go in the food bin?
Accepted items include meat, fish, bones, dairy, fruit, vegetables, bread, rice, pasta, beans, plate scrapings, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells, solid fats, pet food and out-of-date food.
Can I get an extra black bin?
Additional capacity can be considered for circumstances including larger households with disposable-nappy waste and case-by-case incontinence or disability-related waste needs.
Does Mid Sussex provide a separate district-wide nappy collection?
No. A separate Absorbent Hygiene Product service existed in the earlier trial, but current council guidance says a district-wide AHP collection is not presently offered.
Can I get a smaller rubbish bin?
Yes. Residents producing little rubbish can ask about exchanging the standard bin for a narrower 140-litre bin.
How much is Mid Sussex garden waste in 2026?
The current annual garden-waste subscription costs £99.50 by Direct Debit.
What size is the Mid Sussex garden bin?
The paid garden-waste service uses a 240-litre green-lidded wheelie bin.
How often is garden waste collected?
The service provides 25 fortnightly collections per year, excluding the two-week Christmas and New Year break.
Do I get a garden-waste refund if I cancel early?
No. Mid Sussex says no refund is given when the subscription is cancelled before the end of its 12-month period.
How early should I tell Mid Sussex that I am moving?
For a garden-waste address change within Mid Sussex, the council asks residents to notify it at least 14 days before the move date.
Can Mid Sussex help me move my bins?
Yes. Physically unable residents can request an assisted collection for rubbish, recycling, food waste, subscribed garden waste and registered clinical waste.
How long does assisted collection setup take?
Allow three working days for the assisted collection arrangement to be set up.
How is food waste collected from communal flats?
Residents use individual 5-litre kitchen caddies and the communal building uses a shared 140-litre food-waste wheelie bin collected weekly.
How often are small electricals collected?
Current official Mid Sussex instructions say small electricals and household batteries are collected every three weeks with the scheduled rubbish collection.
How many electrical bags can I put out?
The kerbside service is limited to one carrier-size bag of small electricals and one separate bag of household batteries per scheduled rubbish collection.
What size electrical bag can I use?
Use a tied standard carrier-size plastic bag no larger than approximately 35cm by 40cm. Do not use a black rubbish sack.
Can communal-bin flats use the small-electrical collection?
No. The kerbside electrical collection is currently unavailable where household rubbish uses a communal bin store.
How much does Mid Sussex bulky waste cost?
The current charge is £27.50 for the first item and £18 for each additional item from item two through item ten.
How many bulky items can I book?
A maximum of ten items can be included in one bulky-waste booking.
How long can bulky collection take?
Serco normally contacts residents within five working days and the overall collection process can take up to ten working days, although high demand can extend this.
When is the bulky-waste change or cancellation deadline?
Tell the council before 2:30pm on the working day before collection if you need to amend or cancel the booking.
Do I need to book Burgess Hill Recycling Centre?
Yes for a normal vehicle visit. West Sussex uses the Book-to-Recycle appointment system.
Do I need to book East Grinstead Recycling Centre?
Yes for a normal vehicle visit. Pedestrian, bicycle and mobility-scooter visits have different rules.
How many West Sussex recycling-centre visits can I book?
The current Book-to-Recycle system allows up to five booked visits per calendar month.
How far ahead can I book a West Sussex recycling-centre visit?
Slots can normally be booked up to 14 days ahead, with same-day bookings available when a slot remains.
Does West Sussex require a household recycling-centre vehicle permit?
No separate household vehicle permit is used. Residents book a slot and must comply with the vehicle restrictions for the selected centre.
Can a vehicle over 2.2m use Burgess Hill Recycling Centre?
Yes. Burgess Hill’s current site information says vehicles above 2.2 metres can use the centre, subject to its other vehicle restrictions.
Can a vehicle over 2.2m use East Grinstead Recycling Centre?
No. East Grinstead prohibits vehicles exceeding 2.2 metres in height.
How much DIY waste can I take to a West Sussex Recycling Centre?
The current household construction and demolition allowance is up to 200kg, approximately eight full 25kg rubble or sand bags or an equivalent small household load.
Does East Grinstead Recycling Centre take plasterboard?
No. West Sussex currently lists East Grinstead as a centre that does not accept plasterboard.
What is the Mid Sussex waste phone number?
Contact the Waste Management team on 01444 477440.
What is the Mid Sussex waste email?
The general Waste Management email is wastematters@midsussex.gov.uk. Garden-waste enquiries use gardenwaste@midsussex.gov.uk.