RBWM Bin Collection: Day, Schedule, Missed & Bank Holidays
Use this refreshed RBWM guide to check your exact bin day, understand rubbish, recycling, food waste and garden waste schedules, report missed bins in time, and avoid bank-holiday collection mistakes.
Start here if you only need your RBWM bin day
The fastest safe route is RBWM’s official postcode checker. Enter your postcode, choose the exact address, then check recycling, food waste, rubbish and subscribed garden waste separately.
Put bins and caddies at the front boundary by 7am on collection day. Do not rely on a neighbour’s bin because flats, new-builds, villages and managed blocks can have different arrangements.
Check collection day
Use the live checker for recycling, food waste, rubbish and subscribed garden waste dates.
Official link: Find your bin collection day
Report missed bin
Report from the day after the scheduled collection and no later than two working days after.
Official link: Report a missed bin
Bank holidays
Collections usually happen on bank holiday dates, except Christmas and New Year.
Official link: Holiday collection dates
Garden waste
Green garden waste is opt-in and currently £89 for one year.
Official link: Garden waste subscription
How to check your RBWM bin collection day by postcode
Use this process for Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot, Eton, Cookham, Datchet, Sunningdale and surrounding RBWM areas. The checker is address-based, so it is more reliable than a general calendar screenshot.
Open the RBWM checker
Start on the official council page, not a social media post, old PDF or saved Christmas timetable.
Enter postcode and click “Find address”
Use the postcode from a bill or council tax letter if you are unsure. Check spacing if the list does not load.
Select the exact property
Choose the correct house, flat or building from the drop-down list. Nearby properties may not share the same collection route.
Check each waste stream separately
Look for rubbish, recycling, food waste and garden waste if you subscribe. They do not all follow the same cycle.
Screenshot Guide: Official RBWM Bin Collection Day Checker
This screenshot is a visual guide so residents can recognise the official RBWM collection checker. It is not proof of today’s live schedule; always enter your own postcode on the official page.
RBWM bin types: black rubbish, blue recycling, food caddy and green garden waste
Most missed-bin and contamination problems happen because the wrong item goes in the wrong container. Use this section before putting waste out.
Rubbish
Black rubbish bin: every two weeks
The black rubbish bin is for household items that cannot be recycled. Place it at the front boundary by 7am on your collection day and keep the lid closed.
RBWM does not collect rubbish placed beside the bin, on top of the bin, or in an overflowing bin. Food waste, garden waste, textiles, batteries and small electricals should use separate routes.
Official link: Household rubbish collections
Recycling
Blue recycling bin: weekly
Blue-bin recycling is collected weekly. Put items loose in the bin, not inside bags or sacks, because bagged recycling may be marked as contaminated.
Empty, rinse and squash containers where possible. Break down cardboard and remove tape. RBWM says one flattened cardboard box can be placed next to the recycling bin if needed.
Accepted examples: cans, clean foil, books, cardboard, cartons, glass bottles and jars, paper, plastic bottles, trays, yoghurt pots and non-foil wrapping paper.
Do not add: batteries, bubble wrap, clinical waste, nappies, takeaway cups, DIY waste, food waste, garden waste, hard plastics, light bulbs, polystyrene, tissues, textiles, toys, vapes or wood.
Official link: Blue bin recycling
Weekly
Food waste caddy: weekly
Food waste is collected weekly from a 23L black outdoor food waste caddy or from a communal brown food waste bin.
Line an indoor container with a paper or plastic bag, tie the bag when full, put it in the outdoor food bin and lock the handle. Place the outdoor caddy at the front boundary by 7am.
Accepted: bread, cakes, rice, pasta, eggshells, plate scrapings, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, tea bags and coffee grounds. Not accepted: packaging, milk, oil, liquid fat or non-food material.
Official link: Food waste service
Garden waste
Green garden waste bin: paid subscription
Green garden waste is an opt-in subscription service. A one-year subscription is currently £89 and includes a green wheelie bin if required.
RBWM aims to collect garden waste fortnightly where possible, except for two to three weeks over Christmas and New Year. After activation, households are assigned Week 1 or Week 2 and a weekday.
Official link: Green garden waste subscription
| Collection | Usual schedule | Use it for | Micro-help tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black rubbish bin | Every two weeks | Non-recyclable household rubbish. | Use weekly food waste and recycling to stop the black bin overflowing. |
| Blue recycling bin | Weekly | Clean dry mixed recycling and accepted packaging. | Put items loose, not bagged, and flatten cardboard. |
| Food caddy | Weekly | Cooked and raw food waste. | Lock the outdoor handle to reduce pests and spills. |
| Green garden bin | Fortnightly where possible | Subscribed garden waste. | Cut branches under two inches thick and keep all waste loose. |
How to report a missed RBWM bin without losing your collection window
RBWM asks residents to report missed recycling, rubbish, food waste or garden waste within 48 hours of the expected collection if the collection instructions were followed. The online missed-bin report opens from the day after the scheduled collection and closes no later than two working days after.
Confirm it was the correct collection day
Check the official day checker because bank holidays, bad weather and major events can change collections.
Check the 7am rule
If the bin was not out before 7am, RBWM says you need to use an alternative route or wait for the next collection.
Look for a tag or access issue
A tag can mean contamination, prohibited items, textiles, small electricals or bulky waste. Parked cars and blocked bin stores can also prevent collection.
Report from the next day
Use the official form from the day after the scheduled collection and no later than two working days after.
RBWM bank holiday bin collection rules
RBWM says collections now take place on bank holiday dates, excluding Christmas and New Year. If your bin is due on a bank holiday, place it at the kerbside by 7am on that day.
Christmas and New Year changes are published separately nearer the time. Collections can also change because of bad weather or major events, so always check the live page if your date is near a holiday.
Official link: Holiday collection dates
Ordinary bank holidays
Collections can happen on the bank holiday date. Put the correct bin out by 7am.
Christmas and New Year
These are exceptions. Check RBWM’s festive collection update before relying on your normal pattern.
Bad weather or events
Bad weather and major events can change collections even when it is not a normal bank holiday change.
RBWM green garden waste: cost, accepted items and collection limits
RBWM’s green garden waste service is paid and optional. The current one-year subscription is £89. Extra bins cost £89 for the year, or £44 if requested within six months of your renewal date.
Current price
One-year subscription is currently £89. Fees are listed as at 1 April 2026, so check the live page before paying.
Accepted items
Grass, leaves, flowers, weeds, hedge trimmings, plants, twigs and small branches can go in if the lid closes.
Not accepted
Loose soil, significant mud, sacks, bin liners, plant pots, trays and branches over two inches thick are not accepted.
Christmas trees: cut up and place inside the garden waste bin during January. Trees left next to the bin will not be collected.
Soil and turf: do not put large amounts in the green bin. Use the correct recycling centre route.
Schedule: after activation, your property gets a Week 1 or Week 2 collection and a weekday.
Flats, communal bins and new-build properties in RBWM
RBWM’s official container-capacity guidance is useful for flats, new developments and managed blocks because communal-bin properties may not work like standard houses.
Houses and small blocks up to 4 dwellings
RBWM’s guidance lists a minimum design setup of 1 x 180L black refuse bin, 1 x 240L blue recycling bin, 1 x 23L food waste caddy, and 1 x 240L green garden waste bin if applicable through the paid subscription service.
Flatted properties of 5 or more units
Larger flatted properties may use 660L or 1100L black refuse bins, 660L or 1100L blue recycling bins, and 140L brown food waste bins. The size and number depend on bedrooms and dwellings.
Capacity formula
For communal flats, RBWM’s guidance uses 95L per bedroom plus 30L per dwelling, then splits capacity into 55% recycling, 40% refuse and 5% food waste.
Bin-store access
Containers should be stored so collections can happen without harming amenity, and bin stores need enough space and access for crews.
Managing agent role
Managing agents need the correct RBWM-approved containers and services in place. Residents should ask where bins must be presented.
Official source: Container types and capacity calculation
Stafferton Way Household Waste and Recycling Centre: when to use it
Use Stafferton Way HWRC for suitable extra items, electricals, DIY materials and waste that does not belong in your kerbside bins. The site is for Royal Borough residents only.
Address
Stafferton Way Household Waste and Recycling Centre, Stafferton Way, Maidenhead SL6 1AY. Follow signs for the Civic Amenity Centre.
Proof of residency
Bring an Advantage Card, or photo ID plus proof of residency such as a council tax statement or utility bill.
Vehicle-only site
Pedestrians are not allowed to carry waste onto the site. The height barrier operates at 2.1m / 6’9″.
| Season | Opening time | Last entry | Important rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| April to September | 8am | 7.45pm | Site is open seven days a week but closes on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. |
| October to March | 8am | 4.15pm | Vans and commercial-type vehicles need a permit every visit. |
Useful for: cardboard, household batteries, glass, electricals, garden waste, metal, paint, textiles, vapes and wood.
Safety: gas cylinders should never go in rubbish or recycling bins. Hand them to staff at the site if accepted.
Not accepted: car tyres, clinical waste, demolition/construction waste, hazardous waste, loft insulation and UPVC window or door frames.
Official link: Stafferton Way HWRC rules and opening times
New bins, caddies, bulky items and special waste
If you are missing a bin, the caddy is damaged, the rubbish bin is overflowing, or you have bulky items, use the right official route instead of forcing items into the black bin.
Order bin or caddy
RBWM aims to deliver new and replacement bins and caddies within 10 working days.
Official: Order a new bin or caddy
Large items
RBWM can collect up to five large items through its large item collection service.
Official: Large item collections
Electricals and batteries
Do not put small electricals, vapes or batteries in the black bin. Use the separate recycling route.
Official: Small electricals and batteries
Clinical waste
Household clinical waste has a separate council route. Do not place clinical waste in normal bins.
Official: Clinical waste collection
Why your RBWM bin may not be collected
Use this table before reporting a problem. It helps you avoid reporting something the crew could not collect under RBWM rules.
| Problem | Likely reason | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Bin still full | Wrong day, late presentation, blocked access, holiday change, tag or genuine missed collection. | Check the address schedule, then report from the day after if eligible. |
| Blue bin rejected | Bagged recycling, food waste, nappies, polystyrene, vapes, batteries or other contamination. | Remove the wrong items and wait for the next collection. |
| Black bin overflowing | Food waste and recycling are not being separated enough. | Use weekly food caddy and blue recycling, or check if you meet larger-bin criteria. |
| Green garden bin left | No subscription, wrong week, Christmas/New Year break or wrong material inside. | Check subscription, Week 1/Week 2 schedule and accepted garden waste rules. |
| Flat bin-store issue | Managing-agent, bin-store access or communal container capacity problem. | Check address result and ask the managing agent about collection point and access. |
RBWM bin tips for Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot, Eton and nearby villages
1. Put bins out the night before, but not too early
RBWM says bins should be out by 7am. The night before is safer than rushing in the morning, especially on bank holidays.
2. Keep food waste out of the black bin
Weekly food waste collection saves space in the black rubbish bin, which is only collected every two weeks.
3. Put blue-bin recycling loose
Do not bag recycling. Loose, rinsed and squashed items are easier to sort and less likely to be rejected.
4. Do not use side sacks
RBWM says rubbish left beside the bin will be left behind. Use Stafferton Way or the correct collection route for extra waste.
5. Check access on narrow roads
Parked cars can stop a collection vehicle reaching bins. This matters in older streets, cul-de-sacs and managed developments.
6. Flats need a second check
Communal blocks may use different bins and storage points. Ask the managing agent where bins must be placed for collection.
RBWM waste contact details
Use the official online forms first because they route your request to the right service. For general waste-team contact, RBWM lists these details.
Address
Waste Management Team, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF.
RBWM bin collection FAQs
How do I check my RBWM bin collection day?
Use RBWM’s official collection day checker. Enter your postcode, click Find address, select the exact property and check recycling, food waste, rubbish and subscribed garden waste dates.
What time should I put my RBWM bins out?
Put bins and caddies at the front boundary by 7am on the scheduled collection day.
Does RBWM collect on bank holidays?
RBWM says collections now take place on bank holiday dates, excluding Christmas and New Year. Christmas and New Year changes are published separately.
When can I report a missed RBWM bin?
Report from the day after your scheduled collection date and no later than two working days after the scheduled collection.
Will RBWM return for a missed bin?
If your recycling, rubbish, food waste or garden waste was missed and all collection instructions were followed, RBWM says it will make another collection within two working days.
How often is the RBWM black rubbish bin collected?
The black rubbish bin is collected every two weeks and is for non-recyclable household rubbish.
Is RBWM blue-bin recycling collected weekly?
Yes. RBWM says blue-bin recycling is collected weekly. Items should be clean, loose and not bagged.
Is food waste collected weekly in RBWM?
Yes. Food waste is collected weekly from a 23L black outdoor food waste caddy or communal brown food waste bin.
How much is RBWM green garden waste subscription?
A one-year green garden waste subscription is currently £89, with fees listed as at 1 April 2026. Check the live council page before subscribing.
Can I leave extra rubbish beside my RBWM black bin?
No. RBWM says it only collects household rubbish inside the bin with the lid closed. Rubbish left beside the bin will be left behind.
What if I live in a flat or communal block?
Use the address checker and confirm your bin-store rules with the managing agent or caretaker. Larger blocks may use communal black refuse, blue recycling and brown food waste bins.
What should I take to Stafferton Way HWRC?
Use Stafferton Way HWRC for suitable extra waste, electricals, batteries, paint, wood, textiles, garden waste and other items that do not belong in kerbside bins. Bring proof of residency.
The safest RBWM bin routine
Check your exact address
Use RBWM’s official postcode checker and select the exact property from the list.
Put bins out by 7am
Place bins and caddies at the front boundary with clear vehicle access.
Separate waste correctly
Black for rubbish, blue for recycling, food caddy for food waste, green bin only if subscribed for garden waste.
Report quickly if genuinely missed
Report from the next day and no later than two working days after the scheduled collection.
Independent guide: This page is not Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Council, GOV.UK, Stafferton Way HWRC or a waste contractor. It explains official services in plain English and links to official pages. Collection dates, subscription prices, bank holiday arrangements, accepted items, HWRC rules and missed-bin processes can change, so always confirm urgent or address-specific information on RBWM’s live website.