South Tyneside Bin Collection 2026: Grey & Blue Bin Days

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South Tyneside • North East England • 2026 resident guide

South Tyneside Bin Collection 2026: Know Whether It Is Grey or Blue Bin Week

South Tyneside normally collects household rubbish one week and household recycling the following week on the same weekday. Your exact dates still belong to your address, so check the Council service before relying on an old reminder.

Put the correct bin at the kerbside by 7:30am. A genuine missed wheelie-bin collection should be reported by the end of the next working day.

Check My Bin Day Grey or Blue? Missed Bin Help
Important 2026 food-waste update South Tyneside is covered by a formal transitional arrangement linked to the South Tyne and Wear long-term residual-waste contract. The current statutory date for universal separate household food-waste collection is 1 April 2039. This means residents should not expect a borough-wide household food-caddy rollout simply because the general England deadline passed in 2026. An earlier local introduction remains possible if arrangements change.

South Tyneside Bin Collection: 30-Second Answer

Normal household refuse and recycling operate on an alternate-week cycle: grey household rubbish one week and blue recycling the next. Both normally use the same weekday.

Put the correct Council bin at the kerbside by 7:30am and take it back inside the property boundary after collection. Around Bank Holidays or Christmas, check the live address service because dates can move.

Check Official Bin Dates Official Missed-Bin Service
Grey refuse Normally fortnightly
Blue recycling Normally fortnightly
Put bins out By 7:30am
Missed deadline Next working day
Jump to the South Tyneside task you need

First Check That South Tyneside Council Collects Your Waste

South Tyneside Council covers places including South Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn, Boldon, Cleadon and Whitburn. Postcode districts can cross council boundaries, so a nearby property or an SR postcode does not automatically mean the Sunderland collection system applies.

Near Sunderland?

South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council are separate waste authorities with different bin colours, rules and collection calendars.

Unsure which council?

Use the GOV.UK council finder before following a local bin guide if the property sits close to a boundary.

Find your local council

How to Check Your South Tyneside Bin Collection Date

The alternate-week rule is useful, but it does not replace the property-specific collection checker. Bank Holidays, Christmas arrangements and operational changes can break an old grey-blue reminder.

  1. Open South Tyneside Council’s bin collection date service.
    Start with the live Council route rather than a screenshot or handwritten calendar.
  2. Enter the requested address information.
    Select the exact property if the service presents more than one address.
  3. Confirm the normal weekday.
    Grey refuse and blue recycling normally use the same weekday.
  4. Check which waste stream is due.
    One week is normally household refuse and the following week is household recycling.
  5. Recheck around public holidays.
    Do not automatically add one day unless the current Council schedule confirms the change.
Address not recognised? Do not select a neighbour just to obtain a result. South Tyneside’s eServices help route lists Customer Services on 0191 427 7000 and [email protected].
Check South Tyneside Bin Dates

Is It Grey Bin Week or Blue Bin Week?

Grey week

Household rubbish

Present the grey household refuse bin for ordinary domestic rubbish that cannot be recycled through the available household services.

Blue week

Household recycling

Present the blue recycling bin and use its inner paper caddy correctly where your property still has that setup.

The normal weekday stays the same. The service alternates the waste stream rather than giving the standard grey and blue bins two unrelated weekdays.

If an old reminder says “grey every other Tuesday”, recheck it after a holiday or disruption. One shifted collection can make an old repeating phone reminder unreliable.

South Tyneside Bins Must Be Ready by 7:30am

Refuse and recycling bins must be presented at the kerbside by 7:30am and returned within the property boundary after they have been emptied.

Correct collection point

Place the bin where the collection vehicle can safely reach it without blocking the highway.

Correct bin colour

Presenting the grey bin during blue week can result in it being left even if the weekday is correct.

Late presentation

If collection records show the bin was not out when the crew arrived, the Council does not have to return and empty it.

South Tyneside’s published policy says vehicle records, including onboard CCTV, can be used when investigating whether a bin was presented when the collection crew attended.

South Tyneside Grey Bin: Capacity and Rubbish Rules

The published collection policy uses a 240-litre household refuse bin as the normal standard capacity. It is for domestic rubbish that cannot be reused, recycled or handled through another appropriate route.

No routine side waste

Extra bags placed beside the grey bin are not part of the normal household collection service.

Do not overload it

A bin can be rejected when it is unsafe because of excessive weight or volume.

Heavy DIY waste

Soil, rubble and construction material can make a wheelie bin unsafe for lifting equipment and need a more suitable disposal route.

Grey bin already full? Separate all recyclable material first. Store manageable excess rubbish until the next collection or take suitable household waste to the Recycling Village rather than leaving side bags.

South Tyneside Blue Recycling Bin: What Goes In?

The main household recycling stream accepts a broad range of clean packaging. Paper has historically been separated into the inner caddy where that equipment is supplied.

Glass and metal

  • Glass bottles
  • Glass jars
  • Food tins
  • Drink cans
  • Aluminium foil
  • Empty aerosols

Plastic containers

  • Plastic bottles
  • Plastic pots
  • Plastic tubs
  • Plastic trays

Card and cartons

  • Cardboard
  • Food and drink cartons
  • Suitable packaging included in current Council guidance

Prepare recycling before collection

  • Empty bottles, jars, tins and containers.
  • Keep ordinary rubbish out.
  • Keep soil, rubble and DIY waste out.
  • Use the inner paper caddy correctly where supplied.
  • Check unusual materials through the Council’s current recycling guidance rather than guessing.
Plastic film and carrier bags: do not assume these belong in the blue bin in 2026. The national requirement to collect plastic film packaging and bags with household plastics begins later, from 31 March 2027.

Blue-Bin Paper Caddy

Where your recycling bin still uses the inner paper caddy, South Tyneside’s published guidance lists paper such as newspapers, magazines, directories, envelopes, junk mail and printed paper for that separate section.

Why separate paper?

The caddy keeps designated paper material apart from bottles, containers, glass, metal and other material in the main blue bin.

Caddy missing?

If the online caddy service is unavailable, contact Customer Services rather than mixing material based on guesswork.

Customer Services: 0191 427 7000 • [email protected]

Whitburn and Marsden Blue Bin With a Red Lid

Some properties in the Whitburn and Marsden trial area use a blue recycling bin with a red lid. Treat this as a property-specific trial container rather than assuming the standard borough-wide blue-bin arrangement applies.

Need a replacement red-lid trial bin? The current replacement-bin service directs residents in this trial area to phone 0191 427 7000 instead of ordering a normal blue bin online.

Does South Tyneside Have Weekly Household Food-Waste Collections in 2026?

South Tyneside is an important exception to the general England timetable. Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland accepted a Defra transitional arrangement linked to the South Tyne and Wear Residual Waste Treatment Contract.

Current household deadline 1 Apr 2039
Applies to South Tyneside
2026 borough-wide caddy? No requirement yet
Earlier service? Still possible

The arrangement means the Council is not required to introduce universal separate household food-waste collections before 1 April 2039 under the present transitional timetable.

This does not mean food waste can never be collected earlier. Government and participating authorities can still change local arrangements before the final transitional date.

Do not copy food-caddy instructions from Newcastle, North Tyneside or another council. Follow any direct service information South Tyneside Council issues to your household.

South Tyneside Green Garden Waste Collection

Green garden waste is a separate subscription service rather than part of the normal grey-blue alternate-week household cycle. South Tyneside’s policy describes subscribed garden bins as being emptied fortnightly during the active season.

Normal garden material

  • Grass cuttings
  • Leaves
  • Plants
  • Hedge clippings
  • Suitable small twigs and branches

Keep these out

  • Household rubbish
  • Plastic bags
  • Rubble
  • Heavy DIY material
  • Material making the bin unsafe to lift

More than one green bin

Garden waste is the exception to the normal one-bin-per-waste-stream policy. Subscribers can pay for more than one garden bin where the live service permits it.

Current subscription price: verify the amount displayed in the live Council transaction before paying. A stale historical fee should not be treated as the 2026 charge.
Open Green Waste Service

How to Report a Missed Bin in South Tyneside

A genuine missed wheelie-bin collection must be reported by the end of the next working day after the bin was due. The reporting window is short, so do not leave the problem for several days.

  1. Check that the correct colour was due.
    Confirm the address-specific date before submitting a report.
  2. Confirm the bin was at the kerbside by 7:30am.
    A late bin is not treated as a Council missed collection.
  3. Check access.
    Make sure the collection vehicle could safely reach the bin.
  4. Check weight and contamination.
    An overloaded grey bin or contaminated blue/green bin can be legitimately rejected.
  5. Check holiday arrangements.
    An altered date is not a missed collection.
  6. Report within the deadline.
    Use the dedicated eService by the end of the next working day.
The current missed-bin eService states that a reported qualifying bin will be arranged for emptying as soon as possible.
If the online form displays “currently unavailable”: do not let the reporting deadline expire. Contact Customer Services on 0191 427 7000 or [email protected].
Recheck Collection Date Report Missed Bin

Why Was My South Tyneside Bin Left Full?

Problem Likely reason What to do
Wrong bin colour Grey presented in recycling week or blue presented in refuse week. Check the live date and present it on the correct scheduled collection.
Bin out late Crew already passed before the bin reached the kerb. Manage the waste until the next collection or use an appropriate disposal route.
Too heavy Soil, rubble, DIY material or excessive weight. Remove heavy material and use a suitable waste facility.
Overfilled Unsafe volume for collection equipment or crew. Reduce contents before the next scheduled collection.
Blue bin contaminated Incorrect non-recyclable material found. Remove contamination and present on the next recycling collection.
Green bin not emptied Contamination, excessive weight or service/subscription problem. Correct the issue and check the garden-waste service.

Repeated recycling contamination

South Tyneside uses a staged process for repeated contamination. Incorrect material can result in a notice and the resident must remove it before the next scheduled recycling collection.

Continued contamination can escalate to formal action. The published policy ultimately allows a recycling container to be removed for 12 months after the warning and written-agreement stages, with a replacement charge potentially applying afterward.

South Tyneside 360-Litre Larger Bin: Who Can Apply?

A household unable to manage with the standard 240-litre capacity can ask for an assessment. South Tyneside’s policy treats five or more permanent residents as a larger household for this purpose.

Five or more residents

A 360-litre refuse and/or recycling capacity can be considered where five or more people permanently live at the property.

Other demonstrable need

A larger household is not the only possible reason. Another documented need can also be assessed.

Approval required

The Council can contact or visit the household before deciding whether additional capacity is justified.

A new exchange bin is chargeable under the published policy. If the resident accepts a suitable used bin and Council stock is available, a used container can be supplied without that charge.

Medical Need Can Qualify for Free Additional Waste Capacity

Some health conditions generate unavoidable additional household waste. South Tyneside can assess this separately from the ordinary large-household route.

Supporting information

The Council asks for information from a medical professional such as a GP or nurse explaining the type of additional waste produced, whether it is residual or recyclable, and how long the need is expected to continue.

  1. Obtain supporting medical information.
    It should explain the additional household waste requirement.
  2. Submit the information for assessment.
    The Council may request clarification from the resident or representative.
  3. Agree suitable capacity.
    The solution depends on the type and amount of unavoidable waste.
  4. Approved medical capacity is supplied free.
    The arrangement can be reviewed if circumstances change.
This route concerns additional ordinary household refuse or recycling capacity. Sharps, infectious clinical waste and medicines can require separate healthcare or specialist disposal arrangements.

South Tyneside Assisted Bin Collection

Assisted collection is intended for residents who cannot transport wheelie bins to the normal collection point because of ill health, infirmity or disability and do not have another household member aged 16 or over who can help.

How the assisted service works

Assessment The application is considered on the household’s individual circumstances.
Agreed location A practical bin collection point is agreed with the resident.
Return after emptying The operative collects, empties and returns the bin to that agreed position.

The Council can use telephone contact or a home visit when assessing the request and periodically reviews residents receiving assisted collection.

Open South Tyneside eServices

Flats, Communal Bins and Rural Properties

Flats and shared bins

Multiple-occupancy properties can use larger shared refuse and recycling containers instead of individual household wheelie bins.

Communal contamination

Keep ordinary rubbish out of shared recycling. Persistent failure to separate waste can affect the communal recycling provision.

Rural property

Place bins at the safest nearest point to the highway. Collection vehicles will not drive along an unmetalled road simply to reach a property.

Properties with genuine access or storage problems are considered individually. Contact the Council if the practical collection point is unclear.

South Tyneside Replacement Bins

The live replacement service covers grey household bins, blue recycling bins and green garden bins.

Lost, stolen or household-damaged

A brand-new replacement can be chargeable under the Council’s published policy.

Used bin option

A suitable used replacement can be supplied free where Council stock is available and the resident accepts it.

Crew damaged the bin

Damage caused during the Council collection process should be replaced free of charge.

A property is normally entitled to one refuse bin, and the crew empties one approved refuse bin per property unless additional capacity has been formally agreed.
If a signed delivery is arranged but nobody answers, the current request form lists a £3.80 redelivery charge before another delivery can be made.
Request a New or Replacement Bin

Moving House or Into a New-Build Property

Moving out

Leave the Council wheelie bins and recycling caddy at the property. They remain Council property for the next occupier.

Existing home has no bins

A charge can apply where a new owner, tenant or landlord finds the required containers missing.

New development

Container costs for a new-build development can be transferred to the developer where applicable, so check with the builder before ordering independently.

South Tyneside encourages residents to clearly number bins with the property number. This can make missing-bin and collection queries easier to resolve.

South Tyneside Bulky Waste: £30 for Up to 8 Items

The current online household bulky-waste service costs £30 for up to eight listed items. It is for domestic properties rather than business waste.

Standard charge £30
Maximum listed items 8
Ready by 7:30am
Collection window 7:30am–5pm

Examples of items that can fit the service

  • Beds
  • Freestanding wardrobes
  • Sofas
  • Fridges and freezers
  • Washing machines
  • Computers
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Other items included in the live booking list

Prepare the collection correctly

  • Keep items within the property boundary and near the entrance.
  • Do not block the public highway.
  • Unlock gates where access is required.
  • Crews do not enter the house, garage or shed.
  • Protect absorbent furniture from becoming soaked.
  • Cut long carpet into manageable lengths.
  • Only booked items are removed.
  • Unsafe or unmovable items can be left.
Changes and cancellations: the published policy requires changes or cancellations before 12 noon on the day before collection. After that deadline, the policy says no refund is given.
Book Bulky Waste

South Tyneside Recycling Village at Middlefields

Middlefields Recycling Village in South Shields is the Council’s household waste recycling centre and is the main route for suitable household waste or recycling that should not be forced into kerbside bins.

Normal car

The household waste permit scheme does not apply to ordinary car users.

Van

A household waste permit is required when using a van.

Pickup

A household waste permit is also required for a pickup vehicle.

Trailer

A permit is required when towing a trailer, subject to the size restrictions.

Permit limits

  • Permits are issued to South Tyneside residents.
  • One permit is needed per visit.
  • Up to three permits can be requested in one application.
  • Each permit is valid during a 28-day period starting on the date specified.
  • Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross weight are not permitted under this scheme.
  • Trailers longer than three metres are excluded.
The permit page specifically confirms household electrical waste such as fridges, televisions and computer monitors can be accepted at the Recycling Village.
Asbestos, creosote or other chemical waste: do not treat these as an ordinary Recycling Village load. The Council directs residents to contact 0191 427 7000 for advice about the Middlefields Waste Transfer Station route.
The live household-waste-permit page was displaying a form-unavailable notice during the current review. If you need a permit while that notice remains, contact Customer Services before travelling.
Check Household Waste Permit

Batteries, Vapes and Electrical Items Need a Separate Route

Do not hide electrical items or loose batteries inside household refuse or mixed recycling. Lithium batteries can be damaged when waste is compacted and can start fires in collection vehicles and treatment facilities.

Keep out of ordinary bins

  • Vapes
  • Power banks
  • Mobile phones
  • Laptops
  • Rechargeable batteries

Use an appropriate recycling route

Suitable household electrical items can use an electrical recycling point, the Recycling Village or the bulky-waste service where the item appears on the booking list.

Bank Holiday and Christmas Bin Collections

South Tyneside’s published policy says Bank Holiday collections may operate one day later. This is not a permanent rule for every holiday.

Bank Holiday week

A normal Friday collection could move to Saturday, but check the live Council information before changing your reminder.

Christmas and New Year

Festive dates can use separately advertised arrangements rather than the normal one-day shift.

Check bin colour again

A shifted collection can make an old alternating grey/blue reminder incorrect even after normal weekdays resume.

Check Current Collection Dates

South Tyneside Bin Problem Solver

Your problem Best next action
I do not know which bin is due Use the official address-specific collection date service.
My bin was missed Report it by the end of the next working day after checking presentation and contamination.
The missed-bin form is unavailable Use 0191 427 7000 or [email protected] before the deadline expires.
Blue bin rejected Remove contamination and present it on the next scheduled recycling day.
Grey bin regularly too small Request a larger-capacity assessment if the household has five or more permanent residents or another demonstrable need.
Medical condition creates extra waste Ask about free medical additional capacity and obtain supporting professional information.
I cannot move the bin Apply for assisted collection if no household member aged 16 or over can help.
Bin missing or damaged Use the replacement-bin service and check whether a suitable used free replacement is available.
I have furniture or a white good Use reuse, the £30 bulky-waste collection or the Recycling Village depending on the item.
I am visiting in a van, pickup or trailer Check the household-waste permit service before travelling.

South Tyneside Bin Collection FAQs

How do I check my South Tyneside bin collection day?

Use South Tyneside Council’s address-specific bin collection service and confirm both the weekday and whether the grey refuse or blue recycling bin is due.

What time should South Tyneside bins be put out?

Refuse and recycling bins should be at the kerbside by 7:30am and taken back within the property boundary after collection.

How often is the South Tyneside grey bin collected?

Household refuse is normally collected fortnightly, alternating with the blue recycling collection.

How often is the South Tyneside blue bin collected?

Blue household recycling is normally collected fortnightly on the alternate week from grey household refuse.

Are grey and blue bins normally collected on the same weekday?

Yes. The Council’s published policy says household refuse and recycling normally use the same weekday, with the waste stream alternating each week.

What is the standard South Tyneside grey-bin size?

The published household collection policy uses a 240-litre refuse bin as the standard capacity.

Does South Tyneside have weekly household food-waste collections in 2026?

South Tyneside has a formal transitional arrangement connected to the long-term South Tyne and Wear waste-treatment contract. The current statutory date for universal separate household food-waste collection is 1 April 2039, although an earlier local service remains possible.

Can I leave extra rubbish bags beside my grey bin?

No. South Tyneside does not routinely collect extra refuse placed beside the normal household refuse bin.

When should I report a missed South Tyneside bin?

A genuine missed wheelie bin should be reported by the end of the next working day after it was due.

What should I do if the missed-bin form is unavailable?

Contact South Tyneside Customer Services on 0191 427 7000 or [email protected] within the reporting window.

Can I have a larger South Tyneside bin?

A 360-litre refuse or recycling capacity can be considered for households with at least five permanent residents or another demonstrable need, subject to Council assessment.

Can medical needs qualify for extra bin capacity?

Yes. Supporting information from a medical professional can be assessed, and approved additional capacity arising from a medical need is supplied free.

Who can get assisted bin collection?

Residents unable to move wheelie bins because of ill health, infirmity or disability can be considered where no other household occupant aged 16 or over can assist.

How much is South Tyneside bulky-waste collection?

The current online household service costs £30 for up to eight listed items.

What time should bulky items be ready?

Booked items should be ready by 7:30am. The published collection policy states that bulky-waste collections operate between 7:30am and 5pm.

Do I need a permit for Middlefields Recycling Village?

A household waste permit is required when visiting in a van or pickup or when towing a trailer. Normal car users are not affected by the permit scheme.

How many Recycling Village permits can I request?

You can request up to three permits in one application. One permit is required per visit and each permit is valid for a 28-day period from the specified start date.

What is the South Tyneside Council bins phone number?

The current eServices Customer Service number is 0191 427 7000 and the listed email address is [email protected].

The Safest South Tyneside Bin-Night Routine

Check the exact address, confirm grey or blue week, put the correct bin at the kerbside before 7:30am and keep it manageable, accessible and free from incorrect material.

If the bin is genuinely missed, act quickly because the reporting deadline is the end of the next working day. For excess waste, furniture, vans or specialist materials, use the appropriate capacity, bulky-waste or Recycling Village route rather than leaving waste beside the bin.

Check My Bin Date Missed Bin Help South Tyneside eServices

Independent guide: BinCollectionGuide.org is not South Tyneside Council. Live collection records, payments, permits, subscriptions, reports and service decisions are controlled by the Council through its official services.

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