West Lindsey Bin Collection: Find Your Day, Colour & Calendar
Need to know which bin goes out this week in West Lindsey? Use West Lindsey District Council’s official address checker to find your next collection. The usual pattern alternates black refuse, blue mixed recycling and purple-lidded paper and cardboard bins, with weekly orange-lidded food waste collections introduced in 2026.
This guide also explains missed-bin reporting, garden waste subscriptions, collection times, Christmas changes and what to do if your property has no dates listed.
West Lindsey Bin Collection: Quick Answer
Check your collection date using the council’s live postcode and address search. Black bins are normally collected fortnightly, while blue and purple-lidded recycling bins alternate on a four-week cycle. The orange-lidded food waste caddy is collected weekly. A subscribed green garden waste bin is normally collected fortnightly during the collection season.
Put the correct bin at your property boundary by 7am on collection day, and do not present it before 7pm the previous evening. Your exact calendar determines which colour is due.
Find the information you need
How to Check Your West Lindsey Bin Collection Day
West Lindsey District Council provides an online collection-day checker. It covers the district, including Gainsborough, Market Rasen, Caistor and surrounding villages. Because a weekday alone does not tell you which bin is due, use the full address calendar.
- Open the official lookup. Select the council’s Find Your Bin Collection Day service.
- Enter your postcode or address. Use the search field to find the relevant property.
- Select your exact address. Check the house or flat number carefully rather than assuming all properties on a street share an identical arrangement.
- Read the dates and container types. Note the colour and date together. Check black, blue, purple-lidded, orange-lidded food waste and subscribed garden waste arrangements as applicable.
- Save or recheck the schedule. Keep your household calendar handy, particularly when moving house or approaching Christmas and New Year.
West Lindsey Four-Week Bin Collection Calendar
For the standard wheeled-bin service, the council’s 2026 waste policy describes a repeating four-week collection pattern. The black refuse bin is emptied in weeks one and three, the blue recycling bin in week two, and the purple-lidded paper and card bin in week four. Food waste is collected every week.
| Collection | Typical frequency | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Black refuse | Every 2 weeks | Non-recyclable household rubbish |
| Blue recycling | Every 4 weeks | Mixed recycling, excluding separately collected paper and card |
| Purple-lidded bin | Every 4 weeks | Clean paper and cardboard |
| Orange-lidded food caddy | Weekly | On the usual collection day, from 30 March 2026 |
| Green garden bin | Every 2 weeks in season | Only for subscribed households |
Some properties have authorised sack collections or communal arrangements instead of standard individual wheeled bins. Follow the service assigned to your property.
West Lindsey Bin Colours: What Goes in Each Bin?
West Lindsey uses separate containers to keep general waste, mixed recycling, paper and card, food waste and garden waste apart. Using the wrong container can result in a rejected collection.
General household rubbish
Use for household waste that cannot be recycled through the other services, such as suitable non-recyclable packaging and sanitary waste.
Keep out: garden waste, soil, rubble, electrical items, batteries and hazardous materials. Extra general-waste bags left beside the bin are not routinely collected.
Mixed recycling
Accepted items include glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, clean plastic pots, tubs and trays, metal food and drink cans, clean foil and empty aerosols.
Keep materials empty and follow the current council recycling leaflet. Paper and cardboard belong in the purple-lidded bin rather than the blue bin.
Clean paper and cardboard
Use for newspapers, magazines, envelopes, clean cardboard boxes, cardboard egg boxes and suitable greeting cards or wrapping paper without foil or glitter.
Keep out: tissues, kitchen roll, shredded paper, greasy takeaway boxes and glitter-covered cards. These can contaminate otherwise recyclable paper.
Food waste
Use for leftovers, fruit and vegetable peelings, meat and fish including bones, eggs, bread, dairy products, tea bags and coffee grounds.
Do not pour liquids into the caddy or add garden waste and non-food items. Use the collection caddy rather than leaving loose food-waste bags beside it.
Garden waste
For subscribed households: grass cuttings, leaves, suitable hedge cuttings and other accepted garden material.
Do not use it for general household rubbish, rubble, soil or plastic waste. The service is seasonal and chargeable.
New Weekly Food Waste Collections in West Lindsey for 2026
West Lindsey introduced separate weekly household food waste collections from 30 March 2026. This is an additional collection stream and does not replace the usual black, blue and purple-lidded rotation.
5-litre kitchen caddy
A small indoor container for collecting food scraps while preparing meals or clearing plates.
23-litre outdoor caddy
The orange-lidded outdoor caddy is used for kerbside presentation. Its lid can be secured to help prevent spillage and interference by animals.
140-litre communal bin
Some households using communal refuse and recycling containers receive a shared orange-lidded food waste bin instead of an individual 23-litre outdoor caddy.
How to use your food caddy
- Collect food scraps in your kitchen caddy. Use the supplied liners or another liner permitted by council guidance.
- Transfer the waste to the outdoor orange-lidded caddy. Keep non-food materials out wherever possible.
- Close the lid and lock it using the handle position described in the council’s caddy instructions.
- Present the outdoor caddy with the scheduled household collection by 7am.
- Bring it back and clean it when necessary to reduce smells and residue.
The council’s food waste guidance confirms that an initial supply of liners was provided. Households can subsequently use suitable household bags or paper liners, which are separated during processing. You do not need to purchase special compostable bags solely for this service.
When and Where to Put Your Bins Out
Ready by 7am
Place the scheduled bin, sack or outdoor food caddy at the agreed property boundary before 7am. Crews may arrive at different times because of changes to collection rounds.
Not before 7pm
Bins and sacks should not be presented before 7pm on the evening prior to the collection day.
Close the lid
Bins can be rejected if overloaded, excessively heavy or unable to close. Avoid placing extra bags beside wheeled bins.
Bring bins back in
Return emptied bins to their normal storage position by the end of collection day to avoid blocking a pavement or highway.
A bin may also be left unemptied if it contains the wrong materials, is the wrong container for that week’s collection or cannot be accessed safely. Keep gates and collection routes clear.
How to Report a Missed Bin Collection in West Lindsey
West Lindsey District Council instructs residents to report a missed wheeled-bin or sack collection from the day after the scheduled collection and within three working days of the scheduled date. The council also provides a separate route for missed orange-lidded food waste caddies.
- Confirm the collection was due. Use the official address checker and make sure the correct bin was presented.
- Allow the scheduled day to finish. Vehicle routes can run later than usual, and the council does not normally record a collection as missed before 4:30pm.
- Check for a rejection tag. A blue or purple-lidded bin may have been refused because of contamination. Remove the incorrect materials.
- Check presentation and access. A bin left out too late or inaccessible to collection crews may not qualify as a missed collection.
- Submit the appropriate report. Use the missed-bin form for wheeled bins or sacks, or the separate missed-food-caddy form.
If adjacent households have been emptied but yours has not, the council’s operational policy also allows residents to contact Customer Services on 01427 676676 during the collection day. A same-day revisit may be attempted, subject to the collection record and operational circumstances.
West Lindsey Garden Waste Collection: Green Bin Subscription
Garden waste collection is optional and paid separately. The council normally operates a fortnightly seasonal service, with up to 18 collections for households subscribed before the start of the season.
£48 per green bin
The charge applies to each subscribed green bin. Joining after the service has started does not reduce the annual price.
March to November
The 2026 final collection is listed as 20 November. Actual collection dates depend on the household calendar.
West Lindsey’s published garden waste terms require the subscription sticker to be visible to collection crews. Where an additional green bin is needed, there is a separate supply and delivery charge.
Important subscription conditions
- Subscriptions are linked to the garden waste service for the applicable season.
- Each additional subscribed green bin attracts the annual charge.
- The council requires two working days to process a new subscription when applications are open.
- A visible valid sticker is required for collection.
- Garden waste cannot be placed in black refuse or blue recycling bins.
- Residents without the paid service can compost suitable garden waste or use an appropriate household waste recycling centre.
West Lindsey Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 Bin Collection Dates
The council confirms that ordinary 2026 bank holidays do not change the normal collection day, apart from the published Christmas and New Year arrangements.
| Normal collection date | Revised collection date |
|---|---|
| Monday 21 December 2026 | Saturday 19 December 2026 |
| Tuesday 22 December 2026 | Monday 21 December 2026 |
| Wednesday 23 December 2026 | Tuesday 22 December 2026 |
| Thursday 24 December 2026 | Wednesday 23 December 2026 |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | As normal |
| Tuesday 29 December 2026 | As normal |
| Wednesday 30 December 2026 | As normal |
| Thursday 31 December 2026 | As normal |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | Saturday 2 January 2027 |
West Lindsey Bin and Waste Collection Charges for 2026
The following figures come from the council’s waste service fee schedule effective from 1 April 2026. Charges for optional services and replacement containers can change, so confirm the current amount before making payment.
| Service | Published charge | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Garden waste subscription | £48 | Annual service per subscribed bin |
| Wheeled bin supply and delivery | £38 | Per black, blue or purple-lidded wheeled bin |
| Green bin supply and delivery | £38 | Container charge separate from annual subscription |
| Bulky household waste | £35.50 | Items totalling up to six points |
| Additional bulky waste points | £4.65 | For each point above six |
| Domestic fridge/freezer collection | £35.50 | Separate specified collection service |
| Five additional blue sacks | £10.50 | Postage may be additional |
Not all bin-replacement situations are chargeable. The council has exceptions relating to damage by collection crews and certain stolen-bin circumstances, subject to its policy and evidence requirements.
New, Missing, Damaged or Larger Bins
Moving into a new property
A standard property normally has a 180-litre black refuse bin, 240-litre blue recycling bin, 240-litre purple-lidded bin and an outdoor food waste caddy. New-build properties must have approved containers, and charges may apply to their supply.
Broken or stolen bin
Use the council’s household bin request service. For theft-related exemptions, the council may require a police incident reference and imposes conditions on free replacement.
Need a larger black bin?
Households of six or more people may qualify for a larger 240-litre black bin when recycling is used properly. Additional capacity may also be considered for relevant medical waste needs.
Cannot move your bins?
Residents who cannot take bins to the boundary because of illness, disability or mobility difficulties, and who have no capable household member to help, can request an assisted collection assessment.
Bins supplied for household collection generally belong to the council and should remain at the property when occupants move.
Bulky Waste Collection: Furniture, Mattresses and Appliances
West Lindsey District Council provides a booked bulky household waste service for eligible domestic items, including furniture and household appliances. The service uses a points system to determine the charge.
One-point examples
Items such as a chest of drawers, kitchen table or dressing table may count as one point each.
Two-point examples
Items such as a cooker or dishwasher may count as two points each.
Three-point examples
A three-piece suite or certain complete king-sized bed arrangements may count as three points.
How collection works
- Check whether the item is suitable for reuse, donation or retailer take-back first.
- Use the council booking service and confirm which items will be collected.
- Review the points-based charge and the allocated collection date.
- Place booked items outside, accessible and close to the property boundary by 7am on the appointed day.
- Only items included in the booking will be taken.
The council says collection is made within 48 hours of the date allocated at booking. Bricks, concrete, tyres, car parts, plasterboard and certain specialist items are excluded from the standard bulky service.
Household Waste Recycling Centres Near West Lindsey
Household waste recycling centres, often called tips, are operated by Lincolnshire County Council, rather than West Lindsey District Council. They provide another disposal route for suitable household waste that cannot go in normal kerbside collections.
Gainsborough Recycling Centre
Long Wood Road
Corringham Road Industrial Estate
Gainsborough
DN21 1QB
Check the county council’s latest opening arrangements and accepted waste types before travelling.
Market Rasen Recycling Centre
Gallamore Lane Industrial Estate
Market Rasen
LN8 3HA
Check vehicle-access rules, opening times and material restrictions before arriving.
West Lindsey Bin Collection FAQs
What bin is collected this week in West Lindsey?
The usual four-week rotation is black, blue, black, purple-lidded, with food waste collected weekly. Use the official address checker to establish which week of the rotation applies to your property.
What time should bins be put out?
Have the correct bin at your property boundary by 7am. Do not put it out before 7pm the previous evening, and return it to storage by the end of collection day.
How often are blue bins collected?
Blue mixed-recycling bins are normally collected once every four weeks, alternating with the purple-lidded paper and cardboard collection.
Are food waste caddies collected weekly?
Yes. West Lindsey introduced weekly separate food waste collections from 30 March 2026, normally on the household’s usual collection day.
When can I report a missed bin?
The council asks residents to report a missed bin from the day after the scheduled collection and within three working days. Check for contamination tags first. There is a separate reporting route for food waste caddies.
How much is a green garden waste bin in 2026?
The annual garden waste collection subscription is £48 per bin. A separate £38 supply and delivery charge applies where a green bin must be supplied. New subscriptions for the remaining 2026 collection season are no longer being accepted according to the council’s current notice.
Will bins be collected on bank holidays?
Most 2026 bank holidays follow the normal schedule. Specific collection dates change during Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027, including the early collection on Saturday 19 December for households normally due on Monday 21 December.
What if my address has no collection dates?
The property may be on a sack collection route or may be a new home not yet included in the council’s collection records. Contact West Lindsey Customer Services on 01427 676676.
Can I get help moving my bin?
Eligible residents with mobility or health-related difficulties can request assisted collection when no suitable household member can present the bins. The council assesses requests individually.
Official West Lindsey Waste Services
Use these direct council services when you need a live date, to submit a request or to arrange a collection.
Check Your Next West Lindsey Bin Collection
The most reliable way to avoid putting out the wrong bin is to check the live council calendar for your own property. Confirm the date and bin colour, have the container ready by 7am and keep the Christmas changes in mind.
BinCollectionGuide.org is an independent information website and is not affiliated with West Lindsey District Council. The council manages collection dates, waste services, permits and reporting forms.