West Sussex Bin Collection Days: Find Your Council, Calendar & Bin Type
There is no single West Sussex bin day or county-wide bin colour system. Household rubbish, recycling, food waste, garden waste and missed-bin services are run by your district or borough council, while West Sussex County Council manages the county’s Recycling Centres and provides a postcode route to the correct local collection authority.
Start with your postcode, identify the council serving the property, then use that council’s live calendar. This matters because collection frequencies, food-waste rollouts, bin colours, set-out times and missed-bin deadlines now differ substantially across West Sussex.
West Sussex Bin Collection: Quick Answer
Your district or borough council collects your household bins. West Sussex County Council does not operate one county-wide kerbside collection timetable. Use its household-collections postcode service to identify the correct local council, then check the exact property calendar on that council’s website.
West Sussex currently includes collection services run through Adur and Worthing Councils, Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council. Adur and Worthing are separate local authorities but operate their waste service jointly.
Jump to the West Sussex waste task you need
How to Check Your West Sussex Bin Collection Day
The fastest reliable route is postcode first, not bin colour first. A postcode tells you which district or borough council runs the household collection service and then lets you move to the property-specific calendar.
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Open the West Sussex household collections page.
Use the postcode finder if you are unsure which council collects the property’s bins. -
Enter the property’s postcode.
Follow the result to the responsible district or borough council. -
Select the exact address where required.
Do not use another road’s timetable simply because it has the same collection day most weeks. -
Read each waste stream separately.
General waste, recycling, food and subscribed garden waste can run on different cycles. -
Check the presentation time.
West Sussex councils do not all use the same morning deadline.
West Sussex Bin Collection Calendar by Council
This table explains the normal 2026 household pattern. It is a service comparison, not a substitute for your exact address calendar.
| Council area | General waste | Recycling | Food waste | Exact calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adur & Worthing | Normally fortnightly. | Normally fortnightly. | Weekly service is being introduced in phases from September 2026; some addresses are active while Phase 2 properties are still waiting for their start. | Check bin day |
| Arun | Fortnightly for most households under the April 2026 service. | Fortnightly, alternating with general waste. | Weekly since the week beginning 13 April 2026. | Check bin day |
| Chichester | Black bin normally fortnightly. | Burgundy recycling normally fortnightly. | Weekly outdoor orange-lidded food bin. | Check bin day |
| Crawley | For individual-bin homes, changes from weekly to fortnightly from 28 September 2026. | Fortnightly. | Weekly for individual-bin households from 28 September 2026; communal food service follows in 2027. | Check calendar |
| Horsham | Green-top bin every two weeks. | Blue-top bin every two weeks. | Weekly across the district. | Check bin day |
| Mid Sussex | Black-lidded rubbish bin every three weeks under the current 1-2-3 service. | Blue-lidded recycling every two weeks. | Green food-waste bin every week. | Check bin calendar |
West Sussex Bin Types and Colours
Bin colour is not standard across the county. The same type of waste can use a different-coloured container depending on the district or borough.
| Area | General waste | Recycling | Food waste / important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adur & Worthing | Most households use a dark grey or black-lidded refuse bin. | Grey wheelie bin with blue lid or an approved blue box depending on property. | Grey outdoor food bin with orange lockable lid where the new service has started. |
| Arun | Most homes moved to a 180L wheeled general-waste bin in April 2026. | Most households use a green bin with blue lid; Arundel has some sack arrangements. | 23L outdoor food bin with orange lid for the weekly service. |
| Chichester | Black wheelie bin. | Burgundy wheelie bin. | Grey outdoor food bin with orange lid. |
| Crawley | Green bin with black lid. | Green bin with red lid. | New grey/orange food containers for individual households from 28 September 2026. |
| Horsham | Green wheelie bin with green top. | Green wheelie bin with blue top. | Lockable orange-top outdoor food bin. |
| Mid Sussex | Grey or black bin with black lid. | Blue bin or black/grey bin with blue lid. | Green 23L outdoor food bin; communal buildings use larger shared food containers. |
West Sussex Weekly Food Waste Collections in 2026
Weekly food-waste collection is one of the biggest changes to household waste services in West Sussex during 2026. It is an additional stream collected in small dedicated containers rather than mixed into recycling.
Arun, Chichester, Horsham & Mid Sussex
These areas now have weekly food-waste services under their current household arrangements.
Adur & Worthing
Weekly food waste began rolling out in stages during September 2026. Check the property calendar because some households are already active while others are in a later phase.
Crawley
Individual households start weekly food-waste collection on 28 September 2026. Communal properties remain on their existing arrangement until the planned 2027 food-waste rollout.
Typical food that can be collected
Common accepted food
- Fruit and vegetables
- Peelings and plate scrapings
- Cooked and uncooked meat
- Bones
- Fish and shellfish
- Bread and cakes
- Rice and pasta
- Dairy products
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Eggshells
Remove packaging first
Food should be separated from tins, trays, plastic wrappers, glass jars and other packaging. Packaging belongs in the appropriate recycling or residual stream according to the local council’s rules.
What Can Go in West Sussex Household Recycling?
The district and borough councils collect the same core recyclable materials through their household services, although the bin colour and additional kerbside collections vary.
Common core recycling
- Paper and card
- Glass bottles and jars
- Food and drink cans
- Empty aerosols
- Accepted plastic bottles
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays
- Cartons
- Clean foil where accepted under the current core stream
Prepare it properly
- Keep recycling clean.
- Empty liquids.
- Keep material dry.
- Place recycling loose in the bin.
- Do not hide recycling inside plastic carrier bags.
What Time Should West Sussex Bins Be Put Out?
There is no single county-wide morning deadline. The collecting council sets the presentation time.
| Council | Normal published rule | Practical reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Adur & Worthing | By 6:30am. | Place the required container at the kerbside collection point. |
| Arun | Ready from 7am. | Food, rubbish and recycling must be visible and correctly presented. |
| Chichester | Food-waste containers by 6am; follow the exact council instruction for the service involved. | The food round may operate separately from the larger-bin round. |
| Crawley | Before 6:30am. | Round times can change, so do not rely on the usual lorry time. |
| Horsham | By 6am. | Place wheelie-bin handles facing the road. |
| Mid Sussex | Before 7am. | Bins should be at the edge of the property and clearly visible. |
West Sussex Bin Not Collected? Use the Correct Council Deadline
A missed-bin report goes to the district or borough council that operates your kerbside service, not to West Sussex County Council. Reporting windows differ, so waiting several days can cause a valid report to expire.
| Council | Current reporting rule | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Adur & Worthing | Reports open after 2:30pm on collection day and remain available for up to two days after the collection. | Date, kerbside presentation and any recorded collection issue. |
| Arun | Report within two working days. | Bin ready from 7am, correct contents and visible near the kerbside. |
| Chichester | Report within 24 hours of the scheduled collection. | Correct collection point, timing and any rejection notice. |
| Crawley | Report within 72 hours of the scheduled collection. | Correct day, placement, contents and live status in myCrawley. |
| Horsham | Up to 12 noon on the day after collection; a Friday miss can be reported up to noon on Monday. | 6am presentation, correct bin, correct materials and collection point. |
| Mid Sussex | Do not report before 3pm on collection day. | 7am presentation, visible location, approved bin and correct contents. |
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Check the exact property calendar.
Make sure the container really was scheduled. -
Check the presentation time.
A bin put out after the local deadline may already have been passed. -
Check contents and lid closure.
Contamination, an overloaded container or unsuitable waste can cause a collection refusal. -
Look for an operational issue.
Road access, parked vehicles, weather or another recorded problem may affect the entire street. -
Report within your council’s deadline.
Do not wait for the next collection if the local reporting window is short.
West Sussex Garden Waste Collection
Garden waste is not one county-wide subscription. The district or borough council sets its own scheme, price, frequency, container and subscription rules.
Separate subscription
A garden bin normally needs an active local subscription even if a brown, green or garden-waste container is already present at the property.
Prices differ
Do not use another West Sussex council’s annual price when deciding what your own service costs.
Calendars differ
Garden-waste rounds can have a different calendar from general waste and recycling, including separate festive suspensions.
Sofas, Mattresses, Furniture and Bulky Waste
Each West Sussex district or borough council provides or routes residents to its own bulky household waste service. Fees, item limits and collection instructions differ.
Reuse first
If an item is still usable, consider a charity, reuse organisation or appropriate retailer take-back service before paying for disposal.
Book before presenting
Do not leave furniture beside household or communal bins unless the collecting council has specifically instructed you to do so for a confirmed booking.
Recycling Centre alternative
Suitable household bulky waste can also be taken to a West Sussex Recycling Centre, subject to site rules and booking requirements.
West Sussex Recycling Centres
Recycling Centres are the part of the household waste system operated at county level. West Sussex lists fixed centres at Billingshurst, Bognor Regis, Burgess Hill, Chichester, Crawley, East Grinstead, Horsham, Littlehampton, Midhurst, Shoreham and Worthing, plus mobile facilities serving Selsey and The Witterings.
Western area
- Chichester
- Midhurst
- Bognor Regis
- Littlehampton
Central area
- Worthing
- Shoreham
- Horsham
- Billingshurst
Northern / eastern area
- Burgess Hill
- East Grinstead
- Crawley
Book to Recycle: What You Need Before Visiting
West Sussex requires bookings for visits to its fixed Recycling Centres. Mobile centres are treated separately.
Have these details ready
- Vehicle registration number
- Your address
- Your email address
- Suitable proof of West Sussex residency for the visit
- Vehicle-hire paperwork where relevant
Bank Holidays, Christmas and New Year
Do not apply one holiday rule to all of West Sussex. District and borough councils publish their own Christmas and New Year arrangements, while some continue normal collections on most other bank holidays.
Normal bank holiday?
Check the property calendar rather than automatically moving the collection by one day.
Christmas week?
Use the newly published council timetable for that year. Do not reuse Christmas 2025 dates for 2026.
Service disruption?
Snow, high winds, blocked roads or vehicle issues can create local catch-up arrangements that differ from the normal calendar.
Official West Sussex Bin Collection Services
Open household collections finder
Open Adur & Worthing calendar
Open Arun collection search
Open Chichester collection search
Open Crawley collection page
Open Horsham calendar
Open Mid Sussex calendar
Find a Recycling Centre
West Sussex Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my West Sussex bin collection day?
Enter your postcode through West Sussex County Council’s household-collections finder or go directly to your district or borough council’s bin calendar. Select the exact property where required.
Does West Sussex County Council collect household bins?
No. Household bin collections are operated by the district or borough council. West Sussex County Council is responsible for wider waste-disposal functions and the county Recycling Centre network.
Are bin colours the same across West Sussex?
No. Container colours vary. For example, Chichester uses burgundy recycling bins, Horsham uses blue-top recycling bins and Crawley uses red-top recycling bins.
Is food waste collected every week in West Sussex?
Weekly food-waste services are operating or being introduced across the county in 2026. Arun, Chichester, Horsham and Mid Sussex have active weekly services. Adur and Worthing are rolling the service out in phases from September 2026, while Crawley’s individual-household service starts on 28 September 2026.
What time should West Sussex bins be put out?
The deadline depends on the council. Current normal rules range from 6am to 7am across the main collection authorities, so check the local council instruction instead of using one county-wide time.
How do I report a missed West Sussex bin?
Report the missed collection to the district or borough council responsible for your household service. Reporting windows vary from council to council, so check the local deadline immediately after confirming the bin was genuinely missed.
Do I need to book a West Sussex Recycling Centre?
West Sussex currently requires bookings for its fixed Recycling Centres through the Book to Recycle system. Mobile centres have different arrangements.
How many Recycling Centre visits can I make?
The current Book to Recycle system allows up to five visits per calendar month. Slots can be booked up to 14 days ahead and same-day bookings can be made when availability remains.
What should I take to a West Sussex Recycling Centre?
Take the information required by your booking and suitable proof of West Sussex residency. If using a hire vehicle, take the required vehicle-hire paperwork as well.
Can I put recycling in plastic bags?
West Sussex household recycling should generally be presented clean, dry and loose rather than tied inside plastic bags.
Your Best Next Step
Start with the postcode. Once you know whether the property is in Adur, Worthing, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham or Mid Sussex, open that council’s live calendar and check the exact collection stream and date.
Do not rely on one universal West Sussex bin colour, food-waste pattern or missed-bin deadline. The local council’s current calendar controls the kerbside collection.
Independent guide: BinCollectionGuide.org is not West Sussex County Council or any West Sussex district or borough council. Live collection dates, service changes, missed-bin reports, subscriptions and Recycling Centre bookings should be completed or confirmed through the responsible council.