York Bin Collection: Know the Date, Container and 7am Rule
York household rubbish and council recycling are normally collected every two weeks, but the exact date and container arrangement depend on your property.
Start with the address calendar, then use this guide for recycling boxes, excess recycling, missed collections, £52 garden waste, replacement bins, flats, bulky waste and York’s two recycling centres.
York Bin Collection 2026: Quick Answer
There is no single York-wide collection date. Enter your postcode and select the exact property in City of York Council’s waste calendar.
Standard household rubbish is fortnightly. Standard City of York Council recycling is also fortnightly. Paid garden waste is fortnightly during the 2026 collection season.
| Service | Normal frequency | Container | Critical rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household waste | Every 2 weeks | Black wheelie bin, or authorised sacks at some properties | Ready by 7am; wheelie-bin lid must close. |
| Kerbside recycling | Every 2 weeks | Normally 3 recycling boxes | Sort into 2 material streams. |
| St Nicks recycling | Weekly at eligible city-centre addresses | St Nicks box/bag arrangement | Only specific properties use this service. |
| Garden waste | Every 2 weeks during season | 180L green council bin | Valid paid 2026 sticker required. |
Do not start using the proposed red-lid or blue-lid recycling wheelie-bin system. York’s live standard service still uses recycling boxes unless the council directly confirms a later change for your address.
How to Check Your York Bin Collection Day
Use York’s address calendar for “York bin collection today”, “tomorrow”, “this week”, “next recycling collection” and “garden bin date” searches.
- Enter the full postcode. Use the postcode for the actual collection property.
- Select the exact address. Check the house number, flat number or property name.
- Read the waste type as well as the date. Household waste, recycling and subscribed garden waste are shown separately.
- Check the presentation point. The calendar can tell you if your property uses somewhere other than the front edge.
- Open the annual calendar if useful. York provides a December-to-November view in calendar and text-list formats.
- Recheck near holidays or disruption. A printed calendar can become outdated after operational, weather or festive changes.
Check my York collection dates
Cannot use the online calendar?
York says residents can request help through the council and can obtain accessible alternatives such as large print or braille.
Printed copies can also be available through local Explore libraries.
Which York Waste Service Applies to Your Property?
| Property | Typical setup | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Standard house | Black wheelie bin + recycling boxes | That the next street has the same day. |
| Authorised sack property | Up to 3 securely tied black refuse sacks | That a wheelie-bin rule automatically applies. |
| St Nicks city-centre address | Weekly recycling | That the council’s standard fortnightly recycling applies. |
| Flat / communal block | Shared communal bins or individual recycling boxes | That a house-style storage arrangement applies. |
| Assisted household | Crew collects from agreed accessible position | That the bin must be moved to the normal kerb. |
| Garden subscriber | 180L green bin with seasonal sticker | That Council Tax automatically includes garden collection. |
York Bin Collection Time: Present Waste by 7am
Put household waste and recycling out between 7pm the evening before collection and 7am on collection day.
- Use the front edge of the property unless the calendar says otherwise.
- Have everything ready before 7am.
- Keep the black-bin lid fully closed.
- Sort recycling before presenting it.
- Do not make boxes excessively heavy.
- Keep collection access clear where possible.
- Return containers onto your property after collection.
Do not wait for the usual truck time
Routes can change because of staffing, road conditions, vehicle availability and operational requirements.
A crew arriving later last fortnight does not make that time your guaranteed collection time.
York Black Bin: Fortnightly Household Rubbish
York provides fortnightly collection of non-recyclable household waste.
What can you normally present?
Depending on the property, York normally expects either:
- one council-supplied black wheelie bin with the lid closed, or
- up to three securely tied black refuse sacks where the address remains on an authorised sack collection.
No normal side waste
Extra bags beside a normal wheelie bin are not routinely collected. York publishes a separate exception when additional Christmas waste is permitted.
Why can the black bin be rejected?
- Lid does not close.
- Bin or sacks are too heavy.
- Material is jammed or frozen inside.
- Bin is damaged and unsafe.
- It was not ready by 7am.
- It contains material York says must use another disposal route.
Keep these problem materials out
- Asbestos
- Batteries
- Bricks and rubble
- Household chemicals
- DIY waste
- Electrical items and vapes
- Gas cylinders
- Plasterboard
- Soil
- Turf
- Commercial waste
Waste stuck inside after the bin was lifted?
Crews may shake the bin, but if compacted or frozen material does not fall out, loosen it before the next scheduled collection.
York Recycling Boxes: Three Boxes, Two Recycling Streams
Standard council recycling is collected every two weeks.
Households normally receive three recycling boxes, but materials must be divided into two separate streams.
| Stream | Put together | Keep separate |
|---|---|---|
| Containers | Accepted plastics, tins/cans, aluminium foil, cartons and glass | Paper and cardboard |
| Paper/card | Clean, dry paper and cardboard | Plastic, metal, glass, foil and cartons |
Why three boxes for two streams?
The boxes give households extra capacity. The collection vehicle itself has separate compartments for the two material groups.
Maximum number of boxes
York allows a maximum of six recycling boxes to be presented, although vehicle capacity can occasionally prevent crews taking every extra box.
Free recycling boxes and lids
Council recycling boxes and lids are free.
Residents can collect up to two additional or replacement boxes at a York HWRC with proof of address, or ask the council about delivery.
Using your own container
A sturdy plastic container around the same size as a council recycling box — approximately 55 litres — can be used when correctly sorted.
Do not present recycling inside a cardboard box. It can become wet, collapse or blow away and it uses too much collection-vehicle capacity.
York Extra Recycling: The Bag Rule Depends on the Material
One of the most useful York-specific rules is that not every type of extra recycling uses the same container.
| Extra material | How York says to present it |
|---|---|
| Plastic | Clear tied bag beside the recycling boxes. |
| Tins and cans | Clear tied bag. |
| Aluminium foil | Clear tied bag. |
| Food/drink cartons | Clear tied bag; rinse and flatten first. |
| Glass | Separate sturdy container around 55L — never a plastic bag. |
| Paper and cardboard | Separate sturdy container around 55L — not a plastic bag or cardboard box. |
Do not use black refuse bags for extra recycling. Clear bags let crews inspect plastics, metals, foil and cartons for contamination.
York says it will make every effort to take small amounts of extra recycling, but extra material is not guaranteed if the collection vehicle has insufficient capacity.
What Can Go in York Kerbside Recycling?
Accepted plastics
York accepts a range of clean, clear or light-coloured plastics commonly labelled PET 1, HDPE 2 or PP 5.
- Drinks bottles
- Milk bottles
- Shampoo and toiletry bottles
- Cleaning-product bottles
- Yoghurt pots
- Plastic tubs
- Food trays and punnets
- Plastic toothpaste tubes
- Selected light-coloured plant pots marked PET or PP
- Suitable toiletries and skincare containers
Keep these plastics out
- Bread bags
- Plastic film
- Bubble wrap
- Black/dark plastic
- Hard-plastic toys
- Plastic furniture
- Polystyrene
- Foam packaging
- Medicine blister packs
- Food and drink pouches
- Paint pots
Plastic-film alternative
York’s A–Z directs clean carrier bags and many films/wrappings to participating supermarket collection points rather than the kerbside boxes.
Food and drink cartons
Cartons are now accepted with plastics, metal, foil and glass.
- Empty them.
- Rinse them.
- Flatten them.
- Put the lid back on where present.
- Do not place them in the paper/card stream.
Glass
Household glass bottles and jars are accepted.
Keep these out:
- Broken glass
- Drinking glasses
- Pyrex
- Window glass
- Mirrors
- Ceramics
- Porcelain
- Light bulbs
Tins, cans and aerosols
Common accepted items include:
- Food tins
- Drink cans
- Biscuit/sweet tins
- Baby-milk tins
- Empty aerosol cans
Aluminium foil
Use York’s simple scrunch test: clean aluminium foil stays scrunched when squeezed, while plastic/laminated film tends to spring back.
Clean foil and foil trays can go with the container-recycling stream.
Paper and cardboard
- Flattened cardboard
- Egg boxes
- Newspapers and magazines
- Catalogues and brochures
- Junk mail
- Envelopes including window envelopes
- Writing/printing paper
- Paper bags
- Cereal boxes
- Card tubes
- Cards and wrapping paper without glitter
- Clean pizza boxes with food removed
Paper/card not accepted at the kerbside
- Shredded paper
- Glitter-covered paper/card
- Waxed takeaway cups
- Books
- Loose oversized cardboard that does not fit inside a suitable container
Check York recycling A–Z
St Nicks Recycling: Weekly City-Centre Exception
A limited number of York city-centre properties receive weekly recycling from St Nicks rather than the council’s standard fortnightly recycling crew.
If the York waste calendar does not show normal council recycling for your address, do not immediately assume the collection data is broken. Check whether the property is on the St Nicks city-centre service.
Eligible residents should use the St Nicks service instructions for their box or bag arrangement and festive date changes.
York Wheeled Recycling Bin Proposal: Current Boxes Have Not Yet Been Replaced
Current rule as reviewed 16 August 2026: continue using York’s existing recycling-box service unless the council directly announces and implements a change for your property.
York consulted residents from 23 March to 1 May 2026 about a possible move to two wheeled recycling bins.
| Proposal | Material | Proposed frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 240L black-bodied bin with blue lid | Paper and cardboard | Every 4 weeks |
| 240L black-bodied bin with red lid | Plastics, metals, glass and cartons | Every 4 weeks |
The consultation proposed alternating those recycling bins while keeping household rubbish and subscribed garden waste on fortnightly cycles.
Is that system live?
Not according to the current York recycling pages reviewed for this guide.
The consultation is closed, and the council says results and decisions will be shared.
Check recycling-review status
York Household Food Waste: Do Not Invent a Food-Caddy Collection for Your Address
The current standard York household collection information reviewed for this page lists household waste, recycling and subscribed garden waste in the address calendar.
Unlike some neighbouring councils, the current standard York pages reviewed here do not provide a universal separate household food-caddy collection instruction that residents should simply copy city-wide.
Do not put food residue into recycling boxes. Empty and rinse recyclable packaging before presenting it.
Home composting
Suitable uncooked fruit and vegetable matter and other compostable household material can be managed through home composting where appropriate.
Future service changes
Waste services can change as national recycling requirements are implemented. If York introduces a separate household food-waste service for your property, use the council’s direct instruction and live calendar rather than an older article.
York Missed Bin: The Correct Action Depends on What Was Missed
First check York’s Waste Collection Updates after 4pm. The council publishes known service issues and missed streets on working days.
| Missed service | Normal York response |
|---|---|
| Individual general waste | No normal return visit unless assisted/medical. If council error is confirmed, authorised extra bags can be accepted at the next scheduled collection. |
| Individual recycling | No normal return visit unless assisted. Bring boxes back in and wait for the next date or use a recycling centre/bank. |
| Paid garden waste | Report after 4pm and within 1 working day. Valid council misses can receive a return visit. |
| Assisted / medical | Report after 4pm and within 5 working days. Valid misses receive a return at the earliest opportunity. |
| Known whole-street miss | Follow the Waste Collection Updates instruction and leave containers out when York asks residents to do so. |
Before deciding the bin was missed
- Check the exact property date.
- Check the Waste Collection Updates page.
- Confirm it was presented by 7am.
- Check the collection point.
- Look for a crew sticker.
- Make sure the black-bin lid closed.
- Check the container was not excessively heavy.
- Check recycling was correctly separated.
- Check the garden sticker if relevant.
Individual missed black bin
York normally does not send a vehicle back for a single standard black-bin miss.
If the council confirms there was no recorded problem and the crew made the error, it can authorise securely tied extra bags beside the bin at the next collection, equivalent to the normal bin capacity.
For a 180L bin, York uses the example of three 60L bags.
Individual missed recycling
York tells standard households not to report an individual recycling-box miss because it does not normally send a return crew.
Bring the boxes back in and use the next scheduled collection, recycling bank or HWRC.
Paid garden waste is different
Report a correctly presented paid garden bin after 4pm on collection day and within one working day.
If York accepts it as its error, the council says it will return as soon as reasonably practicable.
Check today’s York collection updates Check York missed-waste rules
York Garden Waste 2026: £52 Subscription and Full Resident Rules
2026 price: £52 per subscribed 180L green bin.
Collections run every two weeks from 2 March to 4 December 2026.
| Garden-waste point | 2026 rule |
|---|---|
| Standard annual charge | £52 per green bin |
| Eligible CTS / SMI first-bin charge | £26 |
| Season | 2 March–4 December 2026 |
| Frequency | Fortnightly |
| Container | City of York Council 180L green wheelie bin |
| Sticker target | Within 10 working days of payment |
| Calendar update after subscribing | Allow up to 24 hours |
Who gets the £26 rate?
A 50% discount on the first subscribed green bin is available where the household receives qualifying Council Tax Support or a qualifying Severe Mental Impairment council-tax exemption.
The discount does not automatically apply to every other council-tax discount.
Joining late
There is no part-year price reduction. The full seasonal charge remains payable when subscribing after the season starts.
What goes in the green bin?
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge clippings
- Leaves
- Bark
- Garden plants
- Flowers
- Non-invasive weeds
- Twigs
- Small branches
- Windfall fruit
- Cut flowers
- House plants
- Dried flowers
- Natural Christmas trees and wreaths chopped small enough to fit
Shake excess soil or compost from plant roots first.
Keep these out
- Soil
- Turf
- Rubble
- Coal
- Barbecue charcoal
- Large whole branches
- Japanese knotweed
- Giant hogweed
- Ragwort
- Food/kitchen waste
- Plastic bags
- Compostable plastic bags or packaging
- Paper/card
- Cat/dog waste
- Pet bedding
- Nappies
- Christmas decorations
Lid, weight and side waste
- Lid must close flat.
- Bin must be safe to manoeuvre and lift.
- Do not compact material so tightly it will not empty.
- Do not leave garden sacks beside the bin.
- Do not balance garden material on the lid.
Wrong-size green bin
York’s garden service is based on the 180L council green bin. The council does not collect 360L garden bins because of safety and weight concerns.
Sticker missing after payment
If the paid sticker has not arrived within 10 working days, contact Waste Services.
York’s missed-garden guidance says it can verify a valid subscription through its in-cab system and return for bins that have been paid for where the sticker issue caused the miss.
Need another green bin?
The garden terms say an additional 180L green bin can be supplied without a separate bin-purchase charge, but every green bin presented must have its own paid subscription.
Moving house
Garden stickers are registered to the property and are not transferable.
If you move, reapply at the new property. The existing sticker can be left for the next occupant at the old address.
Sharing with a neighbour
York permits a shared garden bin.
One household pays, and the bin must be presented at the address registered on the sticker.
Cancellation and refunds
There is a statutory 14-day cancellation period after opting in. If cancelled correctly within that period, the payment can be refunded.
After that cooling-off period, York’s normal terms do not provide a full or partial refund merely because you cancel, move or stop using the service.
Check York garden-waste service
York Replacement Bin Prices 2026 and Current Delivery Delay
Current service warning: York says replacement-container deliveries are experiencing an additional delay of approximately 3 to 4 weeks because of staffing issues.
| Container | Current charge / rule |
|---|---|
| 180L black household bin | £53.00 |
| 240L black household bin | £59.50 — household-size eligibility applies |
| 360L black household bin | £71.40 — household-size eligibility applies |
| Recycling boxes and lids | Free |
| 180L garden bin | Included under garden-subscription arrangements where required |
Normal delivery target vs current delay
York’s normal stated wheelie-bin delivery aim is 10 working days.
The live replacement-container warning currently asks residents to allow an additional three to four weeks.
Bigger black bin eligibility
- 1–4 people: standard 180L.
- 5 people: eligible for 240L.
- 6 or more people: eligible for 360L.
Waiting for a replacement black bin?
While waiting for delivery, York allows up to three sturdy, securely tied black refuse sacks on the scheduled household-waste day.
Waiting for a garden bin?
Garden waste in bags is not collected. Use home composting or a household recycling centre until the green bin is available.
Can you buy a random wheelie bin yourself?
York states that its crews empty wheelie bins supplied by the council. An independently purchased bin is not a substitute for ordering the correct York container.
Check York replacement containers
York Bags to Bins Scheme: Rollout Has Concluded
The Bags to Bins project is now complete. More than 6,000 properties moved from black-sack collections to wheelie bins.
The special free phase-3 request period ended on 31 July 2026. New, replacement or larger-bin requests now follow York’s standard charging policy.
If your property was converted
- Use the council-supplied black wheelie bin.
- Keep its lid shut.
- Do not continue routine side-sack presentation unless York authorises it.
- Mark the bin with the property number.
- Return it inside the property boundary after collection.
No letter received?
York says properties included in the scheme received direct written communication.
York Assisted Bin Collections
York offers free assisted collections to eligible residents who cannot move their waste containers because of age, disability or mobility difficulties.
Who can qualify?
Assistance is generally for a household where the resident needs help and:
- no other person aged 16 or older at the property can move the containers, and
- there is no suitable neighbour or friend who can assist.
Which collections are covered?
- Household rubbish
- Recycling
- Garden waste if subscribed
The assisted arrangement applies across the household’s collection services.
Where can the crew collect from?
York agrees an accessible location at the property.
The service cannot normally operate from:
- behind an alley gate,
- behind a garden gate,
- behind a locked gate,
- inside a shed,
- inside a garage, or
- a position requiring crews to negotiate steps.
York does not hold property keys or access codes.
Check York assisted collections
York Flats, Communal Bins, HMOs and Holiday Lets
Communal flats
Flats can have larger shared recycling containers or individual boxes.
The same two-stream recycling principle still applies:
- paper/card separate, and
- accepted plastics, metal, foil, cartons and glass together.
Communal-bin rules
- Put recycling loose in the correct communal container.
- Keep food and liquid residue out.
- Do not overfill the bin.
- Do not leave recycling bags beside the communal container.
- Keep the bin-store floor and access route clear.
- Tell York if access keys/codes change.
Bags left beside communal recycling bins can be treated as fly-tipping and are not part of the recycling collection.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
HMO landlords are responsible for adequate waste storage and for giving residents correct collection instructions.
Only one household-waste wheelie bin is normally presented at a time.
Qualifying larger households can discuss additional capacity, with York’s largest standard HMO household-waste bin being 360L.
Landlord maintenance waste
Waste generated by a landlord’s property maintenance is not ordinary tenant household waste. It requires a lawful commercial disposal route.
Holiday lets and Airbnb
Waste generated by a holiday-let business is commercial waste and is not entitled to York’s free domestic collection service.
Holiday-let operators need an appropriate commercial waste contract or registered commercial disposal route and must retain the required waste records.
York Bulky Waste Collection 2026: Prices and Booking Checklist
1–3 items: £33.50
4–10 items: £55.50
Every component can count
For example, a bed base, mattress and headboard count as three separate bulky items.
More than 10 or unusually heavy?
Particularly heavy/large items and collections containing more than ten items require individual assessment.
Before paying
Consider whether reusable furniture or appliances could be donated to a local reuse or charity service first.
Collection preparation
- Put items outside before 7am.
- Use the agreed accessible collection point.
- Do not expect crews to enter the home.
- Keep items dry where possible.
- Keep gates/access routes open.
- Keep pets away from the route.
- Present only the items included in the booking.
Wet or saturated furniture can be refused and may not qualify for a refund.
Changing or cancelling
York asks residents to make additions, amendments or cancellations before 12 noon on the day before the booked collection.
Examples needing another disposal route
- Trade waste
- Routine bagged household rubbish
- Garden waste
- Rubble and masonry
- Plasterboard
- Chemicals
- Paint and oil
- Gas bottles
- Tyres
- Loose or large sheets of glass
Check York bulky-waste collection
York Recycling Centres: Hazel Court vs Towthorpe/Strensall
| Feature | Hazel Court | Towthorpe / Strensall |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Eco Depot, Hazel Court, York YO10 3DS | Moor Lane, Strensall, York YO32 9ST |
| Vehicle booking | Required | No advance booking for normal York-resident visits |
| Wednesday | Closed | Closed |
| Height | Check vehicle/permit route for larger vehicles | 1.9m barrier; taller vehicles should use Hazel Court |
| Chargeable/specialist waste | Accepts additional specialist/chargeable materials under site rules | Non-chargeable household waste only |
| Commercial waste | Separate booking/registration rules apply | Not accepted |
Hazel Court: Click Before You Tip
A vehicle visit to Hazel Court requires an appointment.
- Bookings available up to 14 days ahead.
- Bring the booking confirmation/reference.
- Arrive in the vehicle registered in the booking.
- Residents normally have a 10-minute appointment window.
- Residential bookings are limited to a maximum of four visits per week.
- Pedestrian/bicycle recycling access does not need a vehicle appointment.
Hazel Court hours
| October–March | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat: 8:30am–5pm |
|---|---|
| April–September | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat: 8:30am–6pm |
| Sunday | 8:30am–4pm |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Last entry | 15 minutes before closing |
Towthorpe/Strensall
York residents do not normally need to book in advance.
| March | 8:30am–5pm |
|---|---|
| April–September | 8:30am–6pm |
| October | 8:30am–5pm |
| November–February | 8:30am–4pm |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Last entry | 15 minutes before closing |
Both sites close on
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
- New Year’s Day
Which site for specialist material?
Towthorpe/Strensall handles non-chargeable household waste.
Check Hazel Court for materials such as chargeable rubble, plasterboard, gas bottles and household asbestos arrangements.
Check Hazel Court Check Towthorpe / Strensall
York Clinical Waste, Medical Waste and Sharps
Non-infectious healthcare waste
York says some non-hazardous medical waste can be placed in securely tied bags inside the normal black household bin.
Examples include:
- Drained catheter bags
- Drained stoma bags
- Non-infectious dressings
- Some soiled bedding
- Sanitary waste
- Adult nappies
- Plasters
- Incontinence pads
Medicines and inhalers
Return unwanted medicines, drugs and inhalers to a pharmacy rather than placing them in general rubbish.
Too much medical waste for the normal bin?
York can discuss additional bin capacity or weekly household collections where medical needs generate more non-hazardous waste than the standard service can manage.
Infectious clinical waste
Infectious waste needs a separate clinical route.
Where a healthcare professional creates clinical waste during a home visit, they should normally remove that waste.
Sharps-box collection
Current delay warning: York says a sharps-box collection appointment may currently take approximately 4 to 5 months because of high demand.
- Use a proper sealed yellow or purple sharps box from your healthcare provider.
- Do not present loose needles.
- Know the box size in litres before booking.
- Know the total number of boxes.
- York does not supply replacement yellow sharps boxes.
Missed clinical collection
Contact York within five days if an arranged clinical or medical waste collection is missed.
Check York clinical-waste service
Batteries, Vapes and Private Waste Collectors
Batteries and vapes
Do not put vapes or loose batteries in normal kerbside recycling.
York’s A–Z directs vapes to retailer take-back or the small-electrical recycling routes at Hazel Court and Towthorpe/Strensall.
Using a private waste collector
Make reasonable checks before paying another person to take away rubbish, furniture, DIY waste or garden material.
- Check the waste carrier is appropriately registered.
- Keep their company/contact details.
- Keep a receipt or transfer record.
- Record what material was removed.
- Ask where the waste will be taken.
Do not treat a cheap private collection as automatically lawful. Household waste that is later fly-tipped can create enforcement problems where the resident failed to make reasonable checks.
York Bank Holiday, Christmas and New Year Bin Collections
Do not assume every Bank Holiday means “one day later”. Use the live address calendar for the exact festive date.
Christmas routine
- Check your address again. Do this close to Christmas rather than using last year’s dates.
- Read rubbish and recycling separately. Holiday movements can affect the calendar.
- Check St Nicks separately if applicable. City-centre St Nicks dates can use their own festive changes.
- Remember the garden season ends earlier. The 2026 paid garden season finishes on 4 December.
Extra Christmas household waste
York’s ordinary rule is no routine side waste.
The council can publish a specific festive extra-waste allowance. Only use it when that year’s Christmas guidance explicitly says you can.
Real Christmas tree
A subscribed garden-waste user can place a natural Christmas tree or wreath in the green bin when the service is operating, provided it is chopped small enough to fit completely inside.
Hazel Court and Towthorpe/Strensall also accept real Christmas trees for composting.
City of York Bin Collection Contact Details
Waste, Highways and Environmental Services: 01904 551551
Email: ycc@york.gov.uk
Use the task-specific online service first
The waste calendar, current collection updates, garden subscription and HWRC booking pages usually give a more precise result than a generic enquiry.
Before contacting York
- Have the full address and postcode.
- Know the waste stream.
- Know the scheduled date.
- Confirm it was presented by 7am.
- Check for a crew sticker.
- Check Waste Collection Updates.
- Keep the garden subscription details if relevant.
- Keep bulky/clinical booking information if relevant.
Open York waste services
Nearby Bin Collection Guides
York’s rules stop at the City of York boundary. If the property is served by another council, use that council’s own collection system.
For neighbouring areas, see the East Riding of Yorkshire bin collection guide for East Riding addresses, or the Leeds bin collection guide for Leeds City Council properties.
York Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my York bin collection day?
Enter your postcode in City of York Council’s Waste Collection Calendar, select the exact property and check the next household waste, recycling and subscribed garden-waste dates.
What time should York bins be put out?
Household rubbish and recycling should normally be presented between 7pm on the evening before collection and 7am on collection day.
How often is the York black bin collected?
Standard non-recyclable household rubbish is normally collected every two weeks.
How often does York collect recycling?
The standard City of York Council recycling service is fortnightly. A limited number of eligible city-centre addresses receive weekly St Nicks recycling instead.
How many recycling boxes does York provide?
Standard households are normally provided with three free recycling boxes and lids. A household can present up to six boxes, although vehicle capacity may occasionally limit collection of all extra boxes.
Why are there three York recycling boxes but only two recycling streams?
The boxes provide household capacity. Materials are sorted into two streams: paper/card separately, and accepted plastics, cans/tins, aluminium foil, cartons and glass together.
Can extra York recycling go in plastic bags?
Some can. Extra plastics, tins/cans, foil and cartons can be presented in clear tied bags. Glass needs a sturdy container and paper/card must use a separate sturdy container rather than a plastic bag.
Can plastic film and bread bags go in York recycling boxes?
No. York’s current kerbside recycling guidance excludes stretchy plastic films such as bread bags and bubble wrap. Many can instead be taken to participating supermarket film-recycling points.
Can toothpaste tubes be recycled in York?
Yes. Clean plastic toothpaste tubes are included in York’s current expanded kerbside plastics service and go with the plastics, metals, foil, cartons and glass stream.
Where do Tetra Pak cartons go in York?
Food and drink cartons belong with plastics, cans/tins, aluminium foil and glass. Empty, rinse and flatten them first; they do not belong in the paper/card stream.
Has York changed to red and blue recycling wheelie bins?
Not as the current standard city-wide service reviewed for this guide. York consulted on proposed red-lid and blue-lid 240L recycling wheelie bins in 2026, but the live standard service still uses recycling boxes while the council considers the consultation outcome.
Will York return for an individual missed black bin?
Normally no, unless the household receives an assisted or qualifying medical collection. If York confirms the crew missed the bin through no fault of the resident, extra securely tied bags can be authorised for the next scheduled collection.
Will York return for missed recycling boxes?
Normally no for an individual standard household. Bring the boxes back in and use the next collection or take recycling to a recycling bank or York HWRC. Assisted households have different missed-collection rules.
When can I report a missed York garden bin?
A correctly presented paid garden bin can be reported after 4pm on collection day and within one working day of that collection day.
How much is York garden waste in 2026?
The standard 2026 charge is £52 for each subscribed 180L green bin, with fortnightly collections from 2 March to 4 December 2026.
Who gets the York garden-waste discount?
A 50% discount reduces the first subscribed bin to £26 for qualifying Council Tax Support recipients or households with a qualifying Severe Mental Impairment council-tax exemption.
Can I share a York garden bin with a neighbour?
Yes. One resident subscribes and pays, and the shared green bin must be presented at the address registered on the sticker.
Can I transfer my York garden sticker when I move?
No. The sticker is registered to the original property. You need to apply again at the new property and the original sticker can be left for the next occupant.
How much is a replacement York black bin?
Current prices are £53 for a standard 180L black bin, £59.50 for an eligible 240L bin and £71.40 for an eligible 360L bin.
How long are York replacement bins currently taking?
York’s normal stated delivery aim is 10 working days, but its current service warning says staffing issues are adding approximately three to four weeks.
Can I get a bigger York black bin?
The 180L bin is standard for one to four residents. Households of five qualify for 240L and households of six or more qualify for 360L.
How much does York bulky waste collection cost?
York currently charges £33.50 for one to three bulky items and £55.50 for four to ten items. Larger or unusually heavy collections require individual assessment.
Do I need to book Hazel Court recycling centre?
Yes. Vehicle visits to Hazel Court require a Click Before You Tip appointment. Bookings can normally be made up to 14 days ahead.
Do I need to book Towthorpe/Strensall recycling centre?
York residents do not normally need an advance appointment for Towthorpe/Strensall. The centre is closed on Wednesdays and accepts non-chargeable household waste.
How long is York’s current sharps-box collection delay?
York currently warns that high demand can mean a wait of approximately four to five months for a sharps-box collection appointment.
What is the City of York bin collection phone number?
Waste, Highways and Environmental Services can be contacted on 01904 551551. York also publishes ycc@york.gov.uk for waste-service enquiries.