Household bins and recycling

We offer kerbside waste and recycling for most household items. You can also recycle or dispose of many household items, garden waste and building materials at household recycling centres.

We provide bins or bags for general waste, depending on where you live.

Only use your general rubbish bin or bags for anything that can’t be put in your recycling containers.

Check your bin collection days

Check what you can put in your rubbish bin

We provide residents with boxes and bins to help you recycle:

• paper, cardboard (flattened and broken down to maximum of 1 metre squared), mixed card and paper
• mixed recycling such as plastic, tins, foil, glass and food cartons
• food waste (where possible)

We also offer collection services for:

• garden waste
• textiles [only in Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe areas]
• batteries
• small household electrical items such as kettles

Find out what to put in each bin

Check recycling bin collection days

Many items that can’t be put in your household bins can be recycled or disposed of at household recycling centres. This includes:

• batteries (view how batteries can be recycled separately)
• electrical appliances (view how electrical appliances can be recycled separately)
• building materials, such as rubble or timber
• soil
• car tyres and car batteries

Check what you can take to a household recycling centre

We also offer collection services for:

• bulky waste, such as furniture, fridges or TVs
• hazardous waste
• clinical waste, such as sharps or needles

You may need to pay a fee for these services.

A reasonable amount of excess recyclable material will be collected, as long as:

• it is loose in a re-usable container - we will not collect recyclables in plastic bags
• it is presented neatly alongside the relevant collection container
• cardboard boxes are flattened and reduced to a maximum of a 1 metre squared

There are several businesses and charities that can reuse, repair or recycle household items. There are also websites and shops where you can sell or give away items that you don’t need anymore.

Before you throw anything away, use our Waste Wizard to check:

• if an item can be recycled, reused or repaired
• where you can donate, give away or sell an item
• if your item can be collected by a local business or charity

Find out if an item can be reused, repaired or recycled

You can request a new wheelie bin, recycling box if your bin or box has been:

• damaged, lost or stolen
• vandalised or burnt

You can also ask for a larger bin if you live in a large household.

Find out what happens to the waste after it has been collected

If you have a question about household bin collections that is not answered on this page, you can contact us for help.