Bin collections and the bin policy

Bin collections in the Bradford district

The Council needs every household to separate their household waste into recyclable and non recyclable waste. To make our bin collection service more efficient and reduce the cost of waste disposal, we introduced alternate week bin collections from May 2017.

If you live in a location which is hard to reach with a full size bin lorry your waste will be collected by a transit van but will still be collected on alternate weeks. Find out more about transit collections.

Extra waste at the side of your bin

Any extra waste left at the side of bins will not be collected across the Bradford district. After the bin has been emptied, the collection crew will put any extra waste in the empty bin ready for the next scheduled collection.

Where residents continue to present excess or uncontained waste (extra waste, not in the bin), overloaded bins (lid not closed or too heavy), or contaminated bins (wrong items in the bin), the collection crews will report issues using new technology in our lorries. The new technology helps the crews to collect more accurate information as they go on their rounds. It allows them to log any bins not put out, contaminated with the wrong type of waste, or that are too heavy. Where residents persistently present bins in the incorrect way, the Council reserves the right to take appropriate enforcement action. The Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy will be enforced.

Some of our lorries are fitted with CCTV cameras and our collection crews now wear body cameras as part of their personal protective equipment. The in-cab technology and the cameras are used to clarify any complaints about bin collections or claims of accidents and incidents. Watch our video to find out about our cameras and in-cab technology:

Remember, the more you recycle, the more room you will have in your general waste bin. You can have as many recycling bins as you need. Please contact us on 01274 431000 to request a replacement or additional recycling bin. Our team will then contact you to assess your requirements prior to approval.

Residents living in the Bradford district are provided with:

• 1 x 240 litre general waste (green) bin - for general waste that cannot be recycled 
• 1 x 240 litre recycling waste (grey) bin - for paper, cardboard, glass bottles, jars, cans, aerosols, plastic bottles, plastic food trays, yoghurt pots, margarine/butter tubs, food and drinks cartons (all together in the same recycling bin)
• If you live in a location which is hard to reach with a full size bin lorry your waste will be collected by a transit van but will still be collected on alternate weeks. Find out more about transit collections.

Garden waste bin

You may also have a garden waste (brown) bin. There is now a charge to have your garden waste bin emptied. Residents who want to have their garden waste collected from their home will be able to sign up for the annual service which runs from 1 June until 31 May, which includes 12 four-weekly collections.

The Council's Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy means that:

• We will only empty one general waste bin per collection per household unless otherwise approved.
• Bins should have the lid closed with no waste at the side. 
• Householders must put the right things in the right bin. Materials which can be recycled should not be put in the general waste bin.

You can have more than one recycling bin. Please contact us on 01274 431000 to request a replacement or additional recycling bin. Our team will then contact you to assess your requirements prior to approval.

If one general waste bin isn’t big enough, households with 7 or more permanent residents may apply for an extra 140 litre general waste bin but only if they are actively recycling. The Council will offer advice and information on recycling and will conduct a waste audit to determine if an extra bin is required for general waste. If your application is successful you will be offered an extra 140 litre bin on the understanding that you must pay £39 for administration and delivery. Following receipt of your payment, an extra 140 litre bin will be delivered.

You can find out what materials go in which bin here.

Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy - frequently asked questions

Please see the full version of our Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy (PDF, 104kb) for more detailed information.

Why am I only allowed to put out one general waste bin?

Every tonne of waste in the general waste bin costs Council Tax payers on average £130 a tonne more than if it was recycled in the recycling bin, so the more green bins that are put out the greater these extra costs are to Bradford residents.

As part of Bradford Council’s Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy, we will only empty one general waste bin per collection per household.

The Council simply cannot afford to carry on paying for residents not separating recyclable waste.

I've got more than one general waste bin; can I keep them all but just put out one on the collection day?

Only one general waste bin for non-recyclable waste is permitted per household. We will remove them if requested, so that they can be cleaned and reissued.

Why can't I put extra waste out that won't fit in the bin?

Excess waste should not be placed at the side of bins. It is unsightly, may create a hazard for pedestrians, attract animals and pests or result in littering.

The Council reserves the right to take enforcement action where a household continues to present side waste.

I bought my extra general waste bin; can I still put it out?

As part of the Council's Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy only one general waste bin will be emptied per household collection.

I bought my extra general waste bin, can I have a refund?

No. The payment you make is an administration and delivery charge. The bin remains the property of the Council.

How do you know how many general waste bins I've put out?

We recommend that each bin should be clearly labelled with a house number. Refuse collection crews will be noting which houses have more than one general waste bin and we will arrange to take away surplus bins, if requested.

If I squash my lid down is that ok?

Yes. We encourage residents to make the best use of the storage capacity of the bin by compressing the waste in it. All bins should be presented for collection with the lid closed. This is to prevent spillage, access by animals and pests and accidents to staff or members of the public when the bin is being emptied into the vehicle.

My bin is damaged, can it be repaired?

Some common types of damage to bins, such as to the wheels and lid, can be repaired and the Council offers a free bin repair service. Some damage though is not repairable and you will need to order a new bin. If you think your bin needs repairing, please request a repair online or call 01274 431000 and our staff will advise you.

Lots of people live in my house. One general waste bin isn't big enough

We appreciate that the one green bin per property policy may cause problems for larger families, so households with 7 or more permanent residents may apply for extra capacity for their general waste, but only if they are actively recycling.

The Council will offer advice and information on recycling and will conduct a waste audit to determine if extra capacity is required for their general waste. If your application is successful you will be offered an extra 140 litre bin on the understanding that you must pay £39 for administration and delivery. Following receipt of your payment a bin will be delivered.

You missed my collection last week; can I put out extra waste next time?

Refuse not emptied on the collection day as a direct result of service failure will usually be removed by the end of the following day. If you need to report a missed collection, please use our online service. Alternatively you can call 01274 431000.

The Council will only empty one bin per collection per household even after a missed collection. Additional waste should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.

I've got extra waste this week because I am decorating / moved house / birthday / Christmas… is it ok to put extra waste out just this once?

The Council will only empty one general waste bin per collection per household; it is just not possible to allow exceptions to this policy. Extra waste can always be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre, or you can arrange for a bulk waste collection or call 01274 431000 to arrange one (a small charge will apply).

I haven't got space for a recycling bin in my garden

If you have limited space, we understand that another bin might not be convenient for you. Please call 01274 431000 and we will arrange for our Recycling team to talk to you about alternative options.

Do I have to have a recycling bin, I prefer to take my waste to the local recycling facility?

As part of the Council’s Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy all households will be offered a recycling bin so you can conveniently recycle household waste at home.

However, if your household always disposes of your recyclable waste in a responsible manner you can ask us to take away your recycling bin. The Council will still reserve the right to take enforcement action against those continually put recyclable waste in the general waste bin.

I don't have a brown bin. Is it OK to put my garden waste in my refuse bin?

Do not put garden waste in your general waste bin. Contaminated bins will not be emptied. You can still sign up to the garden waste collection service. Alternatively, you can take it to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or you may wish to make your own compost.

I have lots of recycling. Can I put extra recycling out with my recycling bin?

Householders should not place excess recycling or non-recyclable waste at the sides of bins. Excess waste is unsightly, may create a hazard for pedestrians, attract animals and pests or result in littering.

Occasional excess recyclable waste should be taken to a local recycling bring site at the nearest supermarket for instance, or Household Waste Recycling Centre, where it will be recycled. Please contact us on 01274 431000 to request a replacement or additional recycling bin. Our team will then contact you to assess your requirements prior to approval.

Why are you picking on my house - lots of other households have more than one general waste bin or don’t recycle?

It is the responsibility of all households to comply with the Council's Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy. Households which continue to present more than one bin for collection, leave side waste beside a bin or contaminate their waste bins may face enforcement action from the Council.

I pay my council tax. Bradford Council should collect and sort my waste

It is the responsibility of the Council to encourage every householder to recycle. If we fail to do this, we will face increasing costs that will ultimately come out of the Council taxpayers’ pocket.

The Council has designed its waste collection service in a way that enables refuse and recycling services to operate effectively and efficiently. If everyone follows the guidance, this will allow us to maximise recycling and reduce the amount of waste going to treatment and landfill.

I forgot to put my bin out last week so have extra waste this week.

It is the responsibility of each household to remember to put out the correct bin on the correct collection day. Excess waste because you forgot to put your bin out, must be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.

I am on a black bag collection (old dustbin), am I only allowed one bag of waste?

The Council’s Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy does not affect residents who are on a black bag collection service. Your collection arrangements will remain the same. However, you must not dispose of recyclable waste in your black bag so please contact the Council to order recycling containers if you do not yet have them.

Can I put broken electrical items in my general waste bin?

No, electrical items should not be placed in general waste bins. Electrical items should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre or removed by the Council via a bulky waste collection request.

There are a number of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) banks located around the District.

Why can't I leave my bin on the kerbside all the time?

Householders should retrieve their wheeled bin to a storage area after it has been emptied on the same day as collection, or as soon as possible afterwards, to avoid creating an obstruction or hazard for pedestrians.

Householders should not leave their bins at collection points, on the footpath or on the road for an extended period without the permission of the Council. The Council reserves the right to take enforcement action where a householder fails to retrieve their bins in a timely manner.

Does the lid on my recycling bin need to be closed?

All bins should be presented for collection with the lid closed. This is to prevent spillage or odour problems, access by animals and pests, nuisance or accidents to staff or members of the public.

My recycling bin is full of waste that can't be recycled – will you come and empty it?

Where a bin has been filled with the 'wrong' type of rubbish, for example general waste in a recycling bin, we say that bin has been 'contaminated'. As part of the Council’s Domestic Waste and Recycling Policy, waste collection crews will empty contaminated recycling bins on one occasion only, if it has a visible yellow tag on the handle.

Householders can get a yellow tag by calling 01274 431000. They may also be given a tag by a member of our waste team or a Recycling Adviser.

The collection crew will note that the bin has been emptied and you must only use the recycling bin for recyclable waste after that collection.

Households which continue to contaminate their recycling bin, put out excess side waste for collection, or present more than one general waste bin for collection may face enforcement action from the Council.