Eastleigh Bin Collection Days: Black, Green, Brown and Garden Waste Explained
A practical guide to bin collections in Eastleigh — what goes in each bin, when they are collected, and how to find your collection day.
Eastleigh Borough Council runs a multi-stream waste collection system. It takes a bit of learning at first, but once you know which bin is which and when they're collected, it's straightforward.
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Black Bin (General Waste)
Collected: Fortnightly, alternating with your green recycling bin
What goes in: Everything else — food waste, non-recyclable packaging, broken items, general household rubbish
Important: Your lid must close. If the bin is overflowing or the lid won't shut, the collection crew won't empty it and it will be left behind. No side waste.
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Green Recycling Bin
Collected: Fortnightly, alternating with your black bin
What ONLY goes in: Paper, cardboard, food tins and drink cans, plastic bottles (bottle-shaped only), empty aerosols
What does NOT go in: Yoghurt pots, meat and fruit trays, tetra paks (juice cartons), coffee cups, tin foil, plastic bags, greasy pizza boxes, wrapping paper, or any plastic that isn't bottle-shaped. Putting non-accepted items in your green bin can get the whole bin refused.
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Brown Food Waste Caddy
Collected: WEEKLY (separate from the fortnightly black/green cycle)
What goes in: Loose food waste — fruit and vegetable peelings, plate scraps, bones, bread, etc.
Important: Loose food is not collected. You must wrap it in paper or put it in a compostable bag. Flat residents use a communal food waste bin instead of an individual caddy.
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Garden Waste (Subscription-Only)
Collected: Fortnightly
The bin: A separate green bin with a brown lid
Cost: £65.00 standard / £55.00 concession per bin, covering April 2026–March 2027 (50 collections). The subscription belongs to the property, not the resident — it is non-transferable and non-refundable if you move house.
Renewal: Your subscription renews every 1 April. If you sign up late in the year, you will pay the same price but receive fewer collections for that year.
Delivery: Allow roughly 20 working days for your bin to arrive after you subscribe
Closure: Garden waste collection is paused over Christmas and New Year
How to subscribe: https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/waste-bins-and-recycling/your-collections/garden-waste
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Glass and Batteries
Collected: Fortnightly, in a separate box
Household batteries, glass bottles, and jars go here.
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Collection Day Tips
Put bins out by 6:30am on your collection day, visible at the kerbside
Find your collection day: Use the postcode lookup tool at https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/waste-bins-and-recycling/collection-dates. You can also sign up for email or SMS reminders via your MyEastleigh account.
Missed a collection? If your bin hasn't been collected by 2pm on the scheduled day, you can report it — but only if the bin was out by 6:30am, on the correct day, and clearly visible. The council aims to return the same day if possible, or within 2 working days. Report online at https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/waste-bins-and-recycling/missed-bin.
Current notice: Driver shortages are currently causing delays — collections may run late or move to Saturdays. Don't be alarmed if your bin is collected later than usual.
Bank holidays: Collection dates are sometimes amended for bank holidays or bad weather — check your MyEastleigh account or the postcode lookup tool around a bank holiday rather than assume your normal day.
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Large Items & Bulk Waste
For anything too big for your bins — old furniture, broken appliances, broken bricks — see our guide to Eastleigh's household waste recycling centre. You will need to book an appointment, but most items are accepted.
Information checked September 2026. For the most current collection dates, council tax band charges, and service changes, check the official Eastleigh Borough Council website.
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