How to book a collection.
We're sorry for any inconvenience.
You need to book to visit the recycling centres.
You can book up to two weeks in advance, or one hour before you visit, if slots are available.
Booking is quick, simple and removes the need to queue on site.
People without access to the internet can call 0117 922 2100 Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 6pm (closed midday to 1.30pm on Wednesday).
If you're visiting the recycling centres by bike, or on foot at Hartcliffe Way recycling centre only, you do not need to book. You'll still need to bring ID and proof of your Bristol address. If visiting by bike and there's a queue, join behind the other vehicles
Please arrive 5 minutes before your slot starts and separate materials before coming to site.
Hire vehicles
When booking you will need to select ‘I am using a hire vehicle' option. When you arrive on site, you'll be asked to show your hire documentation.
You must arrive in the vehicle you registered when booking.
Reuse shops
You do not need to book if you're only visiting the reuse shop at Avonmouth or Hartcliffe Way.
The Reuse shops are open the same 5 days a week as their Reuse and Recycling Centre, from midday to 4pm but vary depending on public holidays and operations. Check the Reuse Shop opening times before your visit.
If you're visiting the St Phillips Little Reuse Shop you'll need to book a slot as the shop is accessed through the Reuse and Recycling Centre.
Donating to the Reuse shops
The donation areas for pre-loved goods are in the Recycling Centres, so if you're planning to donate, you'll need to make a booking.
How to cancel a booking
You'll be able to cancel a booking using the link in your confirmation email. Please try to cancel with as much notice as possible so that the slot can be offered to someone else.
How to set up regular garden waste collections, order a new or replacement garden waste bin or cancel the service.
This is because of a delay with suppliers and limited stock.
We will prioritise the delivery of garden waste bins to customers who are on hold for the garden waste service, or for a new garden waste bin.
We are trying to resolve this issue and we're sorry for the inconvenience.
Garden waste collections are every two weeks.
The service is suspended for one month over the Christmas and New Year period.
The collection dates are available on the collection day finder once you're paying for the service.
pdf Garden waste terms and conditions (129 KB) .
Get a garden waste collection service
We charge £21 for delivery of a 240 litre bin and £50 annual service charge. From August 2024 the annual service charge will be £52.50.
If you receive some benefit payments the pdf concessionary rate (91 KB) is £10 for delivery of a 240 litre bin and £24 annual service charge. From August 2024 the annual service charge will be £25.
You are responsible for the bin's security and any repairs. We only collect Bristol City Council bins and may not if they are damaged.
There are 3 ways to set up a garden waste collection service:
Online
You can order online if you're paying by card for a:
- new bin and a year's garden waste collection subscription
- year's garden waste collection subscription only, if you already have a bin
Direct Debit
You get a £3 discount off the annual service charge for paying by Direct Debit.
Get a new bin and set up regular collections:
pdf
Garden waste and bin Direct Debit form
(339 KB)
.
Set up regular collections if you already have a bin:
pdf
Garden waste service only Direct Debit form
(193 KB)
.
Fill in the form and send it to:
- waste.services@bristol.gov.uk, send a scan or a clear photo of the form or
- Bristol City Council (Garden Waste), 100 Temple Street, PO BO 3399, Bristol, BS1 9NE
By phone
Call 0117 922 2100 to:
- order a new bin
- set up a new collection
You can pay by credit or debit card.
It's not possible to set up a Direct Debit over the phone.
Get a replacement bin
A replacement bin costs £28. If you receive some benefit payments the pdf concessionary rate (91 KB) is £14. From August 2024 a replacement bin will cost £30 and the concessionary rate will be £15.
Report a garden waste bin damaged by us
If we damaged your garden waste bin when we made a collection, either:
- email waste.services@bristol.gov.uk with a photo of the damaged bin or
- call Waste Services on 0117 922 2100 to speak to an advisor
We'll make an investigation and get back to you about a replacement.
Change of address, cancel service, remove unwanted garden wheelie bin
Change of address
If you move house within Bristol, email waste.services@bristol.gov.uk to let us know your new address and take your bin with you.
If you move outside of Bristol, leave your bin at your registered property. Email waste.services@bristol.gov.uk to let us know you have moved outside Bristol.
Cancel
You can cancel the garden waste service if you no longer require that service.
There's no refund if you cancel your service within the subscription period.
To cancel the service, email: waste.services@bristol.gov.uk
Removal
If the garden wheelie bin is no longer needed it can be removed as long as it is empty.
If you want to get your garden wheelie bin removed, email: waste.services@bristol.gov.uk
What is a mini recycling centre, what properties can get one, how to ask for one.
Mini recycling centres (MRCs) are made up of a set of large bins.
You can usually find them in:
- blocks of flats that have 15 or more individual flats
- households of multiple occupancy (HMOs) that have 15 or more bed spaces
Ask for an MRC for your block or HMO
We can install an MRC free of charge.
We don't install MRCs in blocks with less that 15 flats or HMOs with less than 15 bed spaces.
You can request an MRC if
- your're the Agent/Landlord/Owner
- you have Agent/Landlord/Owner details
Agent/Landlord/Owner will be responsible for the presentation and for the bin storage area cleanliness.
Mini recycling centre form unavailable
This form will be unavailable from 8pm to 11.59pm, Thursday 26 September 2024.
Check back after this time.
We're sorry for any inconvenience.
What happens next
We'll add your request to the MRC request list. When your request reaches the top of the list, we'll contact you to arrange a visit to the property, to see if we can install an MRC there.
We aim to do a visit within a few weeks of getting your request. However, there are over 100 sites asking for an MRC at the moment, so it might take us longer to do the visit.
If the property is suitable, we'll install an MRC within four weeks of the visit.
What you can and can't recycle in your MRC
You can recycle:
- cans: drinks cans, food tins, clean foil, aerosols (remove lids)
- cardboard: boxes such as cereal boxes, corrugated cardboard and brown envelopes
- food waste: all cooked and uncooked food, peelings, tea bags, eggshells, meat and fish bones
- glass: glass bottles, glass jars; rinse out and place the lids with your cans
- paper: newspapers, magazines, directories, catalogues, envelopes, junk mail, leaflets, yellow pages
- plastic: bottle tops, bottles, pots and tubs, take-way containers, food trays
Tetra Paks go into the cardboard bin.
No black plastic, carrier bags and bin liners, hard plastics.
You can't recycle:
- cellophane, cling film and bubble wrap
- crisp packets and wrappers
- drinking glasses
- flower pots
- household waste
- light bulbs
- window glass
- packing tape
- polystyrene
- pyrex or china
- bulky waste, for example furniture or large appliances
If you have large items to recycle, call our customer services centre on 0117 922 2100 or visit our bulky waste collection page to book a collection.
Schools and educational establishments
Schools and educational establishments on our refuse collection scheme may be eligible to get mini recycling centre bins.
For more information contact our waste officers.
Report a missed collection of the communal recycling bin (MRC)
To report a missed collection for an MRC, ring us on 0117 922 2100.
Find out when your bin and recycling collection days are.
Search on the collection day finder and download the collection calendar for your property.
Collection day finder unavailable
The collection day finder will be unavailable from 8pm to 11.59pm, Thursday 26 September 2024.
Check back after this time.
We're sorry for any inconvenience.
Normal services: how often
- black wheelie bin: every two weeks
- black and green recycling boxes: weekly
- brown food waste bin: weekly
- garden waste: every two weeks (only shows on the collection day finder when you're paying for the service, find out how to set up garden waste collections)
We cannot arrange collections at any other time.
Where and when to put bins out:
- make sure all rubbish or recycling is placed inside the correct container
- make sure the lid is closed on your black wheelie bin
- if you have forgotten to put your recycling or bin out for collection, put them out on your next collection date
- put bins and recycling boxes out after 6pm the day before collection and before 6am on the morning of collection, they should be at the edge of your property and visible from the road
- take your bin off the highway as soon as possible after the collection
Get help putting bins out
If you need help putting bins or boxes out, call us on 0117 922 2100.
Get replacements for lost or damaged bins, boxes, bags or lids and how to cancel an order.
Order new bins, boxes, bags or lids form unavailable
This form will be unavailable from 8pm to 11.59pm, Thursday 26 September 2024.
Check back after this time.
We're sorry for any inconvenience.
Black wheelie bin
You'll need to pay for a replacement black wheelie bin. We charge £28 for delivery of a 180 litre bin or £14 is the pdf concessionary rate Go to index.php?option=com_docman&view=document&alias=6084-concessionary-rate-for-bins-and-recycling&category_slug=documents&Itemid=159 (opens new window) (91 KB) if you receive some benefit payments.
If you already have a black wheelie bin, do not order another one. We cannot refund you if you order a black wheelie bin by mistake.
Exchange damaged recycling bins and boxes
You can exchange your broken recycling containers for free at the reuse and recycling centres. You'll need to make a booking to visit. You must bring your old recycling containers to exchange. If you do not bring your old recycling container we will not be able to give you a replacement.
You can exchange your damaged:
- blue bag for cardboard
- green recycling box and lid (if you have one)
- black recycling box and lid (if you have one)
- food waste bin, to put your food waste out for collection
- food waste caddy, to use in the kitchen
Pay for recycling bins and boxes
If you do not have a recycling bin or box to exchange or you want to order extra bins or boxes you'll need to make a contributory payment and we'll deliver them to you, this is to cover the cost of administration and delivery.
We charge £2.50 for a:
- blue bag for cardboard
- green recycling box and lid (if you have one)
- black recycling box and lid (if you have one)
- food waste bin, to put your food waste out for collection
- food waste caddy, to use in the kitchen
We aim to deliver your new bins or boxes within 15 working days. At busy times it can take longer.
If you don't have the correct bin or box, you should:
- separate your recycling by type (cans, plastics, paper, glass, cardboard with tape removed and big pieces ripped up) and put it in untied carrier bags (not black bin liners), we cannot take bags of mixed recycling
- put waste that can't be recycled in tied bin bags and put them on the kerbside on your usual collection day by 6am
If you're struggling to manage your waste, contact us.
Report recycling bins and boxes damaged by us
If we damaged a recycling bin or box when we made a recycling collection, you can make a complaint to tell us, so that we can investigate and get back to you about a replacement.
Track your order
Log in to your account to track your bin order.
Cancel your order
Call 0117 922 2100 to cancel your order. You'll need your reference number.
Troubleshooting
If you have a problem with this form or your Citizen Portal account:
Green garden bins, garden waste sacks and compost bins
Find out about: