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Bristol bin collection dates
- Add your dates to Google, Apple or Outlook calendar
- Get an email the evening before
- Print an A4 sheet for the fridge
Bins in Bristol
These are the containers used in Bristol. Which ones a home has depends on its address.
Blue recycling bag
Green recycling box
Red recycling bag
Food waste
Brown food waste bin
Green garden waste bin
Black wheelie bin
Container details
The container pictures and words are Bristol City Council's own. This may not be every container it uses.
- Black recycling box: Homes using individual recycling boxes and bags
- Blue recycling bag: Homes using individual recycling boxes and bags
- Green recycling box: Homes using individual recycling boxes and bags
- Red recycling bag: Homes using individual recycling boxes and bags
Container descriptions checked 17 September 2026; list of collections built from Bristol City Council's own service names 22 September 2026.
Order, book and apply
- Order new bins, bags and boxesBristol City Council
- Black recycling boxBristol City Council
- Garden waste collectionsBristol City Council
- Food waste collectionsBristol City Council
- Get rid of a bulky itemBristol City Council
- Recycling centres and tipsBristol City Council
- Contact the waste serviceBristol City Council
Links checked 17 September 2026.
Missed bin or a problem
Tell Bristol City Council first - it can only fix what it knows about.
- Report a missed binA bin that wasn't emptied on the day.
- Report another bin collection problemAnything else about the collection or your bins.
- Make a complaint to Bristol City CouncilIf reporting it didn't fix it.
Complaint didn't work either? Ask your councillors
If you've already reported the problem and used the council's complaints process, your unitary authority councillors can take up a repeated problem or a wider service failure. Find and write to my unitary authority councillors on Bristol City Council.
WriteToThem is an independent mySociety service. You'll enter your postcode there before choosing who to contact.
Complaint routes verified 6 September 2026.
How Bristol compares
- Recycled or composted
- 44%of household waste, 2024 to 2025
- Rubbish not recycled
- 423 kgper household a year
- Cost of collections
- £112per household a year. Similar councils: £75
- Value for money
- 4 out of 10 An independently constructed WhenIsBins rating, not an official government rating.
Official figures for England, 2024 to 2025.
Local bins and recycling news
AI-generated summary, reviewed before publication. Checked 17 September 2026.
Bristol began introducing new recycling bags in September 2026: red for plastics and cans, and blue for paper and card. The red bag is 60% bigger than the green box it replaces. Councillor Abi Finch said the containers were chosen to address residents’ concerns about windblown recycling.
Separately, an August 2026 report described missed collections during June’s heatwaves and driver shortages. Finch apologised, while opposition councillors criticised preparations and staffing. Bristol Waste said it was recruiting drivers and reviewing how it handles extreme heat. Those complaints concerned disruption earlier in the summer.
- New containers to be rolled out in Bristol recycling drive - BBC — www.bbc.com
- World Cup and heatwaves hit bin collections - Bishposton Voice — bishopstonvoice.co.uk