Paper and cardboard
Blue bag
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Forest of Dean 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 Forest of Dean
These are the containers used in Forest of Dean. Which ones a home has depends on its address.
Container details
The container pictures and words are Forest of Dean District Council's own. This may not be every container it uses.
Container descriptions checked 18 September 2026.
Order, book and apply
- Request bins and recycling containersForest of Dean District Council
- Garden waste collectionsForest of Dean District Council
- Food waste collectionsForest of Dean District Council
- Get rid of a bulky itemForest of Dean District Council
- Recycling centres and tipsGloucestershire County Council
- Get help putting your bins outForest of Dean District Council
Links checked 17 September 2026.
Missed bin or a problem
Tell Forest of Dean District Council first - it can only fix what it knows about.
Missed-bin guidance checked 20 September 2026.
- Report a missed binA bin that wasn't emptied on the day.
- Make a complaint to Forest of Dean District 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 district councillors can take up a repeated problem or a wider service failure. Find and write to my district councillors on Forest of Dean District 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 Forest of Dean compares
- Recycled or composted
- 53%of household waste, 2024 to 2025
- Rubbish not recycled
- 402 kgper household a year
- Cost of collections
- £76per household a year. Similar councils: £68
- Value for money
- 8 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 18 September 2026.
An August 2026 report described Forest of Dean MP Matt Bishop’s objections to planned charges for larger amounts of DIY waste at recycling centres. The policy belongs to Gloucestershire County Council, with changes expected during the 2026/27 financial year. Bishop warned of increased fly-tipping and launched a survey to gather residents’ views. The county council said small amounts would remain free, with charges beyond allowance or visit limits. It cited budget pressures, promised to monitor fly-tipping after implementation and said officers were exploring more flexibility in how residents use the free allowance.
- Have your say on DIY waste charges — www.theforestreview.co.uk