Rubbish
Black rubbish bin
All councils
Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth
These are the containers used in Portsmouth. Which ones a home has depends on its address.
Recycling
Green recycling bin or box
Garden waste
Brown garden waste bin
Only if you've subscribed
Container details
The container pictures and words are Portsmouth City Council's own. This may not be every container it uses.
Greyed-out bin icons are placeholders where the container type or colour is not confirmed.
- Rubbish: Private rented housing using a rubbish bin rather than bags
- Recycling: Private rented housing using individual recycling bins or boxes
- Garden waste: Private rented housing subscribed to the Leaf It Out garden waste service
Container descriptions checked 18 September 2026; list of collections built from Portsmouth City Council's own service names 22 September 2026.
Order, book and apply
- What can be put in your recycling binPortsmouth City Council
- When and where to put your bins outPortsmouth City Council
- Garden waste collectionsPortsmouth City Council
- Food waste collectionsPortsmouth City Council
- Get rid of a bulky itemPortsmouth City Council
- Recycling centres and tipsPortsmouth City Council
- Get help putting your bins outPortsmouth City Council
- Contact the waste servicePortsmouth City Council
Links checked 17 September 2026.
Missed bin or a problem
Tell Portsmouth City 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth compares
- Recycled or composted
- 28%of household waste, 2024 to 2025
- Rubbish not recycled
- 540 kgper household a year
- Cost of collections
- £54per household a year. Similar councils: £74
- 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.
Portsmouth Council says recycling changes will arrive in stages as it works with other Hampshire councils on the national Simpler Recycling programme. Its guidance promises further information before collections change. Separate advice for landlords describes plans to split paper and cardboard from other dry recycling, which would require additional containers. The council acknowledges that fitting extra bins into shared properties can be difficult and offers advice on capacity and storage. It asks landlords and managing agents to plan ahead and work with residents on sorting waste and keeping collection access clear.
- Simpler Recycling: upcoming changes - Portsmouth City Council — www.portsmouth.gov.uk
- Waste responsibilities | Portsmouth City Council — www.portsmouth.gov.uk