Coventry names its bins by the colour of the lid. The green-lidded bin takes rubbish and the blue-lidded bin takes recycling, and both are emptied every other week. Since September 2026 there is also a separate weekly food waste bin, and a brown-lidded garden bin for households that buy a permit.
Last checked against 7 sources (www.coventry.gov.uk).
What goes in each bin
Green-lidded (rubbish) bin · General waste
Bin · Every two weeks
Yes please
Everything that cannot be reused, recycled or composted
Nappies and sanitary products
Broken ceramics and drinking glasses
Small quantities of polystyrene, bagged where possible
Not in this one
Things that can be recycled or composted
Food waste, which has its own weekly collection
Batteries
Waste electrical and electronic equipment
Controlled or hazardous materials
Rubbish packed so tightly it is compacted, a bin whose lid will not close, or a bin too heavy to lift safely
Coventry collects food waste every week. Coventry introduced a weekly food waste collection for households across the city, and food waste collections started in September 2026. Flats use a kitchen caddy and a shared food waste bin that the council empties weekly.
Garden waste is a paid-for service. A garden waste permit costs £40 per bin, the same price as before. Permits run from 1 June 2026 until 31 May 2027. You can apply and pay online, or through Customer Services on 08085 834333. The council's page does not give a collection season or frequency, so check your own collection calendar. Once the food waste service started, food can no longer go in the brown-lidded garden bin.
First check whether the bin was out by 7am, was the right bin for the day, held the right items and was not too heavy or damaged. If it passes those checks, report it online, by phone on 08085 834333 (select option 4) or in person at the Customer Service Centre. Crews leave a bin tag explaining why a bin was not emptied. Whole streets missed because of roadworks, parked cars or weather do not need reporting. Report within 2 days of your collection date (Monday to Friday, including public holidays). For example, a Monday collection can be reported until 5pm on Wednesday. After that you wait for the next scheduled collection.
Put your bin out by 7am at the kerbside with the handles facing the road, and take it off the highway as soon as you can after collection, within 24 hours at most. Do not use bins for storing parcels or belongings, because crews or delivery teams may empty, swap or remove accessible bins.
A bin will not be emptied if the rubbish is compacted, the lid cannot close or the bin is too heavy to lift safely. Do not put plastic bags in the recycling bin. If a bin is skipped you should find a bin tag explaining why.
Sign up for free email alerts for your street's collections through the council's bin collection calendar, where you find your street in a directory.
Food waste goes in its own bin with a locking handle, which the council asks you to push down over the front to keep animals out. You can line it with compostable liners, newspaper or a paper bag. The council asks for a house number sticker on the bin.
Some streets with high levels of fly-tipping are part of a 'Tip to You' scheme. If your street is included you get a letter with the collection day and stickers, and crews take white goods, soft furnishings, small electricals, mattresses and black bags.
Customer Services are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays, on 08085 834333, and many bin queries can be dealt with through the online account.
Bin questions in Coventry
How often are bins collected in Coventry?
The green-lidded rubbish bin and the blue-lidded recycling bin are each collected every other week. The food waste bin is collected weekly.
Does Coventry collect food waste?
Yes. Coventry started a weekly food waste collection for households across the city in September 2026. Flats have a kitchen caddy and a shared food waste bin that is emptied weekly.
What happens to Coventry's food waste?
It is taken to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it is turned into fertiliser for farmers and a gas used to generate renewable energy.
Is there a limit on bulky waste collections in Coventry?
Yes. The bulky collection is run with Emmaus Coventry and Warwickshire for a small charge. Three black sacks count as one item, with a maximum of nine bags per booking, and a booking can include at most two mattresses and two fridges or freezers.
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