Derby uses four containers: a blue bin for dry recycling, a black bin for what is left, a brown bin for garden waste and, since 31 March 2026, a green container for weekly food waste. Collections run from Tuesday to Friday, and the council's own checker sets your day. Recycling goes in loose, never in bags.
Last checked against 7 sources (www.derby.gov.uk).
What goes in each bin
Black bin for non-recyclable waste · General waste
Bin · Varies by area, so check your address
Yes please
Nappies and sanitary products
Non-recyclable plastics such as crisp packets and cling film
Polystyrene packaging
Disposable wipes and tissues
Broken crockery and small non-recyclable household items
Bagged cat litter and pet waste
Not in this one
Recyclables such as paper, cardboard, plastics, cans and glass
Black bin for non-recyclable waste · General waste
Varies by area, so check your address
Green food waste container (23 litres) and grey kitchen caddy (5 litres) · Food waste
Every week
Brown bin for garden waste · Garden waste
Every two weeks
Food waste and the national recycling rules
Derby collects food waste every week. A weekly food waste collection began on 31 March 2026 for kerbside homes, with no extra charge. Flats and shared-bin properties are being assessed one by one, and the council says residents will be contacted, so shared buildings may not have it yet.
Garden waste is collected free of charge. The council says any household with a kerbside collection can request a brown bin free of charge. Its pages in October 2026 did not mention a garden waste charge. Brown bins are collected fortnightly from March to October and less often from November to March. Since 31 March 2026 the brown bin is for garden waste only; food waste goes in the green food container.
Check why the bin was left using the council's missed bin lookup (enter your postcode), then report it online if none of the reasons apply. Before reporting, check that the bin was out by 6:30am, that it carries no warning tag for contamination, a heavy load, damage, an open lid, the wrong bin or an unapproved extra black bin, and that it was the right collection day. Report within 48 hours of collections in your street. The council aims to return within two working days, usually between Tuesday and Friday, and cannot return for bins left for the reasons on a warning tag.
Crews empty bins Tuesday to Friday from 6:30am to 4pm, and collections run as usual on Good Friday. Put your bin out by 6:30am on collection day and take it in again before midday the next day. Bins need the lid fully closed, and the council will not take extra waste at the side, except recycling in a clear bag or a cardboard box next to the blue bin.
The council asks residents to check, wash and squash recycling. It tells people to follow its Recycling Helper rather than the recycling symbol on packaging, because the symbol only means an item is recyclable somewhere. Contaminated bins are tagged and may be left, and repeated contamination can bring a visit from a waste minimisation officer.
The green food container is a dark green, lockable 23 litre outdoor container with a light grey 5 litre kitchen caddy. Any bag or liner can be used, including carrier bags and compostable liners, because all bags are taken out before processing. If you forget to put it out, present it again the following week.
An additional black bin is only approved in specific cases, such as a household of five or more people, or two or more children in nappies full time, plus a visit from a waste minimisation officer. Otherwise a household may have one black bin.
Raynesway takes most household waste for Derby and Derbyshire residents in a private vehicle, up to 12 visits a year through the free MiPermit booking system. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm on Monday, Saturday and Sunday, and 12noon to 6pm on Tuesday to Friday. It is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and last entry is 10 minutes before closing.
Fridges and freezers are limited to one cooling device per visit because of a national shortage of recycling capacity. The council suggests asking the retailer to take the old appliance away when a new one is delivered.
Bin questions in Derby
When are bins collected in Derby over Christmas 2026?
The council says there are no collections between 25 December and 1 January. In Christmas week 2026 blue and black bins move one day earlier, and normal collections resume on Tuesday 5 January 2027.
Do I need to book a visit to the Derby tip?
Yes from Monday to Saturday, through the council's free MiPermit system. Sundays are open without booking. Each household can make up to 12 visits a year.
BinWeek is paid for by Google ads on guide and council pages. Choose whether Google may store and read information on this device to show and measure ads. Until you choose, and if you reject, nothing is stored for advertising and no ad is shown. Your postcode and address never go to Google. Privacy policy