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Hart bin collection days

Hart empties the black household bin and the blue recycling bin once every two weeks. Collections start from 6am. Food waste has been collected every week since October 2025, and glass has its own box every two weeks. The blue bin takes a short list: clean, dry paper and cardboard, plastic bottles, and tins, cans and empty aerosols, all loose rather than bagged.

Last checked against 2 sources (www.hart.gov.uk).

What goes in each bin

Black bin · General waste

Bin · Every two weeks

Yes please

  • Non-recyclable household waste

Not in this one

  • Garden waste
  • Excess rubbish that does not fit inside the bin
  • Bagged waste left on top of or beside the bin

Source: www.hart.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Blue recycling bin · Mixed recycling

Bin · Every two weeks

Yes please

  • Paper and cardboard, not shredded
  • Plastic bottles
  • Tins, cans and empty aerosols

Not in this one

  • Plastic pots, including plant pots, tubs, trays, film and packaging
  • Polystyrene
  • Textiles
  • Electrical items and batteries
  • Food waste
  • Dirty cardboard, such as pizza boxes
  • Shredded paper or card
  • Silver foil

Source: www.hart.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Check your bin day

We can’t check Hart addresses yet

Live bin day lookups for Hart are planned. Until then, Hart’s own page will show your collection day.

Find my bin day on www.hart.gov.uk(opens in a new tab)

How often each bin is collected

Collection frequency by bin for Hart
BinCollected
Black bin · General wasteEvery two weeks
Blue recycling bin · Mixed recyclingEvery two weeks

Food waste and the national recycling rules

Hart collects food waste every week. Hart started a weekly food waste collection in October 2025, which the council says met the government's March 2026 target. Bagged food waste goes in the caddy every week. Glass goes in a separate glass box, collected every two weeks. Plastic pots, tubs and trays are not in the blue bin yet. Hampshire County Council's new materials recovery facility is expected from spring 2028, and Hart says it will plan the wider recycling changes over the next two years.

Source: www.hart.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

If your bin was missed

Put the black or blue bin at the point nearest the road where the collection vehicle stops, such as the end of a path or driveway. Collections are from 6am throughout the year. The lid of the black bin must be fully closed, and bagged waste must be inside it. Contact the waste team if you think a bin was missed. Contact the waste team within 48 hours of the planned collection date.

Source: www.hart.gov.uk (opens in a new tab), read

Good to know in Hart

  • The black bin is only for non-recyclable household waste. Hart will not empty a black bin that contains garden waste, and it will not take excess rubbish. Everything bagged has to be inside the bin with the lid fully closed. If the black bin is often overfull, the council points people at the blue bin first, and an extra blue bin can be bought.
  • The blue bin rejects plastic pots, tubs, trays, film and packaging, polystyrene, textiles, electrical items, batteries, food, dirty cardboard such as pizza boxes, shredded paper or card, and silver foil. The council's own line is: if in doubt, leave it out. Stick to the list until the new sorting facility is running.
  • Small electrical items with a plug, battery or cable can be left on top of the blue or black bin if they fit in a standard carrier bag. Hart's examples are kettles, small toasters, hair dryers, hand blenders, cables, phones, vapes and e-cigarettes.
  • In hot weather Hart warns that fly eggs can become maggots in as little as eight hours. Double-wrap waste, tie bin liners, keep the bin clean and spray detergent around the lid.
  • Charity shops in the district take good-quality items they can resell. Do not leave donations outside a shop. Clothes and shoe banks at recycling sites are owned and emptied by charities. The council publishes a list of those sites.
  • Garden waste is a separate signup. The recycling page describes it as a fortnightly collection. The pages read for this guide do not list what the green garden bin takes or what it costs.
  • Collection day is on Hart's own bin-day page. This guide does not guess a day, because it changes by address.

Bin questions in Hart

How often does Hart empty the black bin?

Once every two weeks. Collections are from 6am. The bin goes at the point nearest the road, the lid has to be fully closed, and garden waste and excess bags are not taken.

How often are Hart's recycling and food collected?

The blue bin is emptied once every two weeks, from 6am. Food waste goes in the caddy every week. Glass goes in a glass box every two weeks. The page also points to a fortnightly garden waste signup.

What if Hart misses the black bin?

Contact the waste team within 48 hours of the planned collection date. The bin needs to have been out from 6am at the point nearest the road, with the lid fully closed and no garden waste or extra bags beside it.

Can plastic pots go in Hart's blue bin?

No. Plastic pots, including plant pots, tubs, trays, film and packaging stay out of the blue bin, along with polystyrene, textiles, food, dirty cardboard, shredded paper and silver foil. The blue bin takes paper and cardboard that is not shredded, plastic bottles, and tins, cans and empty aerosols, loose and clean and dry.

Guides that may help

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