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Lincoln bin collection days

Lincoln sorts waste into a black bin or purple sack, a brown recycling bin or black box, a green garden bin you pay for, and a food caddy. The pages we read state a weekly food collection, introduced in March/April 2026, and a fortnightly green bin all year. They do not state how often the black bin is emptied, so the street or postcode checker is the place to look. Recycling has to be what Lincolnshire County Council's plant will take.

Last checked against 5 sources (www.lincoln.gov.uk).

What goes in each bin

Black household waste bin or purple sack · General waste

Bin · Varies by area, so check your address

Yes please

  • Everyday household rubbish
  • Non-recyclable items
  • Nappies and sanitary products
  • Crisp or sweet wrappers
  • Polystyrene

Not in this one

  • Electrical items
  • Batteries
  • Large bulky items
  • Scrap metal

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

Brown recycling bin or black box · Mixed recycling

Bin

Yes please

  • Clean and dry paper or card
  • Clear or light-coloured plastics
  • Clean glass bottles and jars
  • Metal food and drink cans
  • Plastic bottles and drink containers
  • Empty aerosol cans

Not in this one

  • Textiles such as clothing or bedding
  • Soft toys
  • Polystyrene
  • Wood

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

Food waste caddy · Food waste

Caddy

Yes please

  • Raw and cooked meat and fish, including bones and shells
  • Fruit and vegetables, including peelings
  • Dairy, including cheese and yoghurt
  • Bread, cakes and pastries
  • Rice, pasta and beans
  • Plate scrapings and leftovers
  • Tea bags, coffee grounds and loose pet food
  • Small amounts of sauces, gravy and custard
  • Oil and fats

Not in this one

  • Anything that is not food waste

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

Green garden waste bin · Garden waste

Bin

Yes please

  • Grass cuttings
  • Leaves
  • Hedge trimmings
  • Flowers and weeds
  • Sticks smaller than 2.5cm in width

Not in this one

  • Soil
  • Treated wood
  • Stones or rubble

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

Check your bin day

We can’t check Lincoln addresses yet

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

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

How often each bin is collected

Collection frequency by bin for Lincoln
BinCollected
Black household waste bin or purple sack · General wasteVaries by area, so check your address

Food waste and the national recycling rules

Lincoln collects food waste every week. Food waste recycling was introduced across Lincoln in March/April 2026, as a weekly collection, instead of putting scraps in the black bin. The council says it is sent to a local anaerobic digestion plant for energy and fertiliser, rather than to Lincolnshire's energy-from-waste facility.

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

Garden waste

Garden waste is a paid-for service. For 2026/2027 the first green bin is £41 a year and each extra bin is £16 a year, up to four bins. A new bin sent to the property is £16. There is no reduction if you join part way through the year, and no refund if you opt out. The subscription ends on 30 June 2027, not 12 months after you buy the sticker. Green bins are collected every fortnight all year round. New customers could subscribe for 2026/2027 from Wednesday 15 April 2026. The bin is not emptied until the sticker is under the handles. The council aims to deliver the sticker within 10 working days.

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

If your bin was missed

Use the council's missed-bin form. You can report the black household bin or purple sack, the brown recycling bin or black box, a green garden bin, or a food caddy. You need the address and postcode.

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

Good to know in Lincoln

  • The brown bin takes clear or light-coloured plastics, clean glass, cans, empty aerosols, and clean dry paper and card. Clothing, bedding, soft toys, polystyrene and wood are listed as no. The black bin takes everyday rubbish, nappies, crisp wrappers and polystyrene, and not electricals, batteries, bulky items or scrap metal.
  • Anything that fits none of the bins, including electricals, scrap metal, wood, builders' waste and chemicals, is directed to the Household Recycling Centre at Great Northern Terrace.
  • The garden sticker goes under the handles. Without it the green bin is not emptied. Joining late does not reduce the £41, and the 2026/2027 subscription still ends on 30 June 2027.
  • Food caddies are on the missed-bin form alongside the other containers. The food page does not give a separate report deadline.
  • The collection-day service covers the black bin, brown bin, green bin and food caddy from one street or postcode search. It does not publish a single pattern for the whole city.

Bin questions in Lincoln

How often is the black bin collected in Lincoln?

The council's what-to-put-in-your-bin page does not say. Use Find your bin collection days and enter a street or postcode. The green garden bin is every fortnight, all year, and food waste is weekly.

How much is garden waste in Lincoln?

£41 a year for the first bin and £16 a year for each extra bin, up to four. A new bin is £16. The 2026/2027 subscription runs to 30 June 2027 and collections are fortnightly all year.

When did Lincoln start collecting food waste?

The council says food waste recycling was introduced across Lincoln in March/April 2026, as a weekly collection under Simpler Recycling.

Guides that may help

Nearby councils