Portsmouth collects rubbish and food waste every week on the same day, with recycling in a green bin and a garden waste service every two weeks for subscribers. Glass, textiles, cartons, books and plastic pots, tubs and trays are not taken from the recycling bin, and the council asks you to use recycling banks around the city where possible.
Last checked against 6 sources (www.portsmouth.gov.uk).
What goes in each bin
Black wheelie bin for rubbish (black sacks in flat-fronted properties, or the shared bin in a flat) · General waste
Bin · Every week
Yes please
General household rubbish that cannot be recycled in the green recycling bin or through recycling banks and services in the city
Household batteries, in a clear bag on top of your rubbish bin or bag (communal bin users take them to a supermarket)
Not in this one
Clinical waste such as syringes (ask for a healthcare waste collection)
Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, tins, cans and aerosols, which go in the green recycling bin
Glass, textiles, cartons, books, CDs and DVDs, and plastic pots, tubs and trays, which go to a local recycling bank
Food waste if you have a food waste bin, and garden waste
DIY waste such as soil, rubble, bricks and paint cans, and large household items such as furniture
Brown garden waste bin or sacks ('Leaf it Out', paid subscription) · Garden waste
Every two weeks
Food waste and the national recycling rules
Portsmouth collects food waste every week. Food waste is collected every week on the same day as rubbish, by a separate crew. On 3 October 2026 the council said recycling collections would not change straight away and that Simpler Recycling changes would come in stages, with Portsmouth working with other Hampshire councils.
Garden waste is a paid-for service. The council's garden waste service, called Leaf it Out, costs from £72 a year. You sign up or renew through the council's waste portal. Brown bins and garden waste sacks are collected every two weeks. The council warns that your garden waste day may differ from your rubbish, recycling and food waste days. Put it out at the edge of your property by 6am on collection day, or the night before.
If you think the council missed your recycling by mistake, report it through the council's online portal. A recycling bin is left unemptied, with a red hanger on the handle, when the crew sees non-recyclable items in the top of the bin, so check for a hanger first. For a missed garden waste collection you can report online, email or phone, and the council asks for a report within 2 working days.
The green recycling bin takes only paper, cardboard, bottle-shaped plastics, tins and cans, and empty aerosols. Everything must be clean, dry and loose, with nothing bagged and nothing nested inside something else.
Plastic pots, tubs, trays and carrier bags are the most common wrong items. A crew that sees non-recyclable items on top of a recycling bin leaves a red hanger and does not empty it. The council suggests removing the items, and extra recycling can go in a cardboard box next to the bin on the next collection day.
If a bin is contaminated a second time you can remove the items yourself, take them to the recycling centre, or (for landlords and managing agents) pay a call-out. The council's current charges are £66 for a 660 litre communal bin and £110 for a 1100 litre one.
Rubbish can be collected any time between 6am and 4pm, so put bins or bags out before 6am at the edge of your property where it meets the pavement. Bins may only be on the pavement on collection day and from 7pm the evening before. The council writes a reminder letter and then removes bins left out.
Rubbish is collected weekly and taken to an energy recovery facility, where it is burnt to make electricity. The council says the electricity produced is enough to power 20,600 homes.
Take small electrical equipment such as laptops, vapes and kettles to the recycling centre if you share a communal bin, or put them in a carrier bag on top of your own recycling bin. Household batteries go in a clear bag on top of your rubbish bin.
Booking a visit to the recycling centre is required, and each booking counts as one of the 12 visits that come with a permit. You cannot walk in with waste on foot, though you can book a space for a bike. Opening hours vary through the year.
Bin questions in Portsmouth
How often are bins collected in Portsmouth?
The council collects rubbish weekly, and food waste weekly on the same day as rubbish by a different crew. Garden waste is every two weeks for subscribers. Its pages do not give a fixed pattern for recycling, so check your own days online.
What are the recycling centre opening hours in Portsmouth?
The site is open seven days a week, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Hours are 9am to 4pm from 1 October to 28 February, 9am to 5pm in March and 9am to 6pm from 1 April to 30 September, closed 1pm to 1.30pm daily. You must book first.
How do I report a missed garden waste collection in Portsmouth?
Report it within 2 working days. You can use the online form, email the Leaf it Out team at leafitout@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, or call 023 9284 1105 and choose option 4.
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