Wirral uses three colours of bin. The green bin takes rubbish that cannot be recycled and the grey bin takes recycling, and each is emptied every other week. A small grey caddy for food waste is collected every week on the same day, and a brown bin is available for garden waste on a paid subscription.
Last checked against 6 sources (www.wirral.gov.uk).
What goes in each bin
Green bin for non-recyclable waste · General waste
Bin · Every two weeks
Yes please
Bread wrappers, carrier bags, crisp packets, sweet wrappers, zipper food bags and plastic film
Polystyrene and cornstarch packaging or film
Duvets and pillows
Crockery, drinking glasses, ornaments, toys and sports equipment
Coat hangers, CDs, DVDs and corks
Nappies, tissues, pet litter and vacuum cleaner bags
Green bin for non-recyclable waste · General waste
Every two weeks
Grey recycling bin · Mixed recycling
Every two weeks
Grey food waste caddy · Food waste
Every week
Brown garden waste bin (paid) · Garden waste
Every two weeks
Food waste and the national recycling rules
Wirral collects food waste every week. Households in Wirral have a weekly food waste collection, on the same day as the green and grey bins. The grey recycling bin now also takes tins, foil, aerosols, plastic tubs and trays and fruit juice and milk cartons.
Garden waste is a paid-for service. The 2026/27 subscription runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027 and costs £63.50 for one bin and £34.80 for each additional bin. A new or replacement brown bin costs £50.00. The price is the same whenever in the year you sign up, and payment is by credit or debit card only. Bins are collected every two weeks, with no collections over the Christmas and New Year period. You can cancel for a full refund within 10 working days of subscribing, provided no collections have taken place.
Check you put out the right bin on the right day, then report a missed household bin, bag or box online. Wirral's collection contractor, Biffa, checks the collection records and vehicle CCTV, and the council tells you if there was a valid reason such as the bin being out late, holding the wrong waste or being too heavy. In that case the crew does not return until your next scheduled day. You cannot report a missed bin until after 5pm on the scheduled day, and you must report it within three working days of the scheduled collection.
The council's bin calendar shows weekly food waste as 'Grey food waste - Small grey' next to a grey triangle, so a grey item on your calendar every week is the caddy, and the grey bin every second week is recycling.
Put bins out at the kerbside by 7am on collection day with the wheels facing the road and the lid closed. No additional waste is collected, and a bin that is too heavy or crammed full may not be emptied. Bring the bin back onto your property as soon as you can.
The green bin takes soft plastics such as carrier bags, crisp packets, sweet wrappers and bread wrappers. The grey bin does not take plastic bags or wrappers, but it now takes plastic tubs and trays, cartons, foil and aerosols.
Households collected in sacks, rather than bins, stay on a weekly general rubbish and recycling collection. If you live in a flat or apartment, ask your landlord or property management company about your collections.
Food caddy liners can be any bag, including bread bags, because the treatment plant removes all liners. Tie a liner to the handle of the outdoor caddy when you put it out and the crew leaves a new roll.
Tips are run by the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority. An appointment is needed if you use a van or a trailer of 2 to 3 metres, and residents using a van or large trailer have a maximum of 12 visits a year.
Real Christmas trees can go in a subscribed brown bin if you chop them up to fit.
Bin questions in Wirral
How often are bins collected in Wirral?
The green bin is collected every other week and the grey recycling bin every two weeks. Food waste is collected weekly. Households whose waste is collected in sacks stay on a weekly service.
What colour bin is food waste in Wirral?
Food waste goes in a small grey caddy that is collected weekly. On the bin calendar it shows as 'Grey food waste - Small grey' next to a grey triangle.
How much is garden waste collection in Wirral?
For 2026/27 it costs £63.50 for one bin and £34.80 for each additional bin, with a £50.00 charge for a new or replacement brown bin. The subscription period runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027.
How do I get rid of large items in Wirral?
The council's large item collection (ERIC) costs £45.00 per visit for up to six separate items, and the council aims to offer a collection within 10 working days. Items that contain persistent organic pollutants, such as sofas and armchairs, are collected separately.
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