Missed bin collection: when and how to report it
What to do when your bin is not emptied: how long to wait, when to report, and what Birmingham, Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and Stockport say.
By BinWeek editorial. Last reviewed .
First, check whether it really was missed
Before you report anything, look at four things. A missed report that does not hold up wastes time for you and the council, and several councils say they will not return if the cause was on your side.
- Is there a tag or sticker on the bin? Sheffield says that if there was a reason for not emptying it, the crew may have left a tag or sticker explaining the problem and how to arrange another collection. If there is no tag, you can report it.
- Is it the right day and week? Fortnightly and four-weekly cycles are a common cause. Stockport asks you to check your bin calendar to make sure the bin was due before you report.
- Is the street running late, or is there a known problem? Bradford lists bad weather, broken vehicles and blocked roads, and asks you to check its bad weather and service disruption pages. Sheffield asks you to check its service alerts. Birmingham says you cannot report a miss that it already knows about on your round.
- Was it out in time, and was it correct? Stockport and Leeds ask for bins to be out by 6:30am, and Birmingham before 6:00am. Stockport also lists a lid that was not fully closed, heavy items such as rubble, and the wrong items in the bin among the reasons a bin may not be emptied.
How long to wait, council by council
| Council | When to report | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | General waste: after 1:30pm on the day | If the council can rearrange it, it will within 2 working days; leave bins out |
| Bradford | Wait 2 working days; report if missed again the next week | Report online or call 01274 431000 |
| Leeds | After 5pm on the day it was missed | Use the form each time a bin is missed |
| Sheffield | After checking for a tag and the service alerts | Council returns within 1 working day, or contacts you within 1 working day |
| Stockport | After 6pm on your collection day | Blue, black or brown bin misses can be reported up to 3 days after your collection day; green bin misses by 2pm the next day |
These are the rules at each council on 2 October 2026 and they change. Always read your own council's page, which we link from each of our council pages.
What the report asks for
Most councils use an online form. Birmingham may ask you to sign in to a free BRUM account and add your address first. Bradford asks you to register before you use its form. Leeds says to use the form every time a bin is missed so that the council can investigate. If your waste is collected in bags rather than a bin, Leeds says you can ask for replacement bags in the free text box of the collection crew form.
Give the address, the bin type and the date, and say where you leave the bin.
What not to do
- Do not put extra waste out next time. Bradford only empties one general waste bin per household, even after a missed collection. Sheffield does not take extra waste or recycling left next to the black or brown bin.
- Do not leave it too late. Stockport takes reports for blue, black and brown bins up to 3 days after your collection day, but green bin misses must be reported by 2pm the next day.
- Do not leave a contaminated bin and expect a return. Birmingham says that you cannot report a missed collection if the bin was marked as contaminated.
If it keeps happening
Keep a note of the dates you reported and any reference numbers. Councils such as Birmingham and Bradford say they use vehicle cameras, so a record of your reports is useful evidence. To find your council's contact details, the GOV.UK "find out your rubbish collection day" page takes you to your council's own site. If repeated reports do not get a response, make a formal complaint through your council's own complaints process.