Bins and recycling in Aberdeenshire
What goes in each of Aberdeenshire's bins, and where to take the things they don't collect. This page uses Aberdeenshire Council's own published information, checked 16 Oct 2026.
Recycle This is independent: it isn't run by Aberdeenshire Council. If anything here differs from Aberdeenshire Council's website, the council is right.
Your bins in Aberdeenshire
Blue-lid recycling bin (paper and card)
Orange-lid recycling bin (containers)
Black refuse bin
Food waste caddy
Battery recycling bag
Flat with shared bins: Flats and communal dwellings usually have two big shared bins that stay in their bin area: a black one for refuse and a blue one for all mixed recycling. Each household keeps its own green food caddy and takes it to the communal area for collection. Some areas also have a shared glass bin; otherwise glass goes to a glass recycling point.
Source: Aberdeenshire Council's website.
Bin days in Aberdeenshire
Check your collection day with Aberdeenshire Council's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.
Get the app
Snap a photo instead of typing, and get a reminder the evening before bin day.
Garden waste and bulky items
Aberdeenshire Council doesn't run a garden waste collection, according to its website. (source)
Paid uplift: 34.86 pounds for up to 4 items, 69.71 pounds for up to 8, or 44.77 pounds per individual item; reduced rates for people on Council Tax or Housing Benefit. Not for rubble, paint, gas bottles or car batteries. Book or check prices with Aberdeenshire Council.
Recycling centres for Aberdeenshire
Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.
Alford recycling centre
Mart Road, Alford, AB33 8BZ
Opening hours: Monday and Friday to Sunday: 9am to 12pm, pedestrians only 12pm to 12.30pm, closed 12.30pm to 1pm, 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays). Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. Pedestrians can walk in without booking from 12pm to 12.30pm.
Does not take upholstered seating or plasterboard. Takes bikes for reuse, but no other reuse items or mattresses. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Banchory recycling centre
Crow's Nest, Upper Lochton Road, Banchory, AB31 4EQ
Opening hours: Every day: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. No pedestrian access.
Engine oil is temporarily not accepted. Takes bikes, small electricals and furniture for reuse, but not mattresses. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Ellon recycling centre
Balmacassie Commercial Park, Balmacassie Brae, Ellon, AB41 8BY
Opening hours: Every day: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. No pedestrian access.
Takes bikes, small electricals, furniture and mattresses for reuse, and has a rigid plastic container. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Fraserburgh recycling centre
Anderson Place, Fraserburgh, AB43 9SU
Opening hours: Every day: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. Pedestrians can arrange access with site staff.
Takes no items for reuse, including mattresses. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Huntly recycling centre
Steven Road, Huntly, AB54 8SX
Opening hours: Every day: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. Pedestrians can arrange access with site staff.
Takes no items for reuse, including mattresses. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Insch recycling centre
Market Street, Insch, AB52 6LA
Opening hours: Tuesday and Saturday: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm, closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. Pedestrians can arrange access with site staff.
Does not take bulky waste, glass bottles and jars, textiles, rubble, soil or turf, plasterboard, polystyrene, engine oil or upholstered seating. Takes no items for reuse. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Inverurie recycling centre
Souterford Road, Inverurie, AB51 0TP
Opening hours: Every day: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking required for all vehicles, in a 15-minute slot, up to 7 days ahead. No pedestrian access.
Takes clean, bagged mattresses for reuse but no other reuse items. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Laurencekirk recycling centre
Market Road, Laurencekirk, AB30 1DG
Opening hours: Every day: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. Pedestrians can arrange access with site staff.
Does not take polystyrene. Takes bikes, small electricals and furniture for reuse, but not mattresses. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Macduff recycling centre
Old Gamrie Road, Macduff, AB44 1QD
Opening hours: Every day: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. No pedestrian access.
Takes bikes, small electricals and furniture for reuse, but not mattresses. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Peterhead recycling centre
Damhead Road, Dales Industrial Estate, Peterhead, AB42 3JF
Opening hours: Every day: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. No pedestrian access.
Takes bikes, small electricals and furniture for reuse, but not mattresses, and has a rigid plastic container. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Portlethen recycling centre
Badentoy Drive, Badentoy Industrial Estate, Portlethen, AB12 4ZD
Opening hours: Monday and Thursday to Sunday: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm (4pm on Fridays), closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. No pedestrian access.
Takes bikes, small electricals and furniture for reuse, but not mattresses. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Portsoy recycling centre
Station Yard, Portsoy, AB45 2QX
Opening hours: Tuesday and Saturday: 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm, closed 12.30pm to 1pm. Times vary over Christmas and New Year.
Booking: Booking needed only for vehicles with trailers and commercial type vehicles. Pedestrians can arrange access with site staff.
Does not take bulky waste, car batteries, fluorescent tubes, gas cylinders, plasterboard, soil and turf or upholstered seating. Takes no items for reuse. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Where common items go in Aberdeenshire
- Pizza boxThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Crisp packetNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Black plastic ready-meal trayYes. Put it in your Orange-lid recycling bin (containers). Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Paper coffee cupYes. Put it in your Orange-lid recycling bin (containers). Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Wine bottleNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Glass jarNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Orange-lid recycling bin (containers). Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Food waste caddy. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Tea bagYes. Put it in your Food waste caddy. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Battery (not sure which type)Yes. Put it in your Battery recycling bag. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Disposable vapeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Paint tinThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Real Christmas treeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin (paper and card). Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Food cartonYes. Put it in your Orange-lid recycling bin (containers). Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Orange-lid recycling bin (containers). Source: Aberdeenshire Council
- Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: Aberdeenshire Council
Something else? Search any item and choose Aberdeenshire as your council.
How Aberdeenshire compares
- Weekly shop basket Collects 17 of 22 everyday packaging items from home. Joint 20th of 31 councils in Scotland. Not collected from home: Glass jar, Wine bottle, Pizza box, Crisp packet, Bread bag
- Recycling rate We haven't added the official figures for Scotland yet.
- Food waste Collected from home every week.
As of 24 Oct 2026. See all the council rankings.
Common questions
What goes in the blue-lid recycling bin (paper and card) in Aberdeenshire?
Paper, card and cardboard only.
What goes in the orange-lid recycling bin (containers) in Aberdeenshire?
Metal tins, cans, aerosols and foil, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
What goes in the black refuse bin in Aberdeenshire?
Non-recyclable waste only.
What goes in the food waste caddy in Aberdeenshire?
Tea bags and coffee grounds, out-of-date food including meat and fish, plate scrapings and leftovers, meal preparation waste, compostable food packaging, compostable coffee cups and cutlery.
What goes in the battery recycling bag in Aberdeenshire?
Household and rechargeable batteries, in the council battery bag left on top of your recycling or refuse bin.
When is my bin day in Aberdeenshire?
It depends on your street. Enter your address in Aberdeenshire Council's bin day lookup (online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.