Bins and recycling in Birmingham

Your bins in Birmingham

• Grey-lid rubbish bin

  Collected weekly (every 2 weeks in the waste pilot areas) Non-recyclable household rubbish, such as nappies and polystyrene, with the lid closed. Outside the pilot areas this also takes food waste. No building waste, soil or rubble, garden waste, bulky waste, electricals, batteries, wood, metal or asbestos. Extra bags beside the bin aren't normally collected. Put it out after 3:30pm the day before, and bring it back in by midday the day after.

• Rubbish sacks (homes without wheelie bins)

  Collected weekly (every 2 weeks in the waste pilot areas) If your home isn't suitable for wheelie bins, put your rubbish out in bin bags instead. Up to 3 bags are collected each time.

• Blue-lid recycling bin (with paper pod)

  Collected suspended during the strike; every 2 weeks in the waste pilot areas Main part: plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays (not black), cartons, lids, aerosols, clean foil, food and drink cans, and glass bottles and jars with the lids off. Removable pod: paper and card (if you have a green-lid bin, paper and card go in that instead). Homes without room for wheelie bins have a green box for plastic, metal and glass and a blue box for paper and card. No food, film, polystyrene, black trays, hard plastics, drinking glasses, Pyrex, ceramics, bulbs, mirrors, batteries, corks or coat hangers. Kerbside recycling is suspended during the Unite strike, except for homes in the North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield pilot once their new service has started.

• Green-lid paper and card bin

  Collected every 2 weeks (waste pilot areas) Clean, dry cardboard boxes and packaging, cereal and food boxes, toilet roll tubes, newspapers, magazines, egg boxes, junk mail, envelopes and office paper. Most homes in the North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield pilot get one to replace the pod; some other homes already have a second recycling bin with a green lid. Pilot homes without room for bins get recycling sacks instead.

• Brown food waste caddy (waste pilot areas)

  Collected weekly (waste pilot areas only) All raw and cooked food: meat, fish and bones, fruit and veg, dairy, bread, rice and pasta, plate scrapings, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells, pet food, and mouldy or out-of-date food. Empty the grey indoor caddy into the brown outdoor caddy. Any liner or plastic bag is fine, or none. No packaging, liquids, oil or fat, or garden waste. Only homes in the North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield pilot have this so far.

• Garden waste bin (paid subscription, suspended)

  Collected suspended until further notice The paid garden waste collection is suspended until further notice because of the strike. Take garden waste to a household recycling centre or compost it at home.

Flat with shared bins: Many Birmingham flats, especially tower and maisonette blocks, use a bin chute or shared bin store. Use your block's recycling bins if it has them; otherwise take recycling to a household recycling centre.

Source: Birmingham City Council's website.

Bin days in Birmingham

Check your collection day with Birmingham City Council's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection is available. Paid subscription service, but it is suspended until further notice because of strike action (the pages say 2025 subscribers are being refunded automatically); no restart date, no 2026/27 price and no sign-up route is published, and the pages were last updated 9 September 2025. (source)

The £49.50 bulky waste collection (up to 10 items) isn't taking new bookings during the strike. Collections already booked still go ahead. Book or check prices with Birmingham City Council.

Recycling centres for Birmingham

Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.

• Castle Bromwich Household Recycling Centre

  Tameside Drive, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham B35 7AG

  Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm

  Booking: Car users don't need to book here while the booking system is turned off; vans must still book. Bring proof of a Birmingham address.

  Birmingham residents only. Takes recycling, garden waste, soil and rubble (up to eight 25kg bags), wood, metal, electricals, fridges, up to 5 car tyres, car batteries, gas bottles, paint, engine and cooking oil, coffee pods, mattresses and bulky furniture. No asbestos.

  Source: birmingham.veolia.co.uk

• Kings Norton Household Recycling Centre

  Lifford Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B30 3JJ

  Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm

  Booking: Book a 15-minute slot online, at least 2 hours ahead (cars up to 6 days, vans up to 7 days). Bring proof of a Birmingham address. No commercial vehicles.

  Birmingham residents only. Being redeveloped until October 2027: still open, but no vans or trailers, fewer slots, and no books, cartons, fluorescent tubes, fridges or other large appliances. Takes other recycling, garden waste, soil and rubble, wood, metal, small electricals, tyres, car batteries, gas bottles, paint and oil. No asbestos.

  Source: birmingham.veolia.co.uk

• Perry Barr Household Recycling Centre

  Holford Drive, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 2TU

  Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm

  Booking: Book a 15-minute slot online, at least 2 hours ahead (cars up to 6 days, vans up to 7 days). Bring proof of a Birmingham address. No commercial vehicles.

  Birmingham residents only. Takes recycling, garden waste, soil and rubble (up to eight 25kg bags), wood, metal, electricals, fridges, up to 5 car tyres, car batteries, gas bottles, paint, engine and cooking oil, coffee pods, mattresses and bulky furniture. No asbestos.

  Source: birmingham.veolia.co.uk

• Sutton Coldfield Household Recycling Centre

  Norris Way, Sutton Coldfield B75 7BB

  Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm

  Booking: Book a 15-minute slot online, at least 2 hours ahead (cars up to 6 days, vans up to 7 days). Bring proof of a Birmingham address. No commercial vehicles.

  Birmingham residents only. Takes recycling, garden waste, soil and rubble (up to eight 25kg bags), wood, metal, electricals, fridges, up to 5 car tyres, car batteries, gas bottles, paint, engine and cooking oil, coffee pods, mattresses and bulky furniture. No asbestos.

  Source: birmingham.veolia.co.uk

• Tyseley Household Recycling Centre

  James Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B11 2BA

  Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm

  Booking: Book a 15-minute slot online, at least 2 hours ahead (cars up to 6 days, vans up to 7 days). Bring proof of a Birmingham address. No commercial vehicles.

  Birmingham residents only. Takes recycling, garden waste, soil and rubble (up to eight 25kg bags), wood, metal, electricals, fridges, up to 5 car tyres, car batteries, gas bottles, paint, engine and cooking oil, coffee pods, mattresses and bulky furniture. No asbestos.

  Source: birmingham.veolia.co.uk

Where common items go in Birmingham

• Pizza boxThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey-lid rubbish bin. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Crisp packetNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey-lid rubbish bin. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey-lid rubbish bin. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin (with paper pod). Source: Birmingham City Council
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin (with paper pod). Source: Birmingham City Council
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin (with paper pod). Source: Birmingham City Council
• Food scraps and leftoversThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey-lid rubbish bin. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Tea bagThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey-lid rubbish bin. Source: Birmingham City Council
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Battery (not sure which type)Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Disposable vapeNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: England-wide guidance
• Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Real Christmas treeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Birmingham City Council
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin (with paper pod). Source: Birmingham City Council
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin (with paper pod). Source: Birmingham City Council
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin (with paper pod). Source: Birmingham City Council
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey-lid rubbish bin. Source: Birmingham City Council

Something else? Search any item and choose Birmingham as your council.

Common questions

What goes in the grey-lid rubbish bin in Birmingham?

Non-recyclable household rubbish, such as nappies and polystyrene, with the lid closed. Outside the pilot areas this also takes food waste. No building waste, soil or rubble, garden waste, bulky waste, electricals, batteries, wood, metal or asbestos. Extra bags beside the bin aren't normally collected. Put it out after 3:30pm the day before, and bring it back in by midday the day after.

What goes in the rubbish sacks (homes without wheelie bins) in Birmingham?

If your home isn't suitable for wheelie bins, put your rubbish out in bin bags instead. Up to 3 bags are collected each time.

What goes in the blue-lid recycling bin (with paper pod) in Birmingham?

Main part: plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays (not black), cartons, lids, aerosols, clean foil, food and drink cans, and glass bottles and jars with the lids off. Removable pod: paper and card (if you have a green-lid bin, paper and card go in that instead). Homes without room for wheelie bins have a green box for plastic, metal and glass and a blue box for paper and card. No food, film, polystyrene, black trays, hard plastics, drinking glasses, Pyrex, ceramics, bulbs, mirrors, batteries, corks or coat hangers. Kerbside recycling is suspended during the Unite strike, except for homes in the North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield pilot once their new service has started.

What goes in the green-lid paper and card bin in Birmingham?

Clean, dry cardboard boxes and packaging, cereal and food boxes, toilet roll tubes, newspapers, magazines, egg boxes, junk mail, envelopes and office paper. Most homes in the North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield pilot get one to replace the pod; some other homes already have a second recycling bin with a green lid. Pilot homes without room for bins get recycling sacks instead.

What goes in the brown food waste caddy (waste pilot areas) in Birmingham?

All raw and cooked food: meat, fish and bones, fruit and veg, dairy, bread, rice and pasta, plate scrapings, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells, pet food, and mouldy or out-of-date food. Empty the grey indoor caddy into the brown outdoor caddy. Any liner or plastic bag is fine, or none. No packaging, liquids, oil or fat, or garden waste. Only homes in the North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield pilot have this so far.

What goes in the garden waste bin (paid subscription, suspended) in Birmingham?

The paid garden waste collection is suspended until further notice because of the strike. Take garden waste to a household recycling centre or compost it at home.

When is my bin day in Birmingham?

It depends on your street. Enter your address in Birmingham City Council's bin day lookup (birmingham.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.