Bins and recycling in Bolton

Your bins in Bolton

• Grey bin (general waste)

  Collected every 2 weeks General waste that can't be recycled. Keep the lid closed; bags left beside the bin are not collected.

• Burgundy bin (mixed recycling)

  Collected every 2 weeks Glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, foil, empty aerosols, plastic bottles, and plastic pots, tubs and trays.

• Beige bin (paper and card)

  Collected every 4 weeks Paper, card, and empty food and drink cartons.

• Green bin (food and garden waste)

  Collected every 2 weeks Garden waste, and food waste if you don't use the separate food container. No soil.

• Green food waste container

  Collected weekly Cooked and uncooked food, including meat, fish, bones, dairy, tea bags and coffee grounds.

Flat with shared bins: Most purpose-built blocks of flats share large bins. In the council's bin collection lookup they show as 660 or 1,100 litre grey, beige and burgundy bins, usually with a 240 litre food and garden bin. Some small blocks and converted houses have ordinary household bins instead; if your lookup shows a 140 litre grey bin, use the house rules.

Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council's website.

Bin days in Bolton

Check your collection day with Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection is available. Garden waste goes in the household green bin and no price is given for it; an extra green bin is a paid subscription of £37.50 a year (price held until 31 March 2027) plus a £36 set-up fee in the first year. (source)

Bolton collects bulky items for £41 for up to 5 items or £82 for 6 to 10 items, paid by card; book on 01204 336632. Households on Council Tax Support can get one free collection a year while funding lasts. Book or check prices with Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council.

Recycling centres for Bolton

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

• Hurstwood Court Recycling Centre

  Hurstwood Court, Raikes Lane, Bolton BL3 2NP

  Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm during British Summer Time, and 8am to 6pm from the last Sunday in October to British Summer Time (Bolton Council's tips page, https://www.bolton.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling/tips-recycling-sites; Recycle for Greater Manchester shows 8am to 8pm). Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: No booking for cars (52 visits a year). Vans, pick-ups and twin axle trailers need a free permit, applied for 2 working days before the first visit (18 visits a year).

  Map position is the postcode centre. One of the busiest sites; quieter before 10am and after 4pm on weekdays. Household waste only; no food waste, and rubble is limited to five rubble sacks per visit.

  Source: recycleforgreatermanchester.com

• Salford Road (Over Hulton) Recycling Centre

  Salford Road, Over Hulton, Bolton BL5 1BW

  Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm for vehicles under 2m and 8am to 8pm for vehicles over 2m (Bolton Council's tips page, https://www.bolton.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling/tips-recycling-sites; Recycle for Greater Manchester shows 8am to 8pm); Sunday and bank holidays, 10am to 4pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: No booking for cars (up to 52 visits a year, also for a car with a single-axle trailer). Vans, hire vans, pick-up trucks and cars with a twin-axle trailer need a van permit (18 visits a year, household waste only); apply for a permit account at least 2 working days before the first visit. Greater Manchester residents only. Number plates are read (ANPR).

  Free for waste from your home (including DIY you did yourself) for residents of Greater Manchester; no trade, builders' or tradespeople's waste. Rubble, soil and plasterboard are limited to five rubble sacks per visit. Has a Renew donation point and a Podback bin for coffee pods. Map position is approximate (set from the centre of the old postcode BL5 1DG, since retired, about 150 m from the site).

  Source: recycleforgreatermanchester.com

Where common items go in Bolton

• Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Beige bin (paper and card). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Crisp packetNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Black plastic ready-meal trayYes. Put it in your Burgundy bin (mixed recycling). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey bin (general waste). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Burgundy bin (mixed recycling). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Burgundy bin (mixed recycling). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Burgundy bin (mixed recycling). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Green food waste container. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Green food waste container. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Battery (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Disposable vapeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Real Christmas treeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Beige bin (paper and card). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Beige bin (paper and card). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Burgundy bin (mixed recycling). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Till receiptYes. Put it in your Beige bin (paper and card). Source: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

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

Common questions

What goes in the grey bin (general waste) in Bolton?

General waste that can't be recycled. Keep the lid closed; bags left beside the bin are not collected.

What goes in the burgundy bin (mixed recycling) in Bolton?

Glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, foil, empty aerosols, plastic bottles, and plastic pots, tubs and trays.

What goes in the beige bin (paper and card) in Bolton?

Paper, card, and empty food and drink cartons.

What goes in the green bin (food and garden waste) in Bolton?

Garden waste, and food waste if you don't use the separate food container. No soil.

What goes in the green food waste container in Bolton?

Cooked and uncooked food, including meat, fish, bones, dairy, tea bags and coffee grounds.

When is my bin day in Bolton?

It depends on your street. Enter your address in Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council's bin day lookup (bolton.portal.uk.empro.verintcloudservices.com), or use Bin days on Recycle This.