Bins and recycling in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Your bins in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

• Recycling bin (black, blue lid)

  Collected every 2 weeks 240 litre bin. Paper, card, cartons, glass bottles and jars, tins and cans, aerosols, foil, and rigid plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, all clean, dry and loose. If your home can't take a wheelie bin you get purple recycling bags instead.

• Rubbish bin (black)

  Collected every 2 weeks 180 litre bin, collected on the opposite week to recycling. Nappies, plastic bags and wrapping, polystyrene, tissues, pet waste, cold ashes and other things that can't be recycled. If your home can't take a wheelie bin you get blue rubbish bags instead.

• Food waste bin (brown) and kitchen caddy

  Collected weekly 23 litre outdoor bin plus a 7 litre kitchen caddy. All cooked and uncooked food, including meat, fish, bones, dairy, bread, peelings, tea bags and coffee grounds. No packaging, liquids, oil or plastic bags.

• Garden waste bin (black, green lid)

  Collected every 2 weeks Paid-for 240 litre bin, GBP 73.50 a year per bin. Grass, hedge clippings, plants, weeds, leaves, twigs, branches, cut flowers and houseplants, loose. No soil, turf, plastic, food or wood.

Flat with shared bins: Flats use shared communal rubbish and recycling bins, and a shared brown-lid food waste bin if your block has one, with a kitchen caddy for each flat. Garden waste bins are optional and paid for.

Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's website.

Bin days in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Check your collection day with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection: £73.5 a year. £73.50 per bin for the 2027 service, collected fortnightly from 25 January 2027 to the week ending 10 December 2027; the page gives no date for when sign-ups open and no Christmas break. Season: 25 Jan–10 Dec 2027. (source)

Paid collection booked online: GBP 41 for one item, GBP 11 for each extra, up to 10 items. Not for soil, rubble, DIY waste, tyres, car batteries or garden waste. Book or check prices with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

Recycling centres for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

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

• Bournemouth Recycling Centre

  Ringwood Rd, Bournemouth, BH11 9LQ

  Opening hours: April to September: daily 9am to 5pm. October to March: daily 9am to 4pm. Open on bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.

  Booking: No booking needed. Bring ID showing you live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole (Council Tax bill, photocard driving licence or utility bill). Vans need a permit.

  Free DIY waste allowance of 2 x 50 litre bags or 1 large item per household per week, then charges apply. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: bcpcouncil.gov.uk

• Christchurch Recycling Centre

  Wilverley Road, Somerford, Christchurch, BH23 3RU

  Opening hours: April to September: daily 9am to 5pm. October to March: daily 9am to 4pm. Open on bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.

  Booking: No booking needed. You will be turned away without ID showing you live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole (Council Tax bill, photocard driving licence or utility bill). Vans need a permit.

  Engine oil limited to 5 litres per visit; the page lists no fuel. Free DIY waste allowance of 2 x 50 litre bags or 1 large item per household per week. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: bcpcouncil.gov.uk

• Poole Recycling Centre

  92 to 98 Nuffield Road, Poole, BH17 0RS

  Opening hours: April to September: daily 9am to 5pm. October to March: daily 9am to 4pm. Open on bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.

  Booking: No booking needed. Bring ID showing you live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole (Council Tax bill, photocard driving licence or utility bill). Cars use the right-hand entrance (2 metre height limit); vans with permits use the left-hand entrance.

  Free DIY waste allowance of 2 x 50 litre bags or 1 large item per household per week. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Where common items go in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

• Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Recycling bin (black, blue lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Crisp packetNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Black plastic ready-meal trayYes. Put it in your Recycling bin (black, blue lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Rubbish bin (black). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Recycling bin (black, blue lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Recycling bin (black, blue lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Recycling bin (black, blue lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Food waste bin (brown) and kitchen caddy. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Food waste bin (brown) and kitchen caddy. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Battery (not sure which type)Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Disposable vapeNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Small household applianceNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Garden waste bin (black, green lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Recycling bin (black, blue lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Recycling bin (black, blue lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Recycling bin (black, blue lid). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Rubbish bin (black). Source: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

Something else? Search any item and choose Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as your council.

Common questions

What goes in the recycling bin (black, blue lid) in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

240 litre bin. Paper, card, cartons, glass bottles and jars, tins and cans, aerosols, foil, and rigid plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, all clean, dry and loose. If your home can't take a wheelie bin you get purple recycling bags instead.

What goes in the rubbish bin (black) in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

180 litre bin, collected on the opposite week to recycling. Nappies, plastic bags and wrapping, polystyrene, tissues, pet waste, cold ashes and other things that can't be recycled. If your home can't take a wheelie bin you get blue rubbish bags instead.

What goes in the food waste bin (brown) and kitchen caddy in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

23 litre outdoor bin plus a 7 litre kitchen caddy. All cooked and uncooked food, including meat, fish, bones, dairy, bread, peelings, tea bags and coffee grounds. No packaging, liquids, oil or plastic bags.

What goes in the garden waste bin (black, green lid) in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

Paid-for 240 litre bin, GBP 73.50 a year per bin. Grass, hedge clippings, plants, weeds, leaves, twigs, branches, cut flowers and houseplants, loose. No soil, turf, plastic, food or wood.

When is my bin day in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?

It depends on your street. Enter your address in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's bin day lookup (bcpcouncil.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.