Bins and recycling in Coventry
What goes in each of Coventry's bins, and where to take the things they don't collect. This page uses Coventry City Council's own published information, checked 10 Oct 2026.
Recycle This is independent: it isn't run by Coventry City Council. If anything here differs from Coventry City Council's website, the council is right.
Your bins in Coventry
Blue-lidded recycling bin
Green-lidded rubbish bin
Brown-lidded garden waste bin
Food waste bin
Source: Coventry City Council's website.
Bin days in Coventry
Check your collection day with Coventry City 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
Garden waste collection: £40 a year. £40 per bin for new permits running 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027 (price unchanged). (source)
Paid collection by Emmaus: 21.25 pounds for up to 5 items, then 4 pounds each for up to 5 more (maximum 10). Discounted rates apply for pensioners and people on certain benefits. Book online through My Account or by phone on 08085 834333. Book or check prices with Coventry City Council.
Recycling centres for Coventry
Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.
Coventry Household Recycling and Reuse Centre (the tip)
Bar Road off London Road, Coventry, CV3 4AN
Opening hours: Open 7 days a week by booked appointment slot. Open on all bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Slot times are not given on the council pages.
Booking: Booking essential, no entry without it. Book through My Account or phone Customer Services on 08085 834333 (not the tip itself). You need your address, the vehicle registration and what you are bringing, plus proof of Coventry address (council tax bill or driving licence). Cars, small vans, 4x4s and cars with trailers only.
Map position is the postcode centre. Free for Coventry residents; no trade waste. Up to 6 bags of 25kg of DIY soil and rubble per day, up to 4 car tyres or 2 motorcycle tyres, and no electric vehicle batteries. Asbestos by booking only, within set limits.
Source: coventry.gov.uk
Where common items go in Coventry
- Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Coventry City Council
- Crisp packetThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Green-lidded rubbish bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Green-lidded rubbish bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Green-lidded rubbish bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Glass jarYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Food waste bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Tea bagYes. Put it in your Food waste bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Coventry City Council
- Battery (not sure which type)Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Coventry City Council
- Disposable vapeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Coventry City Council
- Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Coventry City Council
- Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Coventry City Council
- Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Coventry City Council
- Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Brown-lidded garden waste bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Food cartonYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: Coventry City Council
- Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Green-lidded rubbish bin. Source: Coventry City Council
Something else? Search any item and choose Coventry as your council.
How Coventry compares
- Weekly shop basket Collects 19 of 22 everyday packaging items from home. Joint 100th of 279 councils in England. Not collected from home: Black plastic ready-meal tray, Crisp packet, Bread bag
- Recycling rate 32.0% of household waste was reused, recycled or composted in 2024-25 (Defra). 72nd of 97 councils that collect waste and run the tips in England.
- Food waste Collected from home every week.
As of 24 Oct 2026. See all the council rankings.
Common questions
What goes in the blue-lidded recycling bin in Coventry?
Paper and card, glass bottles and jars, cans, foil, aerosols, drinks cartons, plastic bottles, and plastic food pots, tubs and trays. No plastic bags or film.
What goes in the green-lidded rubbish bin in Coventry?
Everything that can't be reused, recycled or composted, such as nappies, broken ceramics, drinking glasses and small amounts of bagged polystyrene.
What goes in the brown-lidded garden waste bin in Coventry?
Grass, hedge clippings, leaves, flowers, ordinary weeds (not invasive weeds such as Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed or Himalayan balsam), straw and hay, small twigs and branches. Paid subscription of 40 pounds per bin; no food waste.
What goes in the food waste bin in Coventry?
All cooked and uncooked food, plate scrapings, bones, eggshells, teabags and coffee grounds. No packaging, liquids, oil, flowers or pet waste. Compostable liners, newspaper or paper bags are fine.
When is my bin day in Coventry?
It depends on your street. Enter your address in Coventry City Council's bin day lookup (myaccount.coventry.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.