Bins and recycling in Fife
What goes in each of Fife's bins, and where to take the things they don't collect. This page uses Fife Council's own published information, checked 6 Oct 2026.
Recycle This is independent: it isn't run by Fife Council. If anything here differs from Fife Council's website, the council is right.
Your bins in Fife
Blue bin (general waste)
Green bin (cans and plastics)
Grey bin (paper and cardboard)
Brown bin (food and garden waste)
High-rise or medium-rise flat: Food waste for high-rise and medium-rise flats goes in a communal food bin by the building's front door: a secure metal frame holding a 140 or 240 litre bin with a small hatch, emptied and swapped for a clean one every week. It is being rolled out block by block, with a letter beforehand. The council's pages describe only the food service for flats, so the other bins below are the house bins and may differ in your block.
Source: Fife Council's website.
Bin days in Fife
Check your collection day with Fife 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 is available. No charge, permit or subscription is mentioned on the council's 'What goes in your household bins' page: the brown bin takes food and garden waste as part of the household bin service. (source)
Free bulky uplift for household items that are too big for your bin or can't be taken to a recycling centre. Book online. Book or check prices with Fife Council.
Recycling centres for Fife
Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.
Cowdenbeath Recycling Centre
Cuddyhouse Road, Cowdenbeath KY4 9PT
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
Booking: Cars need no booking. Vans and trailers (max 6x4ft) must book, 1 booking per 7 days.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. No bikes or upholstered furniture. Location from postcode centre.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Cupar Recycling Centre
Coal Road, Cupar KY15 5YQ
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Booking: All vehicles must book before visiting.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. Smaller site: paper and card, garden waste, wood, metal, fluorescent tubes, books, glass panes, mirrors, dried paint and general waste only. No glass bottles, electricals, batteries, vapes, gas bottles, oil, textiles or rubble. Location from postcode centre.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Dalgety Bay Recycling Centre
Ridge Way, Hillend Industrial Park, Dalgety Bay KY11 9JD
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Closed Friday.
Booking: All vehicles must book before visiting.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. No upholstered furniture.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Dunfermline Recycling Centre
Lochhead Landfill Site, north of Wellwood, Dunfermline KY12 0RX
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm. Open 7 days.
Booking: Cars need no booking. Vans and trailers (max 6x4ft) must book, 1 booking per 7 days.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. Engine oil temporarily not accepted. Has a donation drop-off point. Location from postcode centre.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Glenrothes Recycling Centre
Cable Road, Viewfield Industrial Estate, Glenrothes KY6 2SY
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Closed Wednesday.
Booking: Cars need no booking. Vans and trailers (max 6x4ft) must book, 1 booking per 7 days.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. Has a donation drop-off point.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Kirkcaldy Recycling Centre
Denburn Road, Kirkcaldy KY1 2HD
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Open 7 days.
Booking: Cars need no booking. Vans and trailers (max 6x4ft) must book, 1 booking per 7 days.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. Has a donation drop-off point. Accepted list, vehicle rules and hours re-read on the council's page on 2026-10-10 in a browser; summer hours are not shown there. Tyres, asbestos, chemicals, petrol and diesel, and paint with liquid in aren't accepted.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Ladybank Recycling Centre
Giffordtown, Ladybank KY15 7UL
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Open 7 days.
Booking: All vehicles must book before visiting.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. Location from postcode centre.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Lochgelly Recycling Centre
Cartmore Industrial Estate, Lochgelly KY5 8LL
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Booking: Cars need no booking. Vans and trailers (max 6x4ft) must book, 1 booking per 7 days.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Methil Recycling Centre
Steelworks Brae, Methil KY8 2HY
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Closed Thursday.
Booking: Cars need no booking. Vans and trailers (max 6x4ft) must book, 1 booking per 7 days.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. Location from postcode centre.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Pittenweem Recycling Centre
Charles Street, Pittenweem KY10 2QG
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
Booking: Cars need no booking. Vans and trailers (max 6x4ft) must book, 1 booking per 7 days.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. No bikes or books. Has a donation drop-off point. Location from postcode centre.
Source: fife.gov.uk
St Andrews Recycling Centre
Argyll Business Park, Largo Road, St Andrews KY16 8PJ
Opening hours: October to March: 9am to 5pm, closed 12:30pm to 1:15pm for lunch. Closed Tuesday and Friday.
Booking: Cars need no booking. Vans and trailers (max 6x4ft) must book, 1 booking per 7 days.
Fife residents only; bring ID or proof of address. Closed 25-26 December and 1-2 January. No bikes or upholstered furniture. Location from postcode centre.
Source: fife.gov.uk
Where common items go in Fife
- Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Grey bin (paper and cardboard). Source: Fife Council
- Plastic carrier bagYes. Put it in your Green bin (cans and plastics). Source: Fife Council
- Crisp packetYes. Put it in your Green bin (cans and plastics). Source: Fife Council
- Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Blue bin (general waste). Source: Fife Council
- Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Blue bin (general waste). Source: Fife Council
- Wine bottleNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Fife Council
- Glass jarNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Fife Council
- Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Green bin (cans and plastics). Source: Fife Council
- Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Brown bin (food and garden waste). Source: Fife Council
- Tea bagYes. Put it in your Brown bin (food and garden waste). Source: Fife Council
- ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Fife Council
- Battery (not sure which type)Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Fife Council
- Disposable vapeNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Fife Council
- Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Fife Council
- Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Fife Council
- Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Fife Council
- Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Brown bin (food and garden waste). Source: Fife Council
- Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Grey bin (paper and cardboard). Source: Fife Council
- Food cartonYes. Put it in your Green bin (cans and plastics). Source: Fife Council
- Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Green bin (cans and plastics). Source: Fife Council
- Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Blue bin (general waste). Source: Fife Council
Something else? Search any item and choose Fife as your council.
How Fife compares
- Weekly shop basket Collects 19 of 22 everyday packaging items from home. Joint 6th of 31 councils in Scotland. Not collected from home: Black plastic ready-meal tray, Glass jar, Wine bottle
- Recycling rate We haven't added the official figures for Scotland yet.
- Food waste Collected from home.
As of 24 Oct 2026. See all the council rankings.
Common questions
What goes in the blue bin (general waste) in Fife?
Only what can't be recycled: nappies, pet waste, tissues and kitchen roll, polystyrene, vacuum dust and broken items.
What goes in the green bin (cans and plastics) in Fife?
Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, food and drink cartons, cans, foil, metal lids, empty aerosols, and plastic bags and wrapping including crisp packets, pouches, cling film and bread bags.
What goes in the grey bin (paper and cardboard) in Fife?
Clean, dry paper, newspapers, magazines, envelopes, greeting cards and cardboard. No cartons or food-soiled card.
What goes in the brown bin (food and garden waste) in Fife?
All food waste including meat and bones, peelings, tea bags and coffee grounds, plus grass, leaves, plants and small branches. Not provided to rural homes.
When is my bin day in Fife?
It depends on your street. Enter your address in Fife Council's bin day lookup (fife.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.