Bins and recycling in Milton Keynes

Your bins in Milton Keynes

• Black wheelie bin

  Collected weekly Rubbish that can't be recycled, bagged first. Black sacks are used instead where a home has sacks.

• Red-lid recycling bin

  Collected every 2 weeks, alternating with the blue-lid bin Paper and cardboard, put in loose. Homes with sacks use a red recycling sack.

• Blue-lid recycling bin

  Collected every 2 weeks, alternating with the red-lid bin Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, cartons, cans, empty aerosols, clean foil, and glass bottles and jars, put in loose. Homes with sacks use a blue recycling sack.

• Green food and garden bin (or 23 litre caddy)

  Collected weekly All food waste and garden waste, including small branches up to 15 cm. The first green bin is free; a second or third bin is a paid yearly subscription.

• Yellow battery bag

  Collected collected when full, placed on top of the green bin Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D), laptop batteries and mobile phone batteries. No leaked batteries, vapes or car batteries.

Flat with shared bins: Flats with communal bins put all dry recycling in one pink-lid bin and rubbish in a black communal bin. All properties keep a weekly food waste collection.

Source: Milton Keynes City Council's website.

Bin days in Milton Keynes

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

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection is available. The first green bin is free; additional bins are £55 each for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, collected weekly; subscriptions don't renew automatically and renewals open in February 2027. (source)

Paid, points-based collection for furniture, carpets, white goods and TVs; they don't take hazardous waste, car batteries, tyres or sheet glass. Call 01908 252570. Book or check prices with Milton Keynes City Council.

Recycling centres for Milton Keynes

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

• Bleak Hall Recycling Centre

  Chesney Wold, Bleak Hall, Milton Keynes MK6 1NE

  Opening hours: 1 October to 31 March: 8.00am to 5.00pm; 1 April to 30 September: 7.00am to 7.00pm

  Booking: Booking required for every visit, free: book a 15-minute slot online or call 01908 252570, up to 7 days ahead. Bring the confirmation email and proof of address.

  Cars under 2 metres high only, max 3.5 tonnes. No tyres here. Only one fridge, freezer or other cooling appliance per household. Petrol up to 5 litres in a sealed approved container. No hot ashes. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: milton-keynes.gov.uk

• New Bradwell Recycling Centre

  Newport Road, New Bradwell, Milton Keynes MK13 0AH

  Opening hours: 1 October to 31 March: 8.00am to 5.00pm; 1 April to 30 September: 7.00am to 7.00pm

  Booking: Booking required for every visit, free: book a 15-minute slot online or call 01908 252570, up to 7 days ahead. Bring the confirmation email and proof of address.

  Cars, cars with a trailer and vans, all under 2 metres high; max 3.5 tonnes; no vans with trailers. The only site that takes securely wrapped asbestos (not from businesses). Only one fridge, freezer or other cooling appliance per household. Petrol up to 5 litres in a sealed approved container. No hot ashes. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: milton-keynes.gov.uk

• Newport Pagnell Recycling Centre

  North Crawley Road, Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes MK16 9HG

  Opening hours: 1 October to 31 March: 8.00am to 5.00pm; 1 April to 30 September: 7.00am to 7.00pm

  Booking: Booking required for every visit, free: book a 15-minute slot online or call 01908 252570, up to 7 days ahead. Bring the confirmation email and proof of address.

  Cars, cars with a trailer and vans under 2 metres high use the main entrance; taller vehicles and trade vehicles use the trade entrance; max 3.5 tonnes; no vans with trailers. Only one fridge, freezer or other cooling appliance per household. Petrol up to 5 litres in a sealed approved container. No hot ashes. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: milton-keynes.gov.uk

Where common items go in Milton Keynes

• Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Red-lid recycling bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Crisp packetThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black wheelie bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Black plastic ready-meal trayYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black wheelie bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Green food and garden bin (or 23 litre caddy). Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Green food and garden bin (or 23 litre caddy). Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Battery (not sure which type)Yes. Put it in your Yellow battery bag. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Disposable vapeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Green food and garden bin (or 23 litre caddy). Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Red-lid recycling bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Blue-lid recycling bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black wheelie bin. Source: Milton Keynes City Council

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

Common questions

What goes in the black wheelie bin in Milton Keynes?

Rubbish that can't be recycled, bagged first. Black sacks are used instead where a home has sacks.

What goes in the red-lid recycling bin in Milton Keynes?

Paper and cardboard, put in loose. Homes with sacks use a red recycling sack.

What goes in the blue-lid recycling bin in Milton Keynes?

Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, cartons, cans, empty aerosols, clean foil, and glass bottles and jars, put in loose. Homes with sacks use a blue recycling sack.

What goes in the green food and garden bin (or 23 litre caddy) in Milton Keynes?

All food waste and garden waste, including small branches up to 15 cm. The first green bin is free; a second or third bin is a paid yearly subscription.

What goes in the yellow battery bag in Milton Keynes?

Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D), laptop batteries and mobile phone batteries. No leaked batteries, vapes or car batteries.

When is my bin day in Milton Keynes?

It depends on your street. Enter your address in Milton Keynes City Council's bin day lookup (mycouncil.milton-keynes.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.