Bins and recycling in South Lanarkshire
What goes in each of South Lanarkshire's bins, and where to take the things they don't collect. This page uses South Lanarkshire Council's own published information, checked 10 Oct 2026.
Recycle This is independent: it isn't run by South Lanarkshire Council. If anything here differs from South Lanarkshire Council's website, the council is right.
Your bins in South Lanarkshire
Black or green bin (general waste)
Blue bin (paper and card)
Light grey bin (glass, cans and plastics)
Burgundy bin (food, and garden waste with a permit)
Source: South Lanarkshire Council's website.
Bin days in South Lanarkshire
Check your collection day with South Lanarkshire 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: £46.49 a year. £46.49 for the permit year 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. (source)
The council arranges bulk uplifts; the pages we read give no price or booking steps, so check the uplifts page. Book or check prices with South Lanarkshire Council.
Recycling centres for South Lanarkshire
Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.
Cambuslang and Rutherglen Waste and Recycling Centre
Cambuslang Road, Rutherglen, G72 7DB
Opening hours: April to September: Mon to Fri 8am to 7pm, Sat 8am to 6pm, Sun 8am to 5pm. October to March: every day 8am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.
Booking: Booking required for every vehicle: 0303 123 1020 or the council booking system. Residents only, bring proof of address.
Not accepting gas bottles for now (the council page says no storage space on site; still shown on 12 October 2026). Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Carluke Household Waste and Recycling Centre
Craignethan Road, Castlehill Industrial Estate, Carluke, ML8 5WB
Opening hours: April to September: Mon to Fri 8am to 8pm (closed 12.30pm to 1pm and 5pm to 5.30pm), Sat and Sun 8am to 5pm (closed 12.30pm to 1pm), public holidays 8am to 5pm. October to March: Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm (closed 12.30pm to 1pm), Sat and Sun 8am to 4pm (closed 12.30pm to 1pm). Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Booking: Booking required for every vehicle: 0303 123 1020 or the council booking system. Residents only, bring proof of address.
No glass or motor oil skips, and no paper or can skips listed. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: southlanarkshire.gov.uk
East Kilbride Waste and Recycling Centre
Peel Park Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, G74 5LW
Opening hours: April to September: Mon to Fri 8am to 7pm, Sat 8am to 6pm, Sun 8am to 5pm. October to March: every day 8am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.
Booking: Booking required for every vehicle: 0303 123 1020 or the council booking system. Residents only, bring proof of address.
Only council site licensed for asbestos sheet. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Hamilton and Blantyre Waste and Recycling Centre
East Avenue, Blantyre Industrial Estate, Blantyre, G72 0JB
Opening hours: April to September: Mon to Fri 8am to 7pm, Sat 8am to 6pm, Sun 8am to 5pm. October to March: every day 8am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.
Booking: Booking required for every vehicle: 0303 123 1020 or the council booking system. Residents only, bring proof of address.
Not accepting gas bottles for now (the council page says no storage space on site; still shown on 12 October 2026). Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Larkhall Waste and Recycling Centre
Strutherhill Industrial Estate, Middleton Avenue, Larkhall, ML9 2TL
Opening hours: April to September: Mon to Fri 8am to 7pm, Sat 8am to 6pm, Sun 8am to 5pm. October to March: every day 8am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.
Booking: Booking required for every vehicle: 0303 123 1020 or the council booking system. Residents only, bring proof of address.
Small site: no paint tins (liquid or hardened), mattresses, couches or upholstered seating. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Strathaven Waste and Recycling Centre
Hamilton Road Industrial Estate, Strathaven, ML10 6UB
Opening hours: April to September: Mon to Fri 8am to 7pm, Sat 8am to 6pm, Sun 8am to 5pm. October to March: every day 8am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.
Booking: Booking required for every vehicle: 0303 123 1020 or the council booking system. Residents only, bring proof of address.
Small site: no paint tins (liquid or hardened), mattresses, couches or upholstered seating. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Where common items go in South Lanarkshire
- Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Blue bin (paper and card). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Plastic carrier bagThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black or green bin (general waste). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Crisp packetThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black or green bin (general waste). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Black plastic ready-meal trayYes. Put it in your Light grey bin (glass, cans and plastics). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black or green bin (general waste). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Light grey bin (glass, cans and plastics). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Glass jarYes. Put it in your Light grey bin (glass, cans and plastics). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Light grey bin (glass, cans and plastics). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Burgundy bin (food, and garden waste with a permit). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Tea bagYes. Put it in your Burgundy bin (food, and garden waste with a permit). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Battery (not sure which type)Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Disposable vapeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: Scotland-wide guidance
- Small household applianceNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Paint tinThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black or green bin (general waste). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Real Christmas treeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Blue bin (paper and card). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Food cartonThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black or green bin (general waste). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Light grey bin (glass, cans and plastics). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
- Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black or green bin (general waste). Source: South Lanarkshire Council
Something else? Search any item and choose South Lanarkshire as your council.
How South Lanarkshire compares
- Weekly shop basket Collects 19 of 22 everyday packaging items from home. Joint 6th of 31 councils in Scotland. Not collected from home: Drinks carton, Crisp packet, Bread bag
- Recycling rate We haven't added the official figures for Scotland yet.
- Food waste Collected from home every two weeks.
As of 24 Oct 2026. See all the council rankings.
Common questions
What goes in the black or green bin (general waste) in South Lanarkshire?
Waste that cannot be recycled: plastic bags, dirty food packaging, crisp and sweet wrappers, polystyrene, polythene, drinks cartons, cooled and sealed cooking oil, solid paint tins, pet bedding and vacuum cleaner contents. One bin per household, lid fully closed. No batteries or gas bottles.
What goes in the blue bin (paper and card) in South Lanarkshire?
Clean, dry paper and card: newspapers, magazines, leaflets, office paper, envelopes, shredded paper, cereal boxes, corrugated card, tubes, egg boxes. No tissues, wallpaper, padded envelopes, wet card, cartons, or pizza boxes with food or grease.
What goes in the light grey bin (glass, cans and plastics) in South Lanarkshire?
Glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, aerosols, clean foil, plastic bottles, and clean pots, tubs and trays (black trays too). No plastic bags or film, polystyrene, toothpaste tubes, hard plastics, cutlery, batteries or gas bottles.
What goes in the burgundy bin (food, and garden waste with a permit) in South Lanarkshire?
All cooked and raw food waste, using compostable liners in the kitchen caddy. With a paid garden waste permit: grass and hedge clippings, flowers, plants, weeds, leaves, small branches. No liquids, oils, soil, turf, glass, pet waste or plastic bags.
When is my bin day in South Lanarkshire?
It depends on your street. Enter your address in South Lanarkshire Council's bin day lookup (southlanarkshire.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.