UK bin colours explained
UK bin colours vary between councils. The same colour bin can mean completely different things depending on where you live. Here is what each colour typically means and what goes in each one.
The main bin colours
What each bin colour means in the UK
There is no single UK-wide standard for bin colours. Each council chose its own colours when kerbside recycling was introduced, and many areas inherited different systems when councils merged. Always follow your own council's guidance, especially if you have moved from one area to another.
Important: your council's rules apply, not these general patterns
A green bin means recycling in some areas and garden waste in others. A blue bin can be paper and card in one borough and all dry recycling in the next. The information below covers the most common patterns, but you should always check what your own council accepts in each bin.
Black or grey bin
General household waste that cannot be recycled or composted. This is sometimes called residual waste or non-recyclable waste.
Common contents: nappies, polystyrene packaging, broken crockery, contaminated food packaging, crisp packets, soft plastics and anything that cannot go in other bins.
Most councils collect this fortnightly, though some areas still have weekly collections. The bin lid must close fully, and side waste left next to the bin is usually not collected.
Collection frequency: usually fortnightlyGreen bin
In most areas, green means mixed dry recycling: plastic bottles and tubs, glass bottles and jars, tins and cans, cardboard and paper. In some councils, particularly in Wales and parts of Scotland, green is used for garden waste instead.
If your green bin is for recycling, rinse containers before putting them in. If it is for garden waste, it typically accepts grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings and small branches, but not food waste, soil or stones.
Collection frequency: weekly or fortnightlyBlue bin
Blue bins are most commonly used for paper and cardboard where councils separate these from other recyclables. In some areas, blue is used for all dry mixed recycling, fulfilling the same role as a green bin in other councils.
Accepted items typically include newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, envelopes and office paper. Flatten cardboard boxes to save space. Shredded paper is not accepted by most councils because the small pieces cause problems at sorting facilities.
Collection frequency: usually fortnightlyBrown bin
Brown bins are almost universally used for garden waste, sometimes called organic waste or green waste. Many councils also accept food waste in the brown bin, while others provide a separate small food waste caddy for kitchen scraps.
Garden waste typically includes grass cuttings, leaves, weeds, hedge trimmings and small branches. Most councils do not accept soil, stones, treated or painted wood, or invasive plant species such as Japanese knotweed. Garden waste subscriptions are usually annual and many councils pause or reduce the service in winter.
Collection frequency: fortnightly, often paused in winterLess common colours
Other bin colours you might see
| Colour | Most common use | Councils using it |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow or orange | Dry mixed recycling or glass | Parts of Scotland and some London boroughs |
| Cream or gold | Food waste caddy | Various councils across England and Wales |
| Silver or white | Recyclables or general waste | Some Scottish councils |
| Purple | Glass or confidential paper | A small number of English councils |
| Red | Specialist waste or clinical waste | Very limited, usually request only |
Find out what your council collects and when
Enter your postcode and we will take you directly to your council's official bin day checker.
Find my bin dayCommon questions
UK bin colour questions
There has never been a national standard for bin colours in the UK. When councils introduced kerbside recycling in the 1990s and 2000s, each one chose its own colours independently. Many areas then had their council boundaries changed and inherited a mix of colours from predecessor councils. The result is a patchwork system where identical-looking bins mean different things depending on where you live.
Most councils will leave a contaminated bin uncollected and attach a notice explaining why. Contamination, where non-recyclable items are mixed with recyclables, is one of the biggest problems in kerbside recycling because a single wrong item can cause an entire lorry load to be sent to landfill rather than recycled. If your bin is left, remove the offending items and put the bin out again at your next scheduled collection.
No. Food waste should never go in your recycling bin because it contaminates the recyclable materials. If your council provides a food waste caddy or allows food waste in the brown bin, use that. Otherwise, food waste goes in the general waste bin. Many councils across England introduced separate food waste collections in 2026 following changes to national waste regulations.
Fortnightly recycling collection is standard across most of the UK. It became the norm as councils moved to alternate-week collections, where general waste and recycling are each picked up every two weeks, usually on different weeks. Some councils still offer weekly recycling collection, and a small number have three-weekly rounds for general waste.
Enter your new postcode on the BinDays homepage. We will identify your new council and take you to its bin day checker, where you can also find information about which items go in each bin. If you have moved to a different council area, the bin colours and accepted materials may be completely different from what you were used to.