Privacy settings

Missed bins

Please manage your household waste and recycling correctly

Our crews are using technology which enables them to make a record of bins which haven’t been left out for collection as well as those which contain items that shouldn’t be there.

Your grey landfill wheelie bin will not be collected if:

  • It is not at the kerbside (or collection point) before 7am on your collection day. The collection crew make a record of all bins not presented for collection and will not return until your next scheduled collection.
  • It contains something that it shouldn’t.  See our at-a-glance guide to what goes where for more information and remove any stray items before we come to collect your boxes on your next scheduled collection day.
  • It is too heavy to be lifted safely by the wagon - if your wheelie bin contains the few household items that cannot be recycled, it should not be too heavy. Placing rubble or soil in your wheelie bin will mean it won’t be collected.  Remove it before your next collection day.

Extra waste (side waste)

  • We do not take non-recyclable side waste.  With the vast majority of household waste now being recycled, there should be plenty of room in your wheelie bin for non-recyclable waste. Please take this waste to your nearest HWRC.
  • Unless your property qualifies for an additional grey bin, the crew will only empty one grey bin per property.

Your recycling containers will not be collected if:

  • They are not at the kerbside (or collection point) before 7am on your collection day. The collection crew make a record of all bins not presented for collection and will not return until your next scheduled collection.
  • It contains something that it shouldn’t or been badly sorted.  See our at-a-glance guide to what goes where for more information and remove any stray items before we come to collect your boxes on your next scheduled collection day.

Extra recycling waste

  • Separate as instructed and placed in a container or carrier bag (not black bin bags) at the side of your recycling boxes. Glass should be placed in the boxes provided.  Glass placed in bags will not be taken.

Garden waste

Please note that green bin collection is now a subscription-only service 

Your garden waste wheelie bin will not be collected if:

  • You have not subscribed to the garden waste collection service.
  • It is not at the kerbside (or collection point) before 7am on your collection day.  The collection crew make a record of all bins not presented for collection and will not return until your next scheduled collection.

Additional green waste

We do not collect any garden waste other than what is in the bin.

Before reporting a missed bin

If any of the above reasons for non-collection apply to you

We will not return to any missed bins before the next scheduled collection day and bins should be returned to properties until then.

If none of the above reasons for non-collection apply to you and before you report it as a missed collection

You should leave your bin out until the end of the day to give us chance to collect it.  The reason may be due to a vehicle breakdown, blocked roads or severe weather. In these cases, we will endeavour to return to your property as soon as possible.  

If we haven’t returned by 6pm that day, you should report it as a missed bin and we will aim to return for your bin(s) within 3 working days.

Last updated: 10 March 2023

Lancaster City Council logogram

Cookies policy

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some of these cookies are essential, while others help us to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.

Review your privacy settings