Use the address calendar before you trust any North Lincs bin date
North Lincolnshire moved to the 2026 Simply Recycling setup, so old 2025 dates, sample maps and random WK1/WK2 PDFs can put the wrong bin out.
This guide explains the official address checker, 2026/27 calendar PDFs, September and March date searches, 7am set-out, missed-bin reports, new burgundy bins, weekly brown bins, bulky items, HRC permits and contact routes.
Quick answer: North Lincs bin collection dates 2026
Use North Lincolnshire Council’s official address checker to see your next bin collections. It shows address-specific dates, usually for the next two months, and can provide a downloadable or printable calendar for your postcode.
I need my next bin date
- Open North Lincolnshire’s official bin and box collection dates page.
- Enter your postcode or address.
- Choose the exact property, not only the village or street.
- On mobile, tap the address twice if the list does not open.
- Check the next two months and download the calendar only if it matches your address.
My bin was not emptied
- Wait until after 4pm on collection day.
- Check the bin was out by 7am.
- Check whether your neighbours either side were emptied.
- Look for a red, orange or blue tag.
- Report only if the council appears to have missed a correctly presented bin.
I need September or March dates
- Do not copy September 2026 or March 2027 dates from a sample PDF.
- Find your address calendar first.
- Confirm whether your route is WK1 or WK2.
- Then check the September 2026 or March 2027 row on that exact calendar.
I need phone or email help
- Use online forms first where possible.
- Call 01724 297000 for Customer Contact Centre help.
- Email customerservice@northlincs.gov.uk if you need a written record.
- Include address, bin type, date and any tag colour or report reference.
Choose your North Lincolnshire bin issue
This helper does not check live council records. It tells you the safest official route and the mistake to avoid before reporting, calling or using a PDF date.
How to check your address calendar correctly
North Lincolnshire’s official checker is the safest route because collection days can vary by exact address, collection round, flats/maisonettes, black-sack arrangements and bank holiday changes.
Start with the council checker
Use the official “bin and box collection dates” page or the council’s local information bin lookup. Avoid starting with a search-engine PDF because it may not match your route.
Check the property is in North Lincolnshire
The official page asks users to ensure the property is within the North Lincolnshire boundary. Border-area addresses can easily lead to the wrong council page.
Tap twice on mobile if needed
If you use a phone and the address list does not show collections, tap the selected address again. The official checker notes this mobile behaviour.
Look for asterisks on bank holiday weeks
Bank holiday weeks can change collection dates. The council marks those weeks with an asterisk on the list of collection dates.
Print through a Community Hub or Library if needed
If you need a paper calendar, the council says Community Hub or Library staff can print the collection calendar for your postcode.
2026/27 calendar PDF guide: WK1, WK2, September and March
North Lincolnshire calendar PDFs run from April 2026 to March 2027 and are route-based. The weekday alone is not enough; you must also match the week pattern, such as WK1 or WK2.
| PDF detail | What it means | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| “Your collection day from 6 April 2026” | The calendar begins with the new April 2026 collection system. | Using 2025 dates after the Simply Recycling change. |
| WK1 or WK2 label | The route week pattern decides which fortnightly dates apply. | Using a Tuesday PDF just because your collection day is Tuesday. |
| Burgundy & brown bin | That marker means dry recycling and brown food/garden waste are collected on that date. | Putting the general waste bin out on a burgundy-recycling date. |
| Green/grey & brown bin | That marker means general waste plus brown food/garden waste are collected. | Assuming the brown bin is fortnightly; under the 2026 system it is weekly. |
| September 2026 | September dates exist on each route calendar but differ by WK1/WK2 and weekday. | Copying September dates from an example PDF that is not your address route. |
| March 2027 | The 2026/27 calendar continues into March 2027. | Thinking “2026 calendar” stops in December 2026. |
April 2026 Simply Recycling changes
North Lincolnshire’s 2026 system is different from older collection calendars. The change makes dry recycling simpler and moves food waste into the brown bin.
New burgundy recycling bin
The new 240L burgundy bin is for all clean, dry recycling: paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, cans and cartons in one container.
Brown bin now includes food waste
The brown bin is for garden waste and food waste. Under the new system it is emptied weekly and remains free of charge.
General waste remains fortnightly
The grey or green general waste bin is for non-recyclable household waste and remains on a fortnightly collection pattern for most households.
Calendar through the post
The council said residents would receive a leaflet and confirmed collection calendar before the April 2026 change, with updated dates available online.
Put bins out correctly by 7am
Most avoidable missed-bin problems start with timing, placement, overfilling or contamination. Use this checklist before collection day.
- Put domestic bins out by 7am on the correct collection day.
- Place bins at the edge of the property where it meets the pavement.
- Take bins back into the property after emptying.
- Do not leave bins on the highway or pavement after collection.
- Keep lids flat and closed; raised lids can trigger a blue tag.
- Do not compact waste so tightly that it will not fall out.
- Do not put excess side waste beside any bin.
- Check bank holiday weeks carefully because collection dates may vary.
- Commercial containers should be presented by 6am at the edge of the business premises.
Missed bin: report after 4pm only when it is truly missed
North Lincolnshire says domestic bins should not normally be reported as missed until after 4pm on collection day, because crews may still be working.
| Check first | Why it matters | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Correct address calendar | Your day may have changed in April 2026 or during a bank holiday week. | Recheck the official address checker before reporting. |
| Time of day | Domestic missed bins should not be reported before 4pm. | Wait until after 4pm unless adjacent neighbours either side have already been collected. |
| Set-out time | Bins must be out by 7am. | If it was late, wait for the next scheduled collection. |
| Tag colour | A tag usually means the bin was left for a reason. | Fix the problem and wait for the next scheduled collection if a tag explains the issue. |
| Side waste | Council policy is not to collect excess waste beside bins. | Take extra waste to a Household Recycling Centre where appropriate. |
| Crew records | The council checks in-cab records, crew reports and tracking before deciding. | Give clear details: address, bin type, date, set-out time and tag status. |
Red, orange and blue bin tags explained
A tag is not just a warning sticker. It tells you why the crew did or may not empty the bin, and it affects whether a missed-bin report is likely to succeed.
| Tag colour | What it usually means | What to do before next collection |
|---|---|---|
| Red tag | Wrong items were put in the recycling bin and the recycling was not collected. | Remove the wrong items. The bin should be emptied on the next scheduled collection after correction. |
| Orange tag | Some wrong items were found. The bin may have been emptied this time, but may not be emptied in future if it happens again. | Sort out the problem immediately and check the official household recycling list. |
| Blue tag | The bin was unsafe to empty because of raised lid, too-heavy bin, damaged container, compacted contents or frozen contents. | Make the bin safe: close the lid, reduce weight, loosen contents or request a replacement if damaged. |
Which North Lincolnshire bin should you use?
The 2026 system is simpler, but wrong items still contaminate collections. Use this quick table before putting waste out.
| Bin or route | Use it for | Keep out |
|---|---|---|
| Burgundy bin | Clean, dry paper, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, greetings card, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, cartons, tins, cans, empty aerosols, clean foil, glass bottles, glass jars, perfume bottles, plastic film and plastic bags. | General waste, electrical items, batteries, vapes, food waste, nappies, textiles, laminated pouches, hard plastic toys, plant pots, polystyrene, Pyrex, plates and drinking glasses. |
| Brown bin | Garden waste and food waste including plate scrapings, tea bags, coffee grounds, mouldy food, meat, fish, bones, dairy, eggs, rice, pasta, bread, cakes, fruit and vegetable peelings. | Food packaging, nappies, non-food products, animal bedding, animal faeces and anything that is not suitable food or garden waste. |
| Grey/green general waste bin | Non-recyclable household waste that cannot go in the burgundy or brown bin. | Dry recycling, food waste, garden waste, batteries, vapes, electricals, medical sharps, asbestos, commercial waste and rubble. |
| Weekly black-sack properties | Some flats and maisonettes have weekly black-sack collections. | Do not assume a nearby wheelie-bin calendar applies to your flat or maisonette. |
| Household Recycling Centres | Excess recycling, large electricals, suitable DIY waste, bulky items, rubble within limits and special routes such as asbestos at Scunthorpe where eligible. | Business waste unless using a commercial route, unpermitted van/trailer loads, and items outside site rules. |
New burgundy bin: delivery, missing bin and extra recycling
The new 240L burgundy bin is central to North Lincolnshire’s 2026 collection system. It replaces the older smaller burgundy bin and kerbside box sorting for most homes.
If your bin was not delivered
If your neighbours have received their new 240L burgundy bin and yours appears to have been missed, contact the Customer Contact Centre on 01724 297000.
If your old bin was collected first
The council said changes were carried out in stages. If the small bin was recovered and the larger burgundy bin has not arrived, report it so delivery can be arranged later.
If recycling will not fit
Flatten cardboard, squash plastic bottles and cans, and keep material loose. Occasional extra recycling can be taken to a Household Recycling Centre or Community Recycling Centre.
If you live in flats
Flats and apartments can have building-specific arrangements depending on layout. Use your address checker and any council letter for your building.
Brown bin: weekly food and garden waste
From the April 2026 system, North Lincolnshire’s brown bin is for both food waste and garden waste, and it is collected weekly at no extra charge.
Food waste accepted
Use it for plate scrapings, tea bags, coffee grounds, mouldy food, raw and cooked meat and fish including bones, dairy, eggshells, rice, pasta, bread, cakes, pastries, fruit and vegetable peelings.
Garden waste accepted
Use it for normal household garden waste that fits in the brown bin. Keep it loose enough for the bin to empty safely.
Packaging causes problems
Remove every wrapper, tray, bag, pot, film and package before adding food waste. Packaging contaminates the process.
Animal bedding and faeces
Do not put animal bedding or faeces in the brown bin. Small amounts can go in the general bin; up to one bag can be taken to a Household Recycling Centre once a week.
Bulky items, assisted collections, medical waste and needles
Some waste should never be left beside the bin. Use the bulky, assisted or medical route instead of trying to force items into household bins.
One free bulky collection
Each residential property can have one free bulky collection of up to three items per rolling 12-month period.
Bulky set-out rule
Booked bulky items must be ready outside the property at ground level by 7am on the chosen date, accessible from the footpath or road.
Accepted bulky examples
Examples include chairs, beds, bicycles, rolled and tied carpets, cookers, empty fridges/freezers, mattresses, settees, televisions and washing machines.
Not collected as bulky
Examples include asbestos, bathroom suites, boilers, car or motorbike parts, construction waste, demolition waste, excess household waste, garden waste, glass, kitchen units, radiators, sheds and fences.
Assisted collection route
- Use this if you cannot present bins for emptying.
- No other able-bodied person should be in the household.
- Eligibility can include blue badge, disability registration, medical condition, infirmity, temporary injury or pregnancy.
- The council collects and returns containers to the usual outside storage point.
Medical and sharps route
- Hazardous medical waste is arranged free via your NHS contact.
- Sharps containers are available through your doctor or district nurse.
- Do not put needles or syringes in household bins.
- If you find a needle on public land, do not touch it; report the exact location.
When to use a Household Recycling Centre instead of a bin
Use a Household Recycling Centre when the item is not suitable for household bins, is too large, is excess material, or needs a special waste route.
| Waste or vehicle | Official route | Practical warning |
|---|---|---|
| Excess side waste | Take suitable extra waste or recycling to a Household Recycling Centre or Community Recycling Centre. | The council says excess waste beside bins is not collected under any circumstances. |
| Electrical items | Recycle at Household Recycling Centres and some Community Recycling Centres. | Do not hide electrical items, batteries or vapes inside ordinary bins. |
| Asbestos | Only accepted through the authorised Scunthorpe Household Recycling Centre route. | Use council bags and authorisation; do not break, cut or mix asbestos with normal waste. |
| Plasterboard | Only accepted at Scunthorpe Household Recycling Centre. | Check current charges and limits before travelling. |
| Soil, rubble, ceramics and hardcore | Accepted only at certain Household Recycling Centres. | Charges and weekly household limits can apply. |
| Commercial-type vehicle or large trailer | Apply for a free permit before visiting a Household Recycling Centre. | Household Recycling Centres are for domestic waste, not business waste. |
North Lincs council bin collection phone number and contact route
Use the website tools first for collection dates, missed bins, bulky collections and bin requests. Use phone or email when the web route is inaccessible or does not cover your issue.
| Need | Best route | Details to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | Customer Contact Centre: 01724 297000. | Address, postcode, collection date, bin type and report/reference number. |
| customerservice@northlincs.gov.uk. | Use a clear subject, such as “Missed burgundy bin collection” or “Address calendar not loading.” | |
| New burgundy bin missing | Call 01724 297000 if neighbours have received theirs and yours appears missed. | Address, whether old bin was collected, and whether neighbours on your round received the new bin. |
| Commercial collection | Use the commercial collection-date and missed commercial collection route. | Business address, container type, contract/customer details and collection date. |
Official North Lincolnshire links for final action
Use this guide to understand the process. Use the official links below for live calendars, reports, bulky bookings, bin requests, permits and final council decisions.
Use for address-specific dates, next two months, bank holiday markers and downloadable or printable calendars.
Use when you want the official property-based bin lookup directly.
Use for new burgundy bins, weekly brown-bin collection, dry recycling rules and rollout questions.
Use for missed bins, replacement bins, contents, larger bins and what can go in each container.
Use for side waste, red/orange/blue tags, heavy bins, raised lids, animal waste and rinse rules.
Use for bulky bookings, assisted collections, medical waste, sharps and needles.
Use before visiting with asbestos, rubble, plasterboard, vans, large trailers, tyres or unusual waste.
Use when online tools do not solve the issue or you need the correct council contact route.
North Lincolnshire bin collection FAQs
How do I check North Lincs council bin collection dates for 2026?
Is there a North Lincs bin collection dates 2026 map?
Can I use a 2025 North Lincolnshire bin calendar in 2026?
How do I check September 2026 or March 2027 dates?
What time should North Lincolnshire bins be put out?
When can I report a missed bin in North Lincolnshire?
What is the North Lincs council bin collection phone number?
What goes in the new burgundy bin?
Is the brown bin collected weekly in North Lincolnshire?
What do red, orange and blue bin tags mean?
Information checked and update note
Information was refreshed on 10 August 2026 using official North Lincolnshire Council collection-date, Simply Recycling, waste-bin, FAQ, bulky/assisted/medical, contact, commercial collection, Household Recycling Centre and 2026/27 calendar PDF sources. Collection dates, route calendars, PDF links, fees, permits and service rules can change, so use the official links above for final action.