Cornwall Waste Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins, Bulky & Recycling
Find your Cornwall Council bin day, understand the weekly food-waste and alternating fortnightly collections, sort every coloured recycling bag correctly, report a genuine missed collection, compare garden-waste subscriptions, estimate bulky-waste costs and plan a visit to one of Cornwall’s 14 household recycling centres.
How to check Cornwall Council bin collection days
Open Cornwall Council’s My Area page, enter your postcode, select the exact address and choose “View my area”.
Your property result shows the next food-waste, recycling, rubbish and subscribed garden-waste dates, with a downloadable calendar.
Getting started with Cornwall food-waste recycling
This short guide explains how to use the indoor caddy and green outdoor food-waste container.
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Set up your Cornwall waste collection routine
Complete these steps once for the exact property. They prevent wrong-week collections, rejected bags, loose coastal litter and unnecessary missed-collection reports.
Search your postcode and select the property
Use My Area rather than a general Cornwall calendar. Record the normal collection day and the next dates shown.
Check the official property calendarIdentify recycling week and rubbish week
Recycling and rubbish are both fortnightly, but they are collected on opposite weeks. Food waste is collected every week.
See the current service patternSort recycling into the correct colours
Use orange for cardboard, red for plastics, cartons and metals, blue for paper, and the black box for glass and textiles.
Check the official colour guideSecure containers before 7am
Close recycling-bag lids, latch the food caddy and fully close the rubbish bin or protective sack. Use the normal property-boundary collection point.
Read rubbish presentation rulesWait until 6pm before reporting a miss
Cornwall collection rounds operate until 6pm. Different crews may collect rubbish and food waste at different times.
Open missed-collection guidanceWeekly food waste and alternating fortnightly collections
The same collection point is normally used for each service, but different vehicles and crews may arrive separately.
| Service | Frequency | Container | Important rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food waste | Every week | Green outdoor food caddy | Close the lid and pull the handle forward to latch it. |
| Household recycling | Every two weeks | Orange, red and blue bags plus black box | Separate materials correctly and close bag lids. |
| Household rubbish | Every two weeks, opposite recycling | Council wheelie bin or protective sack | All rubbish must fit inside with the lid fully closed. |
| Garden waste | Every two weeks with subscription | Paid Cornwall Council brown bin or reusable bag | Each container needs its own active subscription. |
| Clinical waste | Weekly or one-off after registration | Approved clinical bag or sharps bin | Infectious and sharps waste must remain separate from rubbish. |
Collection crew tip: one container being emptied does not mean another has been missed. Keep every due container outside until the working day ends.
Save your next Cornwall bin day
Check My Area first, then save a reminder here. It stays in this browser and is not sent to Cornwall Council.
My next collection
Collection-night checklist
No collection saved. Check My Area and enter the confirmed date.
What goes in each Cornwall recycling container?
Cornwall keeps different materials separate. Using the wrong colour can result in recycling being left behind.
Orange bag: cardboard
Brown and white cardboard, coloured paper, non-shiny wrapping paper, greetings cards and brown envelopes.
Red bag: plastic, cartons and metal
Cans, tins, aerosols, foil, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, tubes, cartons, plastic bags, film, wrapping and crisp packets.
Blue bag: paper
Newspapers, magazines, brochures, junk mail, white envelopes, bills and tied-bag shredded paper.
Black box: glass and textiles
Glass bottles and jars, plus clean dry clothes, shoes, towels, sheets, pillowcases, belts and bags.
| Common mistake | Correct Cornwall route | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Drink carton in orange bag | Put cartons in the red bag. | Empty, rinse, squash and replace the lid. |
| Brown envelope in blue bag | Put brown envelopes in the orange bag. | Remove plastic padding or excessive tape. |
| Plastic film left loose | Tie film and wrapping inside a carrier or bread bag. | Put a small tied bag inside the red bag. |
| Shredded paper loose | Place it in a tied carrier bag inside the blue bag. | Secure it so it cannot blow away. |
| Broken glass in black box | Wrap securely, label it and place it on the rubbish bin or sack. | Use a strong container such as an ice-cream tub. |
| Duvet or pillow in black box | Use an HWRC, reuse route or bulky service where appropriate. | Only clean dry accepted textiles go in the black box. |
Extra recycling is allowed: flatten and tie extra cardboard; use carrier bags for extra paper or plastics, cans and tins; place them securely beside the normal recycling containers.
Which bag, caddy or service should I use?
Choose an item
Result: Select an item first.
Fast sorting rule
- Cardboard: orange bag.
- Paper: blue bag.
- Plastic, cartons and metal: red bag.
- Glass and accepted textiles: black box.
- Food: green outdoor caddy.
- Electrical, bulky, DIY or hazardous waste: separate service or HWRC.
Wait, correct the problem or report it?
Cornwall Council checks vehicle tracking and vehicle CCTV after a report. A strong report confirms the waste was correct, visible and ready by 7am.
| Check first | What it means | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Is it before 6pm? | The collection round may still be operating. | Wait until the working day ends. |
| Is it the correct week? | Recycling and rubbish are collected on alternating weeks. | Confirm the exact date in My Area. |
| Was it out by 7am? | Vehicle data may show the crew passed before presentation. | Prepare earlier on the next collection. |
| Was the right container used? | Wrong-colour recycling or rubbish in a garden bin may be left. | Resort or re-present it correctly next time. |
| Was rubbish fully contained? | Extra sacks and open lids are not collected. | Remove excess and close the supplied container. |
| Was the rest of the street missed? | The round may be running late. | Wait until after 6pm before reporting. |
Missed-collection diagnosis
Result: Select the closest situation.
What happens after a valid report?
- Vehicle tracking and CCTV are checked.
- Weekday reports can lead to a return by 6pm the next day.
- Weekend reports can lead to a return by 6pm on Monday.
- Keep the waste outside until the stated return time.
- Do not submit the same report again.
- Use the 12-digit reference starting 10100 to request an update.
Wheelie bins, protective sacks and extra rubbish
The normal fortnightly household-rubbish limit is 180 litres. Only rubbish inside the council-provided wheelie bin or protective sack is collected.
Wheelie bin homes
Bag rubbish before putting it inside. The lid must close fully and the container must not be too heavy to move or lift safely.
Protective sack homes
Some properties receive a reusable sack because of limited storage, steps or access by a smaller collection vehicle.
Occasional extra rubbish
Extra bags beside or on top of the container are not collected. Use an HWRC for temporary excess household rubbish.
Exceptional household need
Households using food-waste and recycling services can ask Cornwall Council to review the rubbish limit and apply for a temporary extra container.
Property-specific Cornwall waste guidance
Flats and shared bins
Communal containers may differ from household bags and boxes. Use any suitable indoor food caddy and empty it into the shared outdoor food-waste bin.
Students and HMOs
Label the bin store with orange, red, blue and black-box rules. Ask the landlord or building manager who presents shared bins and reports misses.
Rural lanes and farms
Use the normal agreed collection point. Keep gates, tracks and turning areas safe and accessible for the correct collection vehicle.
Assisted collections
Apply if mobility, disability or a health condition means no household member aged 13 or over can move waste to the boundary.
New-build properties
Request food, recycling and rubbish containers if you are the first resident or the property has recently changed to Council Tax registration.
Self-catering holiday lets
Holiday-let and business waste is not eligible for household collections. Arrange a licensed commercial-waste service.
Food-caddy liners, smells, seagulls and extra food waste
| Question or problem | Practical answer | Do not include |
|---|---|---|
| Do I need a liner? | No. Food can go directly into the caddy, or you can use a compostable liner. | Food packaging and compostable takeaway cups or plates. |
| Smells or flies | Empty the indoor caddy regularly, close the outdoor lid and wash containers after collection. | Large amounts of liquid, milk, oil or fat. |
| Seagulls or animals | Close the outdoor lid and pull the handle forward to latch it. | Loose food bags outside the caddy. |
| Extra food waste | Order an extra outdoor caddy if food regularly exceeds the supplied capacity. | Putting food waste in garden-waste containers. |
| Shellfish | Soft-shelled crab and prawn waste is accepted. | Hard mussel, limpet and clam shells. |
| What happens to it? | Food waste goes to anaerobic digestion in Holsworthy to make renewable energy and biofertiliser. | Any item that is not food waste. |
Subscription prices, container costs and start dates
Garden waste is collected fortnightly for subscribed domestic households. Self-catering holiday lets and other businesses cannot use this service.
| Container | One-off container price | 2026/27 annual subscription | Approximate capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 240-litre brown bin | £33 | £76 per container | About four black bags |
| 140-litre brown bin | £26 | £58 per container | About two black bags |
| 70-litre reusable bag | £14 | £30 per container | About one black bag |
Accepted garden waste
Grass, leaves, organic sweepings, weeds, cut flowers, windfall, prunings and branches up to 30cm long and 2.5cm wide.
Not accepted
Food, soil, turf, compost, rubble, plastic pots, animal bedding, faeces, compostable bags and invasive plants.
New subscriptions
Collections start on the first day of the month after joining. The schedule normally appears in My Area within two working days.
Subscription year
The service year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Joining later means paying only for the remaining subscription months.
Estimate the cost before booking
Cornwall allows up to eight booked items per order. The final category of each item is determined by the council price checker.
Bulky-waste planning estimator
Estimate: Enter the number of items.
Current pricing structure
- First one to four standard items: £44 per order.
- Standard items five to eight: £16 each.
- Small special items: £35 each.
- Large special items: £53 each.
- Maximum eight items in one order.
- Only one bulky order can be placed per week.
Not part of the bulky service: asbestos, tyres, rubble, garden waste, hazardous chemicals, fuel, gas bottles, ceramic toilets and sinks, large pianos, vehicles, boats and commercial waste.
Find your nearest HWRC and check booking rules
Cornwall has 14 household recycling centres. Seven busy centres currently operate an appointment-only booking trial.
| Booking required | No booking trial currently listed |
|---|---|
| Bodmin, Bude, Launceston, Newquay, Saltash, St Austell and St Erth. | Connon Bridge, Falmouth and Penryn, Helston, Redruth (Pool), St Day, Tintagel and Truro. |
Local recycling-centre planner
Result: Choose a recycling centre.
Before a tip run
- Sort recycling before loading the vehicle.
- Check whether the chosen site accepts the material.
- Book a slot where the appointment trial applies.
- Use the same vehicle registration entered in the booking.
- Bring a valid permit if the vehicle requires one.
- Separate DIY waste and check the weekly allowance.
Booking-trial facts
- Slots can be booked for the same day if available.
- Future slots can normally be booked up to one week ahead.
- Separate bookings are needed for repeat visits.
- Older Safari browsers may not show available slots correctly.
- Booking help: 0300 1234 141, Monday–Friday, 10am–6pm.
Vehicle permits: permits are valid for 12 household-waste visits. Use the correct vehicle registration and allow up to 21 calendar days for an approved permit to be posted.
Special Cornwall waste routes
Non-infectious healthcare waste
Double-bag nappies, incontinence pads, non-infectious dressings, stoma bags and similar items before placing them in normal rubbish.
Infectious clinical waste
Register for one-off or weekly separate collections for infectious orange-bag waste, chemotherapy-related purple-bag waste and sharps bins.
Electricals and batteries
Use retailer take-back, an HWRC or another approved electrical-recycling route. Never hide lithium batteries or vapes inside rubbish.
DIY building waste
Most HWRCs accept limited household DIY waste, but Bodmin, Dudnance Lane, Helston, Tintagel and United Mines do not accept it.
| Weekly DIY allowance | Free quantity | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Soil or rubble | Up to eight bags per week | Charges apply above the allowance at accepting sites. |
| Plasterboard | Up to eight bags or four sheets per week | Keep it separate and check the chosen site accepts DIY waste. |
| Household asbestos | Up to eight bags or four sheets per week | Strict wrapping and site-acceptance rules apply. |
Practical advice for coastal towns, rural lanes and shared homes
Strong wind and exposed properties
Close recycling-bag lids, tie extra recycling securely and avoid placing lightweight material outside earlier than necessary.
Seagulls and animals
Latch the food caddy handle and close the rubbish container fully. Do not leave food-containing black bags beside the bin.
Falmouth and Truro student homes
Keep a simple colour guide near shared bins and agree who retrieves bags after collection so they do not disappear or obstruct paths.
Rural collection points
Use the established roadside point and keep lanes, gates and turning space accessible. Do not move waste to a neighbour’s point without agreement.
Holiday and seasonal absences
Ask a trusted person to present containers on the correct week and retrieve them after collection. Do not leave them at the road indefinitely.
Moving house
Standard bins belong to the property. Households with an approved additional rubbish container should follow Cornwall’s moving instructions.
Repeated missed collections
Include contact details in the report so the contractor can check whether crews can see and safely reach the normal collection point.
Repair and reuse first
Use Kernow Reuse Shops, charity collections, retailers or local reuse groups before paying for bulky disposal or driving to an HWRC.
Cornwall Council waste links
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Collection dates, holiday changes, fees, booking availability and HWRC rules can change. Use the linked council page for the final live result, report, subscription, payment or booking.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my Cornwall Council bin collection day?
Enter your postcode on Cornwall Council’s My Area page, select the exact address and view the property calendar for food waste, recycling, rubbish and subscribed garden waste.
What time should Cornwall bins and recycling be put out?
Put food waste, recycling and rubbish at the normal collection point by 7am. Fully close the rubbish container, recycling-bag lids and food-caddy latch.
How often does Cornwall Council collect household rubbish?
Household rubbish is collected every two weeks, on the week opposite the fortnightly recycling collection. Food waste is collected every week.
Which Cornwall recycling bag takes cartons and plastic film?
The red recycling bag takes cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, bags, wrapping, cling film, crisp packets, cans, tins and clean foil.
When can I report a missed Cornwall collection?
Wait until after 6pm because collection rounds operate until the end of the working day. Confirm it was the correct date and the waste was properly presented by 7am.
How do I order new Cornwall recycling bags or a food caddy?
Use the council’s recycling-container order service for orange, red and blue bags, black boxes and green outdoor food caddies. Delivery updates can be requested after eight calendar days.
How much is Cornwall garden-waste collection in 2026/27?
The annual subscription is £76 for a 240-litre bin, £58 for a 140-litre bin or £30 for a 70-litre reusable bag. New customers also buy the selected container.
How much does Cornwall bulky-waste collection cost?
The first one to four standard items cost £44 per order. Up to four additional standard items cost £16 each. Small special items cost £35 and large special items cost £53 each.
Do I need to book a Cornwall household recycling centre?
Booking is currently required at Bodmin, Bude, Launceston, Newquay, Saltash, St Austell and St Erth. Check the live council page because the trial can change.
Can holiday lets use Cornwall household bin collections?
No. Self-catering and holiday-let accommodation is treated as non-domestic waste and must use a licensed commercial-waste collection service.