South Hams Waste Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins, Bulky & Recycling
Check your South Hams bin day by postcode, understand the weekly recycling and food-waste system, sort both recycling boxes and the reusable white sack, report a genuine missed collection, order replacement containers and compare garden, bulky and recycling-centre options.
How to check South Hams bin collection days by postcode
Open the South Hams collection checker, enter your postcode and select the exact property. It shows the next recycling, food waste, refuse and subscribed garden-waste dates.
Garden waste may be collected on a different day from refuse and recycling, so record that date separately.
Set up your South Hams waste collection routine
Do this once for the exact property. It prevents wrong-day collections, contamination, missed-report rejection and unnecessary recycling-centre journeys.
Check the exact address
Enter the full postcode and select the correct house, flat or rural property. Do not copy a neighbour’s schedule.
Open the South Hams collection checkerRecord weekly and fortnightly services
Recycling and food waste are weekly. The black refuse bin or seagull sack is normally collected fortnightly.
Read the weekly recycling guideSort the four recycling streams
Use the reusable white sack, recycling box 1, recycling box 2 and the kerbside food caddy.
Check the full South Hams sorting listSet everything out early
Use the normal collection point and keep access clear. During busy seasons the crew may arrive before 7am.
Review missed-collection rulesCheck the whole day before reporting
Do not report on the scheduled day. Wait until the following working day and submit the report within the short deadline.
Open the official report formWeekly recycling, weekly food waste and fortnightly refuse
The exact weekday is address-specific, but the service frequency below explains what appears in the postcode checker.
Every week
Two recycling boxes, the reusable white plastic sack and the kerbside food-waste caddy.
Every two weeks
The 180-litre black refuse bin or council-issued seagull-proof refuse sack.
Fortnightly subscription
The brown garden-waste bin, often on a different day from household refuse and recycling.
| Service | Frequency | Container | Main rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry recycling | Weekly | Two boxes and reusable white sack. | Sort each material into the correct container. |
| Food waste | Weekly | Kerbside food caddy. | Remove packaging before putting food inside. |
| Non-recyclable refuse | Fortnightly | 180-litre black bin or seagull sack. | Only use it for material that cannot be recycled. |
| Garden waste | Fortnightly for subscribers | 180-litre brown bin with valid sticker. | Set it out by 6am on the separate garden round. |
Holiday warning: do not assume the usual weekday around Christmas, New Year or bank holidays. Use the live address checker and bank-holiday page.
What goes in the white sack, box 1, box 2 and food caddy?
Reusable white sack
Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays and non-black plant pots, plus rinsed tins, cans, empty aerosols, clean foil, foil trays and metal lids.
Recycling box 1
Paper at one end and glass bottles or jars at the other. Keep the two material types separated inside the box.
Recycling box 2
Cardboard, food and drink cartons, greetings cards, egg boxes and brown paper. Small household batteries and printer cartridges go in a separate small bag.
Food-waste caddy
Cooked and uncooked food, bread, dairy, fruit, vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds, meat, fish, small bones and eggshells.
| Material | Correct container | Preparation | Do not include |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic packaging | Reusable white sack | Empty and rinse. Replace bottle tops where possible. | Plastic film, bags, black plastic and absorbent pads. |
| Paper and glass | Box 1 | Keep paper at one end and glass at the other. | Plastic-lined envelopes, broken drinking glasses and Pyrex. |
| Cardboard and cartons | Box 2 | Flatten cardboard and keep it inside the box. | Greasy takeaway boxes, painted card and loose oversized cardboard. |
| Small household batteries | Small bag inside box 2 | Use for ordinary AAA, AA, C, D and 9V batteries. | Lithium packs, damaged batteries and larger rechargeable batteries. |
| Food waste | Kerbside caddy | Use a liner, newspaper or put food in loose. | Packaging, liquids and garden waste. |
Lithium battery warning: take lithium batteries, power-tool batteries, laptop batteries and similar rechargeable packs to a recycling centre rather than placing them in the kerbside box.
South Hams bin-day reminder and missed-report deadline
Confirm the collection date first. This tool then saves a household reminder and calculates when a missed report can be made.
Save my next collection
Reminder and report window
No collection saved. Check the postcode calendar and select the confirmed date.
Which box, sack, bin or service should I use?
Choose a common item for a practical route. Unusual, hazardous and large materials should be confirmed before disposal.
Choose an item
Result: Select an item above.
Fast sorting rule
- Plastic and metal packaging: reusable white sack.
- Paper and glass: box 1, kept separated.
- Cardboard and cartons: box 2.
- Food: kerbside food caddy.
- Garden, bulky, DIY or hazardous waste: separate service.
When and how to report a missed collection
South Hams does not accept a missed report on the scheduled collection day. The crew must be allowed the full day to complete the route or record why collection was not possible.
| Check | What it means | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Is today the scheduled day? | The route may still be in progress. | Wait until the following working day. |
| Was it outside early enough? | Peak-season crews may arrive before 7am. | Use 6am or the previous evening as the safest routine. |
| Was access clear? | Locked gates, parked vehicles or inaccessible presentation points can stop collection. | Correct the access problem before the next date. |
| Was the material correctly sorted? | Contaminated or incorrectly presented recycling can be left. | Remove the wrong items and check crew notes. |
| Is the report within two working days? | Late reports may not be accepted. | Submit immediately once eligible. |
| Was the collection due on Friday? | Friday misses must be reported before the end of Monday. | Do not wait until Tuesday. |
Missed-bin diagnosis
Result: Select the closest situation.
Prepare before submitting
- Full address and postcode
- Scheduled collection date
- Container or waste type
- Where the container was placed
- Any crew tag or online service note
- Confirmation that it was accessible
Order South Hams boxes, sacks, caddies and refuse bins
Standard recycling allocation
Each property can have one kerbside food caddy, two recycling boxes and one reusable white plastic recycling sack.
Refuse container
Properties normally use either a 180-litre black wheelie bin or a council-issued seagull-proof sack.
Kitchen food caddy
A 7-litre indoor kitchen food caddy can be purchased from the council for £7.
Delivery timing
The council aims to complete standard container deliveries within four weeks. Refuse and garden bins are delivery-only.
| Container | Collection or delivery | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recycling boxes, sack and kerbside caddy | Can be arranged for collection from Follaton House. | Collection must be arranged through the form first. |
| 180-litre refuse bin | Delivery only. | Use the postcode form to request the correct property container. |
| Brown garden-waste bin | Delivery through the subscription service. | Allow about 10 working days during the garden sign-up process. |
| Follaton House collection | Monday–Friday, 9am–4:30pm. | Closed weekends and bank holidays. |
Current price, fortnightly service and winter suspension
The current subscription runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 and provides fortnightly emptying of a 180-litre brown wheelie bin.
| Garden-waste detail | Current rule | Resident action |
|---|---|---|
| Current annual price | £73 after 1 April 2026. | Pay through the postcode subscription form. |
| Early-bird price | £70 before 31 March 2026. | This reduced period has ended for the current service year. |
| Collection frequency | Fortnightly. | Check the garden date separately from household collections. |
| Sticker | The sticker must show the house name or number. | Attach it clearly to the subscribed bin. |
| Set-out time | By 6am. | Use the property’s normal accessible collection point. |
| Winter suspension | 19 December 2026–18 January 2027. | Use home composting or a recycling centre during the break. |
Accepted
Grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, cut flowers, plants, vase flowers, windfall fruit and branches up to 10cm in diameter.
Not accepted
Cardboard, food, food packaging, hutch sweepings, soil, rubble, plastic bags and twine.
New subscription timing
Allow up to 10 working days for the sticker and for the property to be attached to a garden-waste round.
No subscription?
Home compost suitable material or take garden waste to Totnes, Ivybridge or Torr Quarry recycling centre.
£25 per item, Wednesday collections and booking rules
Collections take place on Wednesdays. You can choose an available date up to 12 weeks ahead, but only items listed in the booking form can be collected.
Bulky-waste cost estimator
Estimate: One listed item costs £25.
How items are counted
- Bed frame and headboard together: one item.
- Bed and mattress: two items.
- Three-piece suite: three items.
- Fridge, freezer, washer or tumble dryer: one item each.
- Unlisted items cannot be added to the collection.
| Booking rule | South Hams requirement | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Collection day | Wednesday. | Choose an available Wednesday during booking. |
| Set-out time | By 7am. | Place items outside at the agreed location. |
| Access | No steps, locked gates or obstructions. | Make the collection point safely reachable. |
| Inside collection | Not available. | Crews cannot enter homes, garages or outbuildings. |
| On-site payment | Not accepted. | Complete payment during the online booking. |
Support for residents who cannot use the normal service
Assisted collection
Residents who are physically or medically unable to move containers can apply if no other adult at the property can help.
Weekly healthcare sacks
High-grade medical waste such as bodily-fluid waste, swabs and dressings can use the weekly healthcare collection.
Sharps boxes
The council can collect and replace a sharps box when it is about three-quarters full or no longer required.
Purple-lidded containers
Cytotoxic waste is not part of the council service. Contact the healthcare provider that supplied the container.
Low-grade medical waste: incontinence pads, empty stoma bags and non-infectious swabs can normally be double-bagged and placed in household refuse.
Totnes, Ivybridge and Torr Quarry opening times
Devon County Council operates the household recycling centres. Standard cars do not need a van permit, but privately owned panel and flat-bed vans require a free permit.
Three South Hams centres
- Totnes Recycling Centre, TQ9 5JA
- Ivybridge Recycling Centre, PL21 9ES
- Torr Quarry Recycling Centre, Kingsbridge, TQ9 7QQ
Devon waste contact: 0345 155 1010
Open the official South Hams centre list| Season | Monday–Friday | Saturday–Sunday | Closed dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| April–September | 9am–5pm | 10am–6pm | Seasonal holiday closures still apply. |
| October–March | 9am–4:30pm | 10am–4:30pm | Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. |
Totnes Recycling Centre
Babbage Road Industrial Estate, Totnes, TQ9 5JA. Plasterboard and upholstered domestic seating are not accepted.
Ivybridge Recycling Centre
Ermington Road, Ivybridge, PL21 9ES. Check its material list and van-permit rules before travelling.
Torr Quarry, Kingsbridge
TQ9 7QQ. Accepts a wider range of specialist materials, including booked chargeable asbestos under Devon rules.
DIY waste and charges
A limited free household DIY allowance applies. Charges apply above the allowance and for specified materials.
How to get the most from your recycling containers
Weekly container preparation
The South Hams Council video shows how to use the recycling boxes, reusable sack and caddy efficiently each week.
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Practical advice for coastal, rural and town properties
Totnes and Dartington
Collection roads can differ within the same postcode area. Always select the exact property in the council checker.
Kingsbridge and Salcombe
Peak-season traffic can bring earlier routes or access delays. Present containers the night before where safe.
Dartmouth and Kingswear
Steep streets and narrow access can affect safe crew reach. Use the agreed collection point and keep parked vehicles clear.
Ivybridge and South Brent
Separate cardboard carefully and keep it inside box 2 to prevent windblown material and rejected excess.
Wembury, Noss Mayo and rural lanes
Do not block narrow roads. A refuse vehicle needs more turning and passing space than a standard car.
Holiday lets
Waste from holiday accommodation may fall under controlled commercial-waste rules and cannot automatically use the domestic service.
Seagull-prone areas
Use the council seagull-proof sack correctly, close it securely and do not leave loose food waste outside.
Repeated missed collections
Check crew logs in the reporting form and keep dates, screenshots and reference details if the same issue happens repeatedly.
South Hams waste links for final actions
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Collection dates, bank-holiday changes, fees, centre closures and service availability can change. Use the official service for the final postcode result, booking, payment or report.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my South Hams bin collection day?
Enter your postcode in the official South Hams collection checker and select the exact property. It shows recycling, food waste, refuse and subscribed garden-waste dates.
How often is recycling collected in South Hams?
The two recycling boxes and reusable white sack are normally collected every week. Food waste is also collected weekly.
How often is the black refuse bin collected?
The black refuse bin or council-issued seagull sack is normally collected every two weeks.
What time should South Hams bins be put out?
Use the normal collection point by 7am at the latest. During peak-season periods, crews can arrive earlier, so 6am or the previous evening is safer.
When can I report a missed South Hams collection?
You cannot report it on the scheduled collection day. Report on the next working day and within two working days. A Friday miss must be reported by the end of Monday.
What goes in South Hams recycling box 2?
Use box 2 for cardboard, food and drink cartons, greetings cards, egg boxes and brown paper. Ordinary household batteries and printer cartridges should be placed in a separate small bag.
How much is South Hams garden-waste collection?
The 2026–27 subscription costs £73 after 1 April 2026 and provides fortnightly emptying of one 180-litre brown wheelie bin.
How much is South Hams bulky-waste collection?
Each listed item costs £25. A bed and mattress count as two items, while a three-piece suite counts as three items.
Where are the South Hams recycling centres?
The three centres are Totnes Recycling Centre, Ivybridge Recycling Centre and Torr Quarry Recycling Centre near Kingsbridge.
Do vans need a permit at Devon recycling centres?
Privately registered panel and flat-bed vans require a free Devon van permit. The permit allows up to 12 visits during its 12-month validity period.