Stevenage Household Waste: Disposal, Recycling, Bins & Council Rules
Find your Stevenage collection dates, understand every bin and recycling bag, use the new weekly food-waste service, report a missed collection, calculate bulky-waste costs and prepare for a Caxton Way recycling-centre visit.
How do I check Stevenage bin collection dates?
Use Stevenage Borough Council’s street or postcode search. Select your road or property and view or download the latest scheduled dates.
The council no longer publishes one fixed annual calendar because live dates can be updated for weather, operational changes and bank holidays.
Set up your Stevenage household waste routine
Complete these steps once for your address. They prevent wrong-day collections, contaminated recycling, overloaded bins and unsuccessful missed-bin reports.
Check your road or postcode
Open the live collection search and record the refuse, recycling, garden-waste and food-waste dates shown for your property.
Search official collection datesIdentify the correct container
Blue is for paper and card, black recycling bags are for plastics, cans and cartons, red is for glass and green caddies are for food.
View Stevenage container rulesPrepare the night before
Keep lids closed, remove contamination and place everything at the property boundary by the normal 7am deadline.
Read the household waste policyCheck temporary service alerts
Heatwaves, snow and bank holidays can change collection times. A live council alert may temporarily require an earlier set-out time.
Check current waste alertsKeep containers inside after collection
Retrieve emptied bins, bags and boxes by the end of collection day and mark reusable containers with your house number.
How often are black bins, recycling, food and garden waste collected?
Most suitable households receive alternating fortnightly refuse and recycling collections, fortnightly garden-waste collection and weekly food-waste collection.
| Waste stream | Normal frequency | Container | Main rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residual household waste | Fortnightly | Black 180-litre wheelie bin | Only non-recyclable household waste; lid must close. |
| Dry recycling | Fortnightly | Blue bag, black bag and red glass caddy | Keep paper, mixed containers and glass separated. |
| Food waste | Weekly | 5-litre kitchen caddy and 23-litre outdoor caddy | Food only; no packaging or liquids. |
| Garden waste | Fortnightly | Brown 240-litre wheelie bin | Garden waste only; no food, soil or compostable packaging. |
Bank holidays: collections are usually caught up after the holiday, often one day later. Always check the live address calendar because revised arrangements can change.
What goes in each Stevenage bin, bag or recycling box?
Black wheelie bin
Use for non-recyclable household waste such as crisp packets, plastic film, nappies, sanitary waste, polystyrene, vacuum-cleaner waste and securely bagged pet waste.
Blue recycling bag
Use for paper, newspapers, magazines, envelopes, junk mail, cereal boxes, cardboard and toilet-roll tubes.
Black recycling bag
Use for plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, aluminium and steel cans, tins, foil, aerosols and food or drink cartons.
Red glass caddy
Use for empty glass bottles and jars. Glass must remain in the council-issued glass container for crew safety.
Green food caddies
Use for leftovers, peelings, meat, fish, bones, dairy, bread, cakes, rice, pasta, tea bags and coffee grounds.
Brown garden bin
Use for grass, leaves, weeds, flowers, hedge cuttings, prunings and small twigs cut to fit inside the closed bin.
Boxes are being phased out: replacement black and blue recycling containers are now generally issued as durable 60 or 65-litre bags. Existing council boxes can still be used and collected.
Never place these in household bins: batteries, vapes, electrical items, gas canisters, chemicals, paint, rubble, soil, heavy DIY waste or hazardous materials.
Weekly food caddy rules, liners, smells and flats
Stevenage’s separate weekly food-waste collection began in March 2026. The brown bin is now for garden waste only.
| Food-waste question | Stevenage rule | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| What food is accepted? | Cooked and raw food, meat, fish, bones, dairy, eggs, bread, rice, pasta, vegetables, fruit and plate scrapings. | Drain excess liquid before placing food in the caddy. |
| Which liners can I use? | Compostable liners, old bread bags, fruit bags, carrier bags, newspaper and paper bags are accepted. | Tie liners securely but do not place packaging loose in the caddy. |
| Can food go in the brown bin? | No. The brown bin remains for garden waste only. | Use the separate green outdoor food caddy. |
| What about flats and HMOs? | Residents receive kitchen caddies and normally share a 240-litre communal food-waste bin. | Follow the managing agent’s bin-store access arrangements. |
| How do I reduce smells? | Keep the lid closed and clean the caddy regularly. | Empty the kitchen caddy frequently and keep the outdoor caddy shaded. |
| Can I request another caddy? | The council can consider extra capacity where a household produces more than 23 litres. | Use the container-request service and explain the household need. |
Stevenage Food Waste Collection
This official Stevenage Borough Council video explains how the weekly kerbside food-waste service works.
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Save your next Stevenage collection date
Check the live council calendar first, then store a household reminder in this browser. Nothing is submitted to the council.
My next collection
Collection-night checklist
No reminder saved. Confirm the official date before adding it here.
Which bin, recycling service or disposal route should I use?
Choose a common item for a quick route. Use the official A–Z before disposing of unusual, hazardous or mixed materials.
Select an item
Result: Select an item above.
Five fast sorting rules
- Paper and card: blue bag.
- Plastics, cans, foil and cartons: black recycling bag.
- Glass bottles and jars: red caddy.
- Food: green food caddy.
- Garden waste: brown bin.
Should I report the bin, wait or fix a contamination problem?
Before reporting, confirm that the container was out by 7am, at the property boundary, due that day, not stickered and still inside the two-working-day reporting window.
| Check first | What it means | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Correct collection day? | Your road may have a changed or bank-holiday date. | Check the live address calendar. |
| Outside by 7am? | Late containers may not qualify as missed. | Use the next scheduled collection. |
| At the boundary? | Crews are not required to enter the property. | Correct the presentation point. |
| Sticker attached? | The bin may be contaminated, overloaded or too heavy. | Remove the problem and wait for the next collection. |
| Within two working days? | Late reports are not normally accepted. | Report immediately while eligible. |
| Genuine missed collection? | Correct date, time, position and contents. | Submit the online missed-bin report. |
Missed-bin diagnosis
Result: Select the closest situation.
What happens after reporting?
The council aims to collect an accepted missed bin within two working days.
Leave the correctly presented container available unless the reporting confirmation tells you otherwise.
Report Missed CollectionStevenage replacement-bin charges and delivery rules
| Request | Current rule | Planning detail |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement black bin | £40 for a 180, 240 or 360-litre approved replacement. | A police incident number is needed when claiming a stolen-bin exception. |
| Standard black bin | New standard issue is normally 180 litres. | One black refuse bin is allocated per property. |
| Larger black bin | Households with six or more permanent residents can apply. | Approval depends on household size and recycling participation. |
| Recycling containers | Additional capacity is available within reason. | Replacement black and blue containers are generally issued as durable bags. |
| Delivery time | The council warns delivery can take up to six weeks. | Cavendish Depot collection is no longer available. |
| Replacement lids | Lids are no longer replaced separately. | Submit a container request if the unit is no longer usable. |
Bulky-item prices, concessions and booking estimator
The charge is based on the number of booked items. Finalise the complete list before paying because bookings cannot be amended.
Estimate the collection price
Estimate: Select the item count and concession status.
Booking rules that matter
- Items must be outside the property.
- Crews do not collect from inside the home.
- Bookings cannot be amended after submission.
- Cancellations cost £12.
- Eleven or more items require a quotation.
- Concessions start from four items.
Usually accepted
Cookers, carpets, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, mattresses, tables, settees, wardrobes, washing machines, beds, bicycles, fridges and freezers.
Not in the standard service
Business waste, builders’ waste, fitted kitchen units, bathroom suites, gas bottles, vehicle parts, asbestos, fencing, sheds and greenhouses.
Stevenage communal bins, purple sacks and help moving containers
Communal flat blocks
Most blocks use communal refuse and recycling bins. Flat-block dates may not appear in the standard street-search tool.
Purple sack properties
Blocks without communal refuse bins can be entitled to one roll of purple residual-waste sacks each year.
Food waste in flats and HMOs
Residents normally receive a 5-litre kitchen caddy and use a shared 240-litre communal food-waste bin collected weekly.
Assisted collection eligibility
You may qualify when a long-term medical condition prevents you moving bins and nobody aged over 16 can provide help.
Assisted service duration: short-term help can run for up to six months. Long-term assistance can run for up to one year and must be renewed annually.
Free infectious-waste and sharps collections
| Service | Stevenage arrangement | How to access it |
|---|---|---|
| Infectious clinical waste | Free collection, normally weekly on Wednesday. | New customers need referral from a GP, hospital or community nurse. |
| Sharps boxes | Standard 5-litre boxes, normally collected monthly on Wednesday. | Request a new container, exchange or collection online. |
| Large non-hazardous healthcare waste | Separate service may apply at seven black bags or more per week. | Discuss eligibility through the clinical-waste process. |
| NHS treatment at home | Waste created by a visiting NHS professional should normally be removed by that professional. | Confirm arrangements with the treating service. |
Caxton Way opening times, ePass, accepted waste and queue check
The Stevenage Household Waste Recycling Centre is operated by Hertfordshire County Council for residents disposing of their own household waste. Trade waste is not accepted.
Stevenage Recycling Centre
Address: Caxton Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 1XW
- Current HCC listing: 10am–5:30pm daily
- Open bank holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
- Free car ePass required
- No appointment booking required after obtaining the ePass
- Bring proof of address
- Van, pickup or trailer users need the correct van/trailer ePass
Common accepted materials
Wood, mixed recycling, rubble, scrap metal, rigid plastics, garden waste, glass, paper, plasterboard, cardboard, appliances, soil, textiles and batteries.
Apply for a car ePass
You need an email address, home address and vehicle registration. The free pass is normally available immediately.
Avoid queues
Check the live queue camera, pre-sort the vehicle and avoid school and bank-holiday peak periods where possible.
No trade waste
The centre is for residents’ household waste. Commercial, industrial and excessive business-related waste can be refused.
Where are recycling banks in Stevenage?
Local banks are useful for paper, card, glass, cans, mixed plastics and, at selected locations, textiles and shoes. They do not accept electrical items or batteries.
Bedwell
Paper/card, glass, cans and mixed plastics.
Emperor’s Gate
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
Filey Close
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
The Glebe
Paper/card, glass, cans and mixed plastics.
The Hyde
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
Marymead
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
Mobbsbury Way
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
Oaks Cross
Paper/card, glass, cans and mixed plastics.
The Oval
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
Primett Road
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
Roebuck
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
St Nicholas
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
Tesco Swingate
Paper/card, glass, cans, mixed plastics, textiles and shoes.
Do not leave items beside full banks: taking waste to a recycling point does not permit dumping material on the ground. Use another bank or Caxton Way instead.
Stevenage waste and recycling links
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Temporary alerts, centre opening times, bulky charges and service arrangements can change. Use the linked official page before submitting a report, payment or journey.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my Stevenage bin collection day?
Use Stevenage Borough Council’s street or postcode search. Select your road or address to view or download the latest scheduled collection dates.
How often is the black refuse bin collected in Stevenage?
The standard black residual-waste bin is normally collected fortnightly, alternating with the main dry-recycling collection.
How often is food waste collected in Stevenage?
The separate green food-waste caddy is collected weekly. The service began in March 2026.
Can I use plastic bags in my Stevenage food caddy?
Yes. Stevenage accepts compostable liners, old bread or fruit bags, carrier bags, newspaper and paper bags because liners are removed during processing.
When can I report a missed bin in Stevenage?
Report it within two working days after confirming it was out by 7am, at the property boundary, due that day and not stickered for contamination or overloading.
How much is a replacement black bin in Stevenage?
The current replacement charge is £40 for approved 180, 240 or 360-litre refuse bins. Exceptions can apply where the council damaged the bin or a stolen bin has a police incident reference.
How much is Stevenage bulky-waste collection?
One to three items cost £51. Prices increase by item count. Concession rates are available from four items for eligible means-tested benefit recipients.
Do I need to book Stevenage recycling centre?
You do not normally book a time slot, but Hertfordshire residents need a free vehicle ePass before visiting Caxton Way.
What are Stevenage recycling-centre opening times?
Hertfordshire County Council’s live page currently lists 10am to 5:30pm daily. Check the centre page on the day because opening times and temporary closures can change.
Can flats in Stevenage use the normal collection-date search?
Flat blocks are not included in the standard refuse and recycling search. Residents should follow communal-bin information from the council or building manager.