Aberdeenshire Bin Days Without Guesswork
Use this guide to check your bin day, understand the blue-lid, orange-lid and black-bin cycle, report a missed bin correctly, and choose the right route for bulky waste, garden waste, glass, recycling centres or extra bins.
Everything is scan-first: pick your problem, read the exact action, then use the official council link only when you know it is the right route.
Quick answer: Aberdeenshire Council collects household bins on the same day of the week, but each main bin type is collected every 3 weeks: blue-lid recycling, orange-lid recycling and black refuse. Food caddies and battery bags are collected weekly.
Most important rule: put bins at the kerbside or designated collection area by 7am, close lids, do not overfill, do not leave waste beside bins, and check disruption notices before reporting a missed collection.
Choose your Aberdeenshire waste problem
Tap one option. This tells you the correct first step before opening a council form.
Bin days: Aberdeenshire’s 3-week collection cycle
Your collection day stays the same weekday, but the bin type changes. This is where many users get confused.
| Container | Collection pattern | Use it for | Quick action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-lid bin | Every 3 weeks | Paper, card and cardboard only. | Keep paper/card dry and separate from orange-lid items. |
| Orange-lid bin | Every 3 weeks | Metal tins, cans, aerosols, foil, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays. | Empty and squash containers where possible. |
| Black refuse bin | Every 3 weeks | Non-recyclable household waste only. | Do not use it for garden waste, glass, recyclables or heavy items. |
| Food caddy | Weekly | Food waste such as plate scrapings, leftovers, meat, fish, tea bags and coffee grounds. | Lock the caddy by leaving the black handle upright or fully forward. |
| Battery bag | Weekly | Household batteries only. | Use council battery bags; never put loose batteries inside bins. |
What goes in each Aberdeenshire bin
The fastest way to avoid tagged bins is to know the split between blue-lid recycling and orange-lid recycling.
| Waste type | Correct place | Do not mix with | Helpful detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper, card, cardboard | Blue-lid bin | Plastic bottles, cartons, cans, glass, food waste. | Flatten cardboard so the lid closes. |
| Cans, aerosols, foil | Orange-lid bin | Paper/card, black refuse, food waste, glass. | Empty containers first. |
| Food/drink cartons | Orange-lid bin | Blue-lid paper/card bin. | Cartons do not belong with plain paper/card. |
| Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays | Orange-lid bin | Black refuse if clean and accepted. | Squash bottles where possible. |
| Food waste | Food caddy | Black refuse if you have a food caddy service. | Caddy is collected weekly. |
| Glass bottles and jars | Glass/textile recycling point or some communal glass provision. | Blue-lid or orange-lid bins. | Aberdeenshire does not collect glass bottles and jars in normal kerbside bins. |
| Garden waste | Home compost, recycling centre or seasonal garden waste point. | Black refuse bin or recycling bins. | No kerbside garden waste collection service. |
Put bins out correctly
Aberdeenshire is clear: if the bin is late, too heavy, overfilled, contaminated or unauthorised, you may need to wait until the next scheduled collection.
By 7am
Place bins at the kerbside or designated collection area no later than 7am on collection day.
Close lids
Close bin lids. Lock the food caddy by leaving the black handle upright or fully forward.
Keep it movable
Do not put heavy items in bins. If it is too heavy to move safely, it may not be collected.
Do not do this
- Do not overfill bins.
- Do not leave waste beside bins.
- Do not contaminate recycling bins.
- Do not put heavy items in household bins.
- Do not put out unauthorised extra black refuse bins.
Night-before checklist
- Check the bin colour due.
- Move bin to kerbside/designated area.
- Close lid fully.
- Remove wrong items from recycling.
- Bring bins back after collection.
Missed bin decision tree
Do not report too early. Aberdeenshire has clear missed-bin timing and checks.
Disruptions, route delays and excess waste
Missed rounds can happen because of weather, road closures, vehicle maintenance or access problems. The disruption page is the first check.
| Situation | What it means | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Your area is listed as disrupted | You usually do not need to report it again. | Follow the council update. |
| Not listed, bin out correctly | May be an individual missed collection. | Report after 4:45pm and within 2 working days. |
| Missed collection not recovered within 5 days | Aberdeenshire may collect excess on the next scheduled collection for that bin, unless it was tagged or not presented. | Store excess safely until the next same-bin collection. |
| Accumulating extra waste | Do not leave waste beside bins. | Use a recycling centre where suitable. |
New bins, damaged bins and extra capacity
Use this when the issue is bin capacity, broken bins or a new property. Do not order the wrong thing.
| Need | Aberdeenshire rule | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged bin | Report it as damaged; the council assesses repair or replacement. | Do not request a new/additional bin first. |
| Extra recycling capacity | You can have more than one recycling bin of each type. Extra recycling bins are free. | Request extra recycling capacity if blue/orange recycling is always full. |
| Extra black refuse capacity | Strict one refuse bin per household policy. Extra general waste capacity requires assessment and bin audit. | Show you recycle as much as possible, including food waste. |
| Approved extra refuse bin | No fee if approved; a community waste officer may review ongoing eligibility. | Use only if genuine general-waste need remains after recycling. |
| New home with no bins | You can request a refuse bin, orange-lid bin, blue-lid bin and food caddy. | Refuse bin delivery/admin fee is £33.20, reduced to £12.83 if receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. |
| Delivery timing | Bins can take 4 to 6 weeks to be delivered. | Request early after moving in. |
Collection bags when wheeled bins do not work
Some properties do not have storage space for wheeled bins, or standard collection vehicles cannot access them.
| Bag type | Use it for | Collection detail |
|---|---|---|
| Blue bags | Refuse | Up to 2 bags every 3 weeks on your collection day. |
| Clear bags | Metal tins, cans, aerosols, foil, cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays. | Used instead of orange-lid recycling where bag service applies. |
| Paper bags | Paper, card and cardboard only. | Used instead of blue-lid recycling where bag service applies. |
| Food waste | Food waste | Use the small food bin; bag service is for refuse and recycling only. |
Garden waste and glass: not normal kerbside bins
Two common mistakes: putting garden waste in the black bin and putting glass bottles or jars in blue/orange recycling.
Garden waste
- Aberdeenshire does not operate a kerbside garden waste collection service.
- Compost at home where possible.
- Use recycling centres for garden waste where accepted.
- Seasonal garden waste drop-off points may operate during summer months.
- Mulching mowers can reduce grass-cutting waste.
Glass bottles and jars
- Do not put glass bottles and jars in blue-lid or orange-lid bins.
- Use glass and textile recycling points.
- Some communal-bin areas may provide a shared glass bin.
- Check the nearest recycling point before carrying heavy glass.
- Keep glass separate from paper/card and plastics.
Bulky uplift: prices, accepted items and booking rules
Aberdeenshire bulky uplift is chargeable and for residents only. It is not for business waste, rubble, soil or skip-sized jobs.
Up to 4 items
£33.68, or £13.47 discounted if eligible.
Up to 8 items
£67.35, or £26.95 discounted if eligible.
Individual item
£43.26 for separately priced items.
Out by 7am
Items must be ready at the agreed outside location.
| Can be selected | Cannot be selected | Before uplift day |
|---|---|---|
| Bed base, mattress, bicycle, white goods, furniture, small/large electricals, door, lawnmower, strimmer, small carpet up to 12′ by 12′. | Bags/boxes of non-recyclable waste, bags of garden waste, gas bottles, fluorescent tubes, asbestos, tyres, trees, rubble, paint tins, car batteries. | Tell the council the exact items and exact location. |
| Barbecue, larger carpet, American-style freezer, garage door, kitchen units, patio doors, sunbed, workbench. | Fire-damaged items, oil tanks, metal baths, commercial fridges/freezers, boiler, range cooker, items recyclable through blue-lid bin. | Do not put items inside houses, garages, sheds or outbuildings; crews will not collect from inside. |
| Greenhouse or shed may need assessment if over 6′ by 8′. | Commercial or business waste. | For fridges/freezers, remove food and tape/tie the door shut after removing the seal. |
Recycling centres: booking, access and local sites
Recycling centres are for Aberdeenshire household waste only. Business waste needs trade waste routes.
| Rule | What it means | User action |
|---|---|---|
| Booking needed at Inverurie and Westhill | All vehicle types need a booking at these centres. | Arrive for the booked 15-minute slot. |
| Other centres | Cars usually do not need booking, but commercial-type vehicles and trailers do. | Check before travelling with van/trailer. |
| Book ahead | You can book up to 7 days in advance. | Book online or call Wasteline if you cannot book online. |
| Hire van | Use “HIRE VAN” instead of registration number and take hire documents. | Bring documents or entry may be refused. |
| Pedestrian access | Allowed at some sites and does not require booking. | Check site details before walking there. |
Communal bins, flats and shared waste areas
If you live in council flats or a communal dwelling, you may use shared bins instead of individual wheelie bins.
| Communal setup | Use it for | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Big black refuse bin | Non-recyclable household waste. | Do not leave waste beside it if full. |
| Big blue mixed recycling bin | Materials accepted in communal recycling. | Same materials as individual recycling bins. |
| Individual green food caddy | Food waste taken to the communal area for collection. | Use your own caddy and keep it locked. |
| Shared glass bin where provided | Glass recycling in some communal areas. | Use it only where the council provides it. |
Assisted collections and access problems
Use this route if you have difficulty putting wheeled bins out, for example because of mobility issues, or if standard bins cannot work for the property.
Mobility help
Request assisted collections if you have difficulty moving wheeled bins to the collection point.
No storage
If standard wheeled bins do not fit, ask about the collection bag service.
Vehicle access
Bag collections may also be used where standard collection vehicles cannot access the property.
Contact details and phone script
Use self-service first where possible. Aberdeenshire says it may take up to 5 working days to process contact queries.
| Need | Contact | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Household waste query | waste@aberdeenshire.gov.uk | Full address and postcode. |
| Wasteline | 03456 081207, Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 5pm. | Address, bin type, date, issue and contact number. |
| Business/trade waste | trade.waste@aberdeenshire.gov.uk | Business address and waste type. |
Simple call script
Hello, I’m calling about a waste collection issue at [full address and postcode]. The bin is [blue-lid/orange-lid/black refuse/food caddy]. It was due on [date], out by 7am at [kerbside/designated point], and it was [not tagged/tagged]. Can you confirm the correct next step?
Official links after you know the right route
Use the link that matches your problem. This avoids random clicking and wrong forms.
Check collection days
Use for address-specific blue/orange/black/food/battery collection dates.
Open checkerMissed bin
Use after checking disruptions, 7am rule, 4:45pm timing and tags.
Missed bin guideNew bins and repairs
Use for damaged bins, extra recycling bins, new homes and capacity requests.
Bins / repairsFind centre / booking
Use for centres, vehicle booking rules and accepted items.
Recycling centresGarden waste options
Use for composting, recycling centres and seasonal garden waste points.
Garden wasteAberdeenshire Refuse Collection FAQs
How do I check my Aberdeenshire bin day?
Use Aberdeenshire Council’s official bin collection checker and enter your postcode and property. Check which container is due because blue-lid, orange-lid and black refuse bins each follow a 3-week cycle.
What time should bins be out in Aberdeenshire?
Bins should be at the kerbside or designated collection area by 7am on collection day. Close lids, do not overfill, and do not leave waste beside bins.
Which Aberdeenshire bin is for paper and cardboard?
The blue-lid recycling bin is for paper, card and cardboard only. Do not put plastic containers, cans, cartons, glass or food waste in the blue-lid bin.
What goes in the orange-lid bin in Aberdeenshire?
The orange-lid bin is for metal tins, cans, aerosols, foil, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
When can I report a missed bin in Aberdeenshire?
You can report a missed bin after 4:45pm on your scheduled collection day and within 2 working days after that day. Check disruptions first and make sure the bin was out by 7am and not tagged.
Will Aberdeenshire Council return for missed food waste?
No. Aberdeenshire Council says it will not return to empty missed food waste collections.
Does Aberdeenshire collect garden waste from the kerbside?
No. Aberdeenshire does not operate a kerbside garden waste collection service. Use home composting, recycling centres or seasonal garden waste drop-off points where available.
How much is bulky uplift in Aberdeenshire?
Aberdeenshire lists bulky uplift charges as £33.68 for up to 4 household items, £67.35 for up to 8 household items, and £43.26 for individually priced items. Discounted charges may apply if you receive Council Tax or Housing Benefit.
Do I need to book an Aberdeenshire recycling centre visit?
Booking is required at Inverurie and Westhill for all vehicles. At other recycling centres, booking is required for commercial-type vehicles and trailers, and for certain waste transfer station visits.
What is Aberdeenshire Wasteline?
Wasteline is Aberdeenshire Council’s waste contact number: 03456 081207. It is open Monday to Friday from 8:45am to 5pm for household and trade waste queries.
Final practical advice
For Aberdeenshire refuse collection, the key is simple: check the exact date, know the bin colour, put it out by 7am, keep the lid closed, separate blue-lid and orange-lid recycling properly, and check disruptions before reporting a missed bin.
If normal bins do not solve the problem, choose the right route: extra recycling bin, assisted collection, bag collection, bulky uplift, recycling centre booking, glass point, garden waste composting or Wasteline support.