Cornwall Refuse Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins & Waste

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Cornwall bins • food waste weekly • recycling sorted by colour

Cornwall Bin Days Without Guesswork

Use this guide to check your Cornwall rubbish collection day, sort orange, red, blue and black recycling containers, report missed collections correctly, manage the 180-litre rubbish limit, and use garden waste, bulky waste and HWRC routes.

Every section gives the exact action first, then the official Cornwall Council route only when it matches your problem.

Choose my problem Check bin day Missed collection steps

Quick answer: Cornwall Council collects food waste weekly, rubbish fortnightly, and recycling fortnightly on the opposite week to rubbish. Garden waste is collected fortnightly only if you subscribe.

Most important rule: put food waste, recycling, rubbish, garden waste or clinical waste out by 7am on the correct collection day. If the whole street has not been collected, wait until the end of the working day because rounds operate until 6pm.

Official household collections Report missed collection What goes in each container

Choose your Cornwall waste problem

Tap the closest option. This gives the right first action before opening a council form.

Choose one option above to see the best next step.

Collection day and 7am rule

Cornwall is postcode/address-specific. Your food, rubbish, recycling and garden waste dates may not match nearby villages, towns or holiday-let changeover days.

Question Exact Cornwall answer What to do
How do I check my collection day? Use Cornwall Council’s collection day/calendar route through household collections or My Area. Search the exact address, then save food, rubbish, recycling and garden dates separately.
What time should waste go out? Cornwall policy says waste should be out by 7am on collection day. Put it out the night before if your lane, village or coastal road is collected early.
Can crews arrive earlier than usual? Yes. Collection times can vary week to week. Do not rely on “they usually come later”. Use the 7am rule.
When do rounds finish? Cornwall says collection rounds operate until 6pm. If the whole street is still waiting, report only after the working day.
What is collected each week? Food waste weekly. Rubbish and recycling alternate fortnightly. Garden waste fortnightly if subscribed. Use different reminders for food, rubbish, recycling and garden waste.
What about temporary weather changes? During very hot weather, Cornwall may ask households to put collections out earlier, such as 6am on specified days. Check the current alert banner before collection week.
Cornwall local tip: on rural lanes, steep tracks and narrow coastal roads, access is often the hidden issue. Keep containers visible from the collection point and avoid leaving them where parked cars, holiday traffic or farm access can block the crew.
Household collections hub GOV.UK Cornwall collection route

Current Cornwall collection pattern

The practical change to remember is simple: separate food every week, then alternate rubbish and recycling weeks.

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Food waste

Collected weekly in the green outdoor caddy.

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Rubbish

Collected every two weeks in the 180L wheelie bin or protective sack.

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Recycling

Collected every two weeks on the opposite week to rubbish.

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Garden waste

Collected every two weeks only if you subscribe.

Why this matters: if your rubbish was put out on the recycling week, it has not been missed — it was the wrong week. Always check the exact calendar first.
Recycling collections overview Rubbish collections overview

Orange, red, blue and black recycling containers

Cornwall recycling works because materials are separated. This table is the fastest way to avoid a rejected recycling collection.

Container Yes No / common mistake Quick rule
Orange bag
Cardboard and card		 Brown and white cardboard/card, coloured paper, non-shiny wrapping paper, greetings cards and brown envelopes. Cartons, coffee cups, polystyrene, plastic film lids, bubble wrap, most crisp tubes unless 100% cardboard. Flatten boxes that do not fit, tie into a bundle and leave next to the recycling bag.
Red bag
Plastic, cartons and metal packaging		 Drinks cans, food tins, aerosols, foil, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, trigger sprays, toothpaste tubes, cartons, plastic bags/wrapping, fruit nets, sweet wrappers and crisp packets. Polystyrene, black plastic and plastic toys. Rinse and squash dirty cans, tins, pots, tubs and trays; wash and squash bottles/cartons and replace lids.
Blue bag
Paper		 Newspapers, magazines, brochures, junk mail, white envelopes, utility bills and shredded paper. Cartons, paper towels, wallpaper, brown paper, laminated paper and wrapping paper. Put shredded paper in a tied carrier bag and place it in the blue bag.
Black box
Glass and textiles		 Wine/beer bottles, jam jars, make-up/perfume bottles, clean dry clothes, shoes, towels, sheets, pillowcases, belts and bags. Broken glass, Pyrex/cookware, drinking glasses, sheet glass, duvets, pillows and dirty or damp clothes/shoes. Put clean textiles in a tied bag at the top of the box.
Green food caddy Food scraps, dairy, eggshells, bread, cakes, pastries, meat, bones, rice, pasta, beans, tea bags and uneaten pet food. Compostable takeaway cups, large amounts of liquid, pet waste and garden waste. Use the outdoor caddy for weekly food collection.
Broken glass rule: Cornwall does not take broken glass in recycling collections. Wrap it carefully or use a sturdy labelled container and leave it on top of your wheelie bin or sack.
What goes in each recycling container Recycling A-Z

180-litre rubbish limit and extra rubbish

Cornwall limits household rubbish to what fits inside the supplied 180-litre wheelie bin or protective sack with the lid closed.

Problem Correct route Do not do this
Rubbish bin/sack is full Remove recyclable items and food waste first. Use the Recycling A-Z if unsure. Do not leave extra bags beside the bin/sack.
Large item over 25kg / 50lb or longer than 1 metre Book bulky waste or take it to an HWRC if accepted. Do not put it out for the normal rubbish round.
Garden waste mixed with rubbish Subscribe to garden waste, compost at home, or use HWRC garden waste disposal. Do not put garden waste in the normal rubbish collection.
Regular exceptional extra rubbish Ask Cornwall Council to review your fortnightly rubbish limit. Do not assume extra rubbish will be collected automatically.
New container damaged or missing Use the replacement container form for green outdoor caddy, wheelie bin or protective sack. Do not repeatedly order the same missing recycling containers if you already have a reference.
Capacity tip: before asking for extra rubbish capacity, Cornwall expects households to use recycling and food waste services properly. The fastest space-saving wins are cardboard, red-bag plastics/metals/cartons, food waste and textiles.
Apply for extra rubbish bin or sack review Order replacement bin or sack

Missed collection decision tree

Cornwall Council checks vehicle tracking and CCTV before deciding whether a collection was genuinely missed. Use this decision tree before reporting.

Was it the correct day and week?
No → check your calendar. Rubbish and recycling are fortnightly on opposite weeks.
Was it out by 7am?
No → you may have missed the crew. Collection times can vary.
Was it in the correct container?
No → Cornwall may not return. Rubbish must be in the supplied 180L wheelie bin or protective sack; recycling must be separated correctly.
Was it bulky or garden waste?
Bulky items and garden waste are separate services. They do not go on the normal household rubbish round.
Has the whole street been left?
The round may be running late. Wait until the end of the working day because rounds operate until 6pm.
What happens after reporting?
If confirmed missed and correctly presented, Cornwall says the contractor returns by 6pm the next day for weekday reports, or by 6pm Monday for weekend reports.
Already reported?
Do not report again. Use the update route with your 12-digit reference number starting 10100.
Very important: if waste was intentionally left because it was not correctly presented, Cornwall says the contractor will contact you and will not return; take it back onto your property until the next scheduled collection.
Report missed collection Missed bin report form

Food waste caddies

Food waste is collected weekly. Use the caddy for food only, not liquids, garden waste or pet waste.

Yes for food caddy

  • Uneaten food and plate scrapings.
  • Dairy products, eggs and eggshells.
  • Bread, cakes and pastries.
  • Raw and cooked meat and bones.
  • Rice, pasta and beans.
  • Tea bags.
  • Uneaten pet food.

No for food caddy

  • Compostable takeaway cups.
  • Large amounts of liquid.
  • Pet waste.
  • Garden waste.
  • Packaging.
  • General rubbish.
  • Textiles or nappies.
Extra food waste: if you regularly have more food waste than fits in your caddy, Cornwall says you can order an extra or replacement green outdoor food waste caddy.
Food waste guidance Order food caddy

Extra recycling and replacement containers

Cornwall lets you put out extra recycling if it is separated correctly. This is better than filling the rubbish bin.

Need Official Cornwall detail User action
Extra cardboard Flatten it, tie it into a bundle and leave it out with the rest of your recycling. Keep it neat so it does not blow around.
Extra plastics, cans and tins Put them in a carrier bag and leave with the rest of your recycling. Make sure contents are clean and accepted.
Extra paper Put it in a carrier bag and leave out with the rest of your recycling. Keep it dry where possible.
More replacement recycling containers Order orange bag, red bag, blue bag, black box or green outdoor food caddy. You can also collect recycling bags/boxes from some libraries and information services.
Ordered containers not delivered If not delivered in 8 calendar days, do not order again. Request an update with your 10100 reference. Check your confirmation email for the reference number.
Worn-out recycling bags Put worn or damaged recycling bags in your wheelie bin or protective sack with household rubbish. Take damaged glass boxes to an HWRC.
Order recycling bags, boxes and caddies Extra recycling rules

Garden waste subscription

Garden waste is not part of normal rubbish collection. It is a paid fortnightly service for domestic households only, not businesses or self-catering holiday lets.

Garden waste option Container cost 2026/27 annual subscription Best for
240 litre brown bin £33 one-off container price. £76 per container. Larger gardens; holds about 4 black bags.
140 litre brown bin £26 one-off container price. £58 per container. Smaller gardens; holds about 2 black bags.
70 litre reusable bag £14 one-off container price. £30 per container. Occasional or small garden waste; holds about 1 black bag.
Garden service rule Cornwall detail Action
Subscription year Runs from 1 April to 31 March. Renew before 31 March or collections stop from 1 April.
Joining after April You pay only for remaining months. New collections start from the 1st of the following month, not straight away.
Collection days Garden waste is collected Monday to Friday including bank holidays, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Check your My Area calendar after subscribing.
New container delivery Delivered within 8 calendar days of payment. Provide a safe location and label the container with house name/number.
No active subscription Containers without a valid subscription are tagged and not emptied. Do not present garden waste until the subscription is active.
Moving house If you have a subscription, take the bin/bag with you and contact Cornwall with your new address and start date. Do not leave paid garden containers behind by mistake.

Yes for garden waste

  • Grass cuttings and leaves.
  • Organic sweepings.
  • Tree, shrub and rose prunings.
  • Branches up to 30cm long and 2.5cm diameter.
  • Cut flowers, weeds and windfall.

No for garden waste

  • Cardboard, glass, metal or plastic.
  • Food waste or vegetable peelings.
  • Turf, soil, compost or rubble.
  • Plant pots.
  • Animal bedding or faeces.
  • Japanese knotweed, ragwort, giant hogweed, bamboo or compostable bags.
Garden waste collections Renew or subscribe

Bulky waste prices and booking rules

Bulky waste is for large household items, not normal rubbish, commercial waste, rubble, chemicals or mixed crates of waste.

£

Standard items

First 4 standard items: £44 per order. Up to 4 more items: £16 each.

S

Small special items

£35 per item. Can be collected on their own or added to an order.

L

Large special items

£53 per item. Use the price-check tool to confirm category.

Bulky collection rule Cornwall detail User action
Collection day Collected once a week in each postcode on a set day. Check your area’s bulky collection day before booking.
Operating days Monday to Friday including bank holidays, but not Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Do not assume a weekend bulky collection.
Order limit You can book up to 8 items per order, in any mix of categories. If you have more than 8 items, place another order the following week.
Standard examples Items you would typically take when moving house are usually standard. Use the price-check tool as the final answer.
Not collected examples Asbestos, car parts, chemicals, commercial waste, gas bottles, garden waste, hazardous waste, pianos, plaster, rubble, tyres, tree trunks and many fixtures/fittings. Use HWRC, licensed carrier or specialist disposal.
Simple test: if the item is a fixture/fitting you would normally leave behind when moving house, Cornwall may class it as special or not collectible.
Household bulky waste collections Book and pay for bulky waste

Household Waste Recycling Centres

Cornwall’s HWRCs are useful for extra recycling, garden waste, bulky items and materials not suitable for kerbside collection. Some sites require booking.

HWRC rule Cornwall detail Resident action
Booking sites You need a slot for Bodmin, Bude, Launceston, Newquay, Saltash, St Austell and St Erth. Book same day if slots remain, or up to 7 days in advance.
Confirmation After booking, Cornwall sends a confirmation email. Keep it available when you travel.
Quieter times Sites are usually busiest 11am–noon and 2pm–3pm, especially weekends; quietest 9am–10am and 3pm–4pm. Visit during quieter windows if possible.
Reuse first Reusable furniture and household items may be collected by local charities from sites. Ask site staff before throwing reusable items away.
Black bag waste You may be asked to open black bags and separate recyclables. Sort black bags before leaving home.
Cornwall tip: load your car in reverse order: reuse items first, then sorted recycling, then black-bag residual waste. It makes HWRC unloading much faster.
Visiting HWRCs Cornwall HWRC site details

Assisted collections

Assisted collection is for households where no one can move waste to the property boundary due to mobility, disability or medical reasons.

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Who can apply

You must formally declare that no one in the household can move waste to the boundary due to mobility, disability or medical condition.

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Collection point

You can choose an outside point closer to your property, such as near the front door.

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Limits

Crews cannot enter sheds, garages or buildings. The point must be safe and accessible.

One application covers: rubbish, recycling, food waste and garden waste if you subscribe. You do not need to register each waste type separately.
Assisted collections Call 0300 1234 141

Clinical waste and sharps

Non-infectious items may go with normal rubbish, but infectious clinical waste and sharps need separate collection.

Medical waste type Cornwall detail Action
Non-infectious clinical waste Items like nappies, incontinence pads and stoma bags should go in normal household rubbish. Double-bag if appropriate and use normal rubbish route.
Infectious clinical waste Must not go in household rubbish. Cornwall collects it separately using a dedicated vehicle. Register for clinical waste collection.
Sharps bins Cornwall collects sharps bins but does not leave replacement sharps bins. Get new sharps bins from your healthcare provider or pharmacy.
One-off collections Use for small amounts of clinical waste or sharps bins when needed. Register each time you need a one-off collection.
Weekly clinical collections Use for regular orange or purple clinical waste bag collections. After registering, wait for confirmation letter and start date.
Clinical waste collections

Holiday lets, businesses and commercial waste

This is important in Cornwall. Household services are not for business waste, including many holiday accommodation situations.

Property / waste type Rule Best action
Self-catering holiday let Cornwall says household rubbish and recycling services cannot be used for commercial waste from businesses including holiday lets. Use a licensed waste carrier or commercial waste service.
Renting all or part of your home for holiday accommodation The commercial waste law may apply. Check commercial waste responsibilities before using household containers.
Garden waste subscription Garden waste collection is for domestic households only and not available to businesses including self-catering holiday lets. Arrange commercial garden waste disposal if needed.
Paying a private collector You remain responsible for using a legitimate route. Check waste carrier registration before handing over waste.
Local holiday-let warning: do not leave guest changeover waste beside household bins. In Cornwall’s tourist areas, overflow waste quickly becomes a gull, litter and complaint problem.
Commercial waste services Check a licensed waste carrier

Contact details and phone script

Most Cornwall waste issues are quickest online, but keep the waste team number ready if forms are difficult or the case is unusual.

Need Official contact route Have ready
Rubbish, recycling and waste team 0300 1234 141 Full address, postcode, waste type and collection date.
Missed collection update Use the update route, not a second missed report. Your 12-digit reference number starting 10100.
Garden waste renewal or missing reminder 0300 1234 141 Address, subscription type and payment details.
Replacement garden waste container Call 0300 1234 141. Payment details and container size.
Assisted collection application help Call 0300 1234 141 if you cannot use the online form. Medical/mobility reason and safe outside collection point.

Simple missed-collection script

Hello, I’m calling about a Cornwall waste collection issue at [full address and postcode]. The missed item was [food caddy / rubbish bin or sack / recycling / garden waste / clinical]. It was out by 7am at [collection point], on the correct collection day/week, in the correct container. Can you confirm the correct next step?

Cornwall Refuse Collection FAQs

How do I check my Cornwall rubbish collection day?

Use Cornwall Council’s household collections / My Area route to find your exact address calendar. Food waste is collected weekly, while rubbish and recycling are collected fortnightly on opposite weeks.

What time should I put waste out in Cornwall?

Cornwall Council says waste should be out by 7am on collection day. Collection times can vary week to week, and rounds operate until 6pm.

How often is food waste collected in Cornwall?

Food waste is collected every week in the green outdoor food waste caddy. If you regularly have more food waste than fits, you can order an extra or replacement outdoor caddy.

How often are rubbish and recycling collected in Cornwall?

Household rubbish is collected every two weeks. Recycling is also collected every two weeks, on the opposite week to rubbish.

What goes in Cornwall’s orange recycling bag?

The orange bag is for cardboard and card, including brown and white cardboard, coloured paper, non-shiny wrapping paper, greetings cards and brown envelopes.

What goes in Cornwall’s red recycling bag?

The red bag is for plastic, cartons and metal packaging, including cans, food tins, aerosols, foil, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, cartons, plastic bags and wrapping, fruit nets, wrappers and crisp packets.

What goes in Cornwall’s blue recycling bag?

The blue bag is for paper, including newspapers, magazines, brochures, junk mail, white envelopes, utility bills and shredded paper in a tied carrier bag.

What goes in Cornwall’s black recycling box?

The black box is for glass bottles and jars, plus clean and dry textiles such as clothes, shoes, towels, sheets, pillowcases, belts and bags. Broken glass, Pyrex, drinking glasses, sheet glass, duvets and pillows are not accepted.

How do I report a missed collection in Cornwall?

First check the correct day and week, 7am presentation rule, correct container and whether the round is still running. If correctly presented and missed, use Cornwall Council’s missed collection page. The contractor checks vehicle tracking and CCTV before returning.

How much is Cornwall garden waste collection?

For 2026/27, Cornwall lists annual garden waste subscriptions at £76 for a 240 litre bin, £58 for a 140 litre bin, and £30 for a 70 litre reusable bag. First-time subscribers must also buy a garden waste container.

Final practical advice

For Cornwall refuse collection, the winning routine is simple: check the exact calendar, put waste out by 7am, keep food waste separate every week, use the correct coloured recycling container, and keep fortnightly rubbish inside the supplied 180-litre wheelie bin or protective sack with the lid closed.

If normal collection does not solve the problem, choose the correct route: missed collection report, replacement caddy/bag/box, extra rubbish review, garden waste subscription, bulky waste booking, HWRC slot, assisted collection, clinical waste collection or licensed commercial waste carrier.

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