Cardiff Bin Day Help Without Guesswork
Use this guide to check your Cardiff refuse collection date, put bags and bins out correctly, report a missed collection and sort blue sacks, red sacks, food caddies, glass caddies, garden waste and general waste.
It is built for quick scanning: choose the problem, follow the exact action, then use the official Cardiff Council link only when it is the right route.
Quick answer: Cardiff Council lets you check your next recycling and waste collection by house number and postcode. Collections normally happen Tuesday to Friday between 6am and 3:30pm. Put all containers out before 6am on collection day or after 4:30pm the day before.
Cardiff’s key sorting system: blue sack for paper/cardboard, red sack for plastics/cans/Tetra Pak, food caddy for food waste, blue caddy for glass, green bin/sacks for garden waste, and black bin or seagull-proof sack for general waste.
Choose your Cardiff bin problem
Tap one option. This gives the right first step before opening a council form.
Cardiff collection dates and 6am rules
The date checker is the first source to use because Cardiff collection days depend on the property. The collection day stays the same each week, but the time can vary.
| User question | Official answer | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| How do I check my Cardiff bin day? | Use house number and postcode to see next recycling and waste collections. | Check the official page and set email reminders if you want prompts. |
| When do collections happen? | Tuesday to Friday, between 6am and 3:30pm. | Do not assume a missed collection before the collection window has passed. |
| When should I put containers out? | Before 6am on collection day or after 4:30pm the day before. | Put sacks/caddies out the evening before if mornings are rushed. |
| Where should containers go? | On the pavement for collection. | Keep them visible but avoid blocking pedestrians, prams and wheelchairs. |
| When should I remove them? | By 9am the day after collection. | Bring bins and caddies back in quickly, especially on narrow streets. |
Which Cardiff sack, caddy or bin should I use?
Cardiff uses a separated recycling system. The fastest way to avoid contamination is to separate paper/card, plastics/cans, food and glass before collection day.
| Container | Use it for | Common mistake | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue sack | Paper and cardboard. | Food/drink cartons, plastic film, wallpaper, wrapping paper, tissues and carrier bags. | Keep dry paper/card separate from plastics and cans. |
| Red sack | Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, cans, aerosols, foil and Tetra Pak. | Plastic carrier bags, soft plastics, crisp packets, pet food pouches, toothbrushes, razors and plant pots. | Rinse items and keep problem plastics out. |
| Food caddy | Cooked and raw food waste. | Packaging, liquids, non-food waste or garden waste. | Food waste is collected every week. |
| Blue glass caddy | Glass bottles and jars. | Drinking glasses, ceramics, Pyrex, light bulbs, glass panes or broken glass. | Collected every 2 weeks with general waste. |
| Green garden bin/sacks | Grass, leaves, weeds, small branches, twigs, flowers and plants. | Soil, rubble, pet waste, nappies, cardboard, food waste, tools, flower pots or electricals. | You may need to register; bins/sacks have costs. |
| General waste bin or seagull-proof sack | Waste that cannot be recycled. | Extra side bags, loose rubbish in sacks, medical-type waste that needs another service. | Collected every 2 weeks. |
Missed collection: what to check before reporting
Cardiff says you can only report a missed collection for your own property, not the whole street. Check status first, then report the specific missed bin or bag.
Blue sack: paper and cardboard
Blue sacks are collected weekly. Use them for clean paper and cardboard only.
Put in the blue sack
- Card and cardboard boxes.
- Egg cartons and toilet roll tubes.
- Cereal boxes and toothpaste boxes.
- Paper, newspapers and magazines.
- Envelopes, letters and printer paper.
- Small shredded paper in a paper/card container.
Keep out of the blue sack
- Food and drink cartons such as Tetra Pak.
- Polystyrene and plastic film.
- Wallpaper and wrapping paper.
- Tissues, paper towels and kitchen roll.
- Sanitary products.
- Plastic carrier bags or bin bags.
Red sack: plastic, cans and Tetra Pak
Red sacks are collected weekly. They are for rigid recyclable containers, not soft plastics or carrier bags.
| Red sack yes | Red sack no | Best rule |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic toiletry bottles, cleaning bottles, drinks bottles, fruit punnets, yoghurt pots, cake trays, takeaway cartons and lids. | Plastic carrier bags, bin bags, cling film, bread bags, crisp packets, pet food pouches and medicine blister packs. | Rigid containers only; no soft plastic. |
| Empty aerosols, metal drinks cans, food tins, Tetra Pak, clean foil and foil cartons. | Toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, razors, gas lighters, gas canisters, toys, plant pots, Tupperware, saucepans and cutlery. | Rinse containers and remove food residue. |
Food waste and glass caddies
Food waste is weekly. Glass is separate and is collected every 2 weeks on the same day as general waste.
Food caddy: weekly
- Fruit and vegetable peelings.
- Leftovers and plate scrapings.
- Egg shells.
- Meat, bones, dairy and fish.
- Tea bags and coffee grounds.
Blue glass caddy: every 2 weeks
- Glass bottles such as beer, wine and soft drink bottles.
- Glass jars such as sauce jars and baby food jars.
- Do not include ceramics, china or Pyrex.
- Do not include drinking glasses or broken glass.
- Do not include light bulbs or glass panes.
General waste: black bin or seagull-proof sacks
General waste is for items that cannot be recycled. Cardiff collects it every 2 weeks and will not collect extra bags beside the bin.
| Property type | Official rule | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Properties using bins | General waste goes in your general waste bin. Bins cost £25 each if you need a new/replacement bin. | Close the lid properly. Do not leave extra bags next to the bin. |
| Extra/larger bin need | Only possible if you regularly have extra general waste outside your control, such as medical waste, and you use recycling/food waste fully. | Contact Cardiff Council for an assessment rather than leaving side waste. |
| Seagull-proof sacks | Your property should have 2 sacks. Each sack can hold 2 closed rubbish bags. | Use good quality rubbish bags inside the sack and secure Velcro strips. |
| Seagull sack mistake | Do not use carrier bags and do not put loose rubbish directly into sacks. | Cardiff will not collect general waste bags that are not inside sacks where sacks are required. |
Garden waste: green bin or reusable sacks
Cardiff garden waste rules depend on whether your property uses bins or sacks. You may need to register for collections.
| Garden waste issue | Official detail | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Need a green bin | Call Connect to Cardiff on 029 2087 2087. Green bins cost £35 each. | Allow up to 15 working days for delivery. |
| Maximum bins | You can have a maximum of 2 green bins. | Do not present more than your property is allowed. |
| Properties using sacks | Reusable sacks cost £3.50 each and delivery may take up to 15 working days. | You can put a maximum of 5 sacks out for collection. |
| Cash payment | Cash payment is available at listed Cardiff hubs/libraries. | Use this if you cannot pay online or by card. |
Garden waste yes
- Grass cuttings.
- Leaves and weeds.
- Small branches and twigs.
- Small plants and flowers.
Garden waste no
- Sawdust, woodchip and bark.
- Hay and shredded paper.
- Pet waste, nappies, soil or rubble.
- Wood, decking, cardboard and flower pots.
- Garden tools, food waste or electrical equipment.
Bulky item collection: charges and limits
Use bulky collection for large residential items that are too big to take to a recycling centre yourself. It is not for commercial waste.
Booking fee
All collections have a non-refundable £5 booking fee.
Small booking
1 to 2 items: £15, plus booking fee.
Medium booking
3 to 4 items: £30, plus booking fee.
Max booking
5 to 6 items: £45, plus booking fee.
| Bulky yes | Bulky no | Booking rule |
|---|---|---|
| Large electrical appliances, UPVC windows/frames, metal items, white goods, wood/MDF/laminate items, carpets and hard plastics. | Glass doors, small electricals, pianos, asbestos, garden waste, soil/rubble and bikes. | You can book a maximum of 6 items. |
| Ceramic/tile/stone items, divan bases, sofas, armchairs, mattresses and mixed-material furniture. | Items not listed should be checked through the A to Z or recycling-centre route. | Place items in the location stated in your booking. |
| Item swaps are possible up to 2pm, 1 working day before collection. | You cannot add extra items after payment; you need another booking. | Cancel 5 working days before collection for refund eligibility; booking fee stays non-refundable. |
Get more bags, caddies and liners
Cardiff has local stockists for some supplies and delivery routes for some containers.
| Need | Official route | Useful detail |
|---|---|---|
| Blue sacks, red sacks, caddy liners, kitchen food caddies, reusable garden sacks. | Use postcode search to find your nearest stockist. | Good for quick pickup if you can visit a stockist. |
| Kerbside food caddies or glass caddies. | Order for delivery using postcode search. | Useful if caddy is missing or damaged. |
| Hygiene collection bags. | Order delivery if registered for hygiene collection. | Do not use ordinary sacks for hygiene service. |
| Assisted-collection resident who cannot visit a Hub. | Can order all containers online for delivery if registered. | Use assisted-collection route if you cannot put containers out. |
Recycling centres and extra waste
Cardiff recycling centres are for household items only and are free for Cardiff residents, but you need booking and proof rules.
| Rule | Cardiff detail | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sites | Lamby Way and Bessemer Close recycling centres. | Book before visiting and check which site accepts your item. |
| Proof | Bring proof of booking and proof of address. | Have both ready before driving. |
| Visits | Up to 26 visits per year; cars cannot visit more than three times per day. | Plan bulk clear-outs carefully. |
| Van/trailer | Van or car with trailer: only 1 visit per month. | Check vehicle access rules first. |
| DIY waste | Centres cater for small DIY projects only; large projects need skip/commercial route. | Do not take mixed builders waste. |
| Rubble/hardcore/soil | Maximum 6 x 20kg bags per visit; bags must be tipped into skip and taken home. | Do not leave sacks behind. |
| Asbestos | Maximum two asbestos sacks at Bessemer Close; appointment must be booked by phone. | Call 029 2087 2087 for asbestos appointment. |
Flats with communal bins
Cardiff says every flat setup is different because arrangements depend on building management. Use the building’s bin signs first.
| Communal bin type | Use it for | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Red communal recycling bin | Cans, tins, cartons, plastic bottles, tubs and trays. | Do not bag recycling if you have separate recycling bins. |
| Blue communal recycling bin | Paper and cardboard. | Keep paper/card separate from containers. |
| Yellow-lid bin | Glass. | Only glass bottles and jars, not drinking glasses or Pyrex. |
| Communal green recycling bin | Loose recyclable items where separate bins are not yet provided. | Do not put black bags in the communal green bin. |
| Brown food waste bin | Food waste from kitchen caddy liners. | Do not use plastic bags. |
| Communal general waste bin | General waste in bags, not recycling bags. | Cardiff will not empty bins blocked by bulky waste or extra bags. |
Assisted collection and hygiene collections
These two services solve different problems: assisted collection helps with moving containers; hygiene collection helps with nappies and incontinence waste.
| Service | Who it helps | Key Cardiff rule |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted collection | Disabled residents who cannot carry containers to the pavement, with no one else in the home and no family/neighbour/carer help. | Call 029 2087 2087. Cardiff arranges a doorstep visit and agrees a safe collection point. |
| Assisted collection limits | Not for residents using communal bins or residents who can put waste directly on pavement outside the property. | Crews cannot enter your home to collect waste. |
| Hygiene collection | Households using nappies, adult incontinence pads or bed liners. | Weekly service using purple hygiene bags. |
| Hygiene application | Apply online or call C2C on 029 2087 2087. | Bags are delivered within 7 to 10 working days after application is processed. |
| Hygiene yes/no | Collects nappies, nappy changing waste and incontinence pads. | Does not collect catheters, stoma bags, needles, sanitary waste, vomit or animal faeces. |
Contact script and official Cardiff links
Use the exact route for the task. For most collection-date and missed-bin issues, the official online page is faster than a general phone call.
| Need | Best route | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Collection dates | Official “When are my bins collected?” page. | House number and postcode. |
| Missed collection | Official missed collection page. | Address, container type, scheduled date and whether other properties were collected. |
| Garden bin/sacks, assisted collection, hygiene collection, asbestos appointment | Connect to Cardiff: 029 2087 2087. | Full address, property type and exact waste issue. |
| Bulky item booking change | Contact Cardiff Council on 029 2087 2087. | Booking reference, item list and collection date. |
Simple call or form script
Hello, I’m contacting you about a Cardiff waste collection at [full address and postcode]. The container is [blue sack / red sack / food caddy / glass caddy / garden waste / general waste]. The scheduled date was [date]. It was put out [before 6am / after 4:30pm the day before]. My neighbours’ waste [was / was not] collected. Can you confirm the correct next step?
Cardiff Refuse Collection Dates FAQs
How do I check my Cardiff refuse collection date?
Use Cardiff Council’s official “When are my bins collected?” page and enter your house number and postcode. The page shows details of your next recycling and waste collections.
What time should I put my bins, bags and caddies out in Cardiff?
Put all recycling and waste containers out before 6am on collection day, or after 4:30pm the day before. Cardiff collections usually take place Tuesday to Friday between 6am and 3:30pm.
When should I bring my Cardiff bins and containers back in?
Cardiff Council asks residents to take bins and containers off the pavement by 9am the day after collection.
How do I report a missed collection in Cardiff?
Use Cardiff Council’s official missed collection page. You can only report a missed collection for your own property, not for the whole street.
What goes in Cardiff blue sacks?
Blue sacks are for paper and cardboard such as cardboard boxes, egg cartons, cereal boxes, paper, newspapers, magazines, envelopes, letters, printer paper and shredded paper.
What goes in Cardiff red sacks?
Red sacks are for plastics, cans and Tetra Pak such as plastic bottles, plastic pots and tubs, empty aerosols, metal drinks cans, food tins, clean foil and foil cartons.
How often is Cardiff food waste collected?
Food waste is collected every week. Cardiff accepts unwanted cooked and raw food such as fruit and vegetable peelings, leftovers, egg shells, meat and bones, dairy, fish, tea bags and coffee grounds.
How often is Cardiff glass collected?
Glass goes in the blue caddy and is collected every 2 weeks on the same day as general waste. Use it for glass bottles and jars only.
How much does a Cardiff garden waste bin cost?
Cardiff Council lists green garden waste bins at £35 each, with a maximum of 2 green bins. Reusable garden sacks cost £3.50 each, and properties using sacks can put out a maximum of 5 sacks.
How much is Cardiff bulky item collection?
Cardiff bulky item collection has a non-refundable £5 booking fee. Collection charges are £15 for 1 to 2 items, £30 for 3 to 4 items, and £45 for 5 to 6 items.
Final practical advice
For Cardiff refuse collection dates, the simplest routine is: check the official address lookup, put containers out before 6am, separate blue sacks, red sacks, food and glass properly, and check disruption notices before reporting a missed collection.
For anything bigger than normal kerbside waste, use the right route: garden waste bin/sacks, bulky item booking, recycling centre appointment, assisted collection, hygiene collection or a registered waste carrier.