South Hams Refuse Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins & Waste

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South Hams bins • recycling boxes • seagull sacks

South Hams Bin Help Without Guesswork

Use this guide to solve the real household task: check your collection day, put out the right container, report a missed bin correctly, sort recycling boxes and white sacks, and choose the right route for garden, bulky, healthcare or holiday-let waste.

It is made for scanning. Pick the problem, follow the exact action, then open the official South Hams link only when it is the correct next step.

Choose my problem Collection pattern Missed collection steps

Quick answer: South Hams households can have recycling boxes, a reusable white plastic recycling sack and a food caddy. Each property also has either a 180L refuse wheelie bin or a seagull sack. Garden waste is optional and paid.

Most important missed-bin rule: you cannot report a missed collection until the day after it was due. Report within two working days, except Friday missed collections, which must be reported before the end of Monday.

Check official collection day Report missed collection South Hams recycling guide

Choose your South Hams waste problem

Tap the issue first. This tells you the correct next step before using a form.

Choose one option above to see the best next step.

South Hams collection pattern

Start here before checking your exact address. Garden waste can be on a different day from refuse and recycling.

Service South Hams setup Resident action
Refuse Each property has either a 180L wheelie bin for refuse or a seagull sack. Use for non-recyclable household waste only. Do not use it for recyclable boxes, food waste, garden waste or bulky items.
Recycling boxes All properties can have 2 recycling boxes. Box 1: paper and glass, separated inside the box. Box 2: cardboard, cartons, batteries and printer cartridges.
Reusable white sack All properties can have 1 reusable white plastic recycling sack. Use for household plastics and metals. Empty, rinse and replace lids where possible.
Food caddy All properties can have a kerbside food caddy. Internal 7L kitchen caddies are available at £7. Use for cooked and uncooked food waste. You can line it with bags, newspaper or leave food loose.
Garden waste Optional paid service using a 180L brown wheelie bin. Subscribe first. The sticker must be visible and the service may run on a different day.
Bulky waste Bookable household bulky waste collection from your home. Only select items on the form. If an item is not listed, South Hams says it cannot collect it.
Peak-season warning: South Hams says collections may happen before 7am during peak season. Do not leave putting containers out until late morning.

Put-out and timing rules

Use this short checklist to avoid a preventable missed collection.

Rule Exact answer Do this
Check address Use the official postcode/address checker. Do not rely only on a neighbour or old calendar.
Peak-season timing Collections may occur before 7am. Put containers out early enough; evening-before is safer where local practice allows.
Garden waste timing Brown garden waste bins should be displayed by 6am. Do not wait until normal commute time.
Bulky waste timing Bulky items must be outside by 7am on collection day. Place at the booked accessible location only.
Access Crews need clear access. No locked gates, steps or obstructions for bulky items; keep kerbside containers visible.
Garden sticker Subscribed brown bins need a sticker and visible house name/number. Allow 10 working days for the sticker and round attachment after subscribing.
Local tip: in narrow lanes, coastal villages and steep streets, make containers visible and stable. Wind, parked cars and hidden access points are common reasons crews cannot complete collections.

What goes in each South Hams container?

This is the most useful part for avoiding rejected recycling. The boxes and white sack are not interchangeable.

Container Yes No / common mistake Quick rule
Reusable white sack Plastic bottles, milk bottles, pots, tubs, trays, punnets, plant pots except black ones, drink cans, food tins, empty aerosols, foil, foil trays, aluminium tubes and metal lids. Plastic films, bags, black plastic, dirty packaging, pumps, absorbent pads and film lids. Empty and rinse. Replace bottle lids and tops where possible.
Box 1 Paper, magazines, newspapers, white paper, envelopes without plastic, junk mail, glass bottles and jars, perfume/aftershave/face-cream jars. Metal lids in the box, dirty paper, plastic-window envelopes, broken glass. Sort by material inside the box: paper at one end, glass at the other. Metal lids go in the white sack.
Box 2 Cardboard, cereal boxes, corrugated cardboard, delivery boxes, cardboard envelopes, greetings cards without glitter, egg boxes, brown paper, food/drink cartons, bagged batteries and printer cartridges. Dirty or greasy cardboard, takeaway pizza boxes with grease, glitter cards and unsorted mixed waste. Cardboard must be clean and free from dirt, food or paint.
Food caddy Cooked and uncooked food, bread, dairy, fruit/veg, teabags, coffee grounds, meat, fish, small bones and eggshells. Packaging, garden waste, liquids, non-food rubbish. You can line the caddy with bags, newspaper or leave food loose.
Refuse bin / seagull sack Non-recyclable household waste after recycling and food waste are removed. Recycling, food waste, batteries, printer cartridges, garden waste, healthcare sharps and bulky items. Use recycling containers first to avoid overflow.
Brown garden bin Grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, cut flowers, plants, branches up to 10cm, windfall fruit and vase flowers. Cardboard, food, food packaging, hutch sweepings, soil, rubble, bags or twine. Loose garden waste only in a subscribed brown 180L bin.
Sorting shortcut: white sack = plastics and metals; Box 1 = paper and glass; Box 2 = cardboard, cartons, batteries and printer cartridges.
South Hams item sorting guide Order replacement containers

Missed collection decision tree

South Hams has a tight missed-collection reporting window. Use this before you report.

Was it your correct collection day?
No → use the official address checker. Garden waste may be on a different day from refuse and recycling.
Did you wait until the day after?
No → South Hams will not accept a missed-collection report until the day after the collection was due.
Are you within the report window?
Report within two working days of the scheduled collection. For Friday collections, report before the end of Monday.
Was there a crew log?
The form can show crew reports. Certain vehicles also have photographs and CCTV that South Hams may compare with your report.
Was it inaccessible or wrong material?
Fix the issue before the next collection. Crews may not return where there is a valid reason for non-collection.
Correctly presented and still missed?
Report online or call 01803 861234 with your address, container type and collection date.
Do not delay: if you miss the two-working-day window, the council may not accept the report. Friday missed collections must be reported before Monday ends.
Report missed collection Check collection day first Call 01803 861234

Recycling box and white sack mistakes

South Hams recycling is high-value but easy to get wrong because materials are split across three containers.

1

Wrong container

Do not put paper/card in the white sack or plastics/metals in the wrong box. Keep the sack for plastics and metals.

2

Dirty cardboard

Greasy pizza boxes and cardboard with food or paint should not go in Box 2. Put dirty/greasy cardboard in refuse.

3

Lids and caps

Metal lids from glass jars and bottles go in the reusable white sack, not mixed with glass in Box 1.

Kerbside hack: label your boxes “Box 1 paper/glass” and “Box 2 card/cartons/batteries” with waterproof tape. It helps guests, tenants and family members sort correctly.

Garden waste subscription: £73 brown-bin service

Garden waste is optional, paid and fortnightly. It does not automatically follow your normal refuse/recycling day.

Garden waste point South Hams detail Resident action
Service year 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Subscribe for the service year before expecting collection.
Annual cost £73 after 1 April. Check current total before payment.
Container Fortnightly emptying of a 180L brown wheelie bin. Order a bin as part of subscription if you do not have one.
Sticker A sticker for each brown bin is posted to the subscribing address. Put the sticker on the bin with house name/number clearly displayed.
Setup time Allow 10 working days for sticker arrival and for the service to be attached to a round. Do not expect immediate collection the day after payment.
Winter pause Service ends 19 December 2026 and resumes 18 January 2027. Use composting or recycling centre during the pause.
Put-out time Garden bins should be displayed by 6am. Do not put it out late; it may be on a different day from refuse/recycling.

Accepted in brown bin

  • Grass cuttings.
  • Hedge trimmings.
  • Cut flowers and plants.
  • Branches up to 10cm / 4 inches.
  • Windfall fruit and vase flowers.

Not accepted in brown bin

  • Cardboard.
  • Food or food packaging.
  • Hutch sweepings.
  • Soil or rubble.
  • Bags or twine.
Subscription tip: if you subscribe close to your next garden collection, the sticker/round setup may not be ready. South Hams says to allow 10 working days.
Subscribe to garden waste Call 01803 861234

Bulky waste: £25 per item

Use bulky waste for suitable large household items only. Reuse or a recycling centre may be better for some items.

£

Cost

£25 for a single item. Additional items are £25 each.

12

Booking window

Choose a collection date up to 12 weeks in advance, subject to availability.

7

Put out

Place items outside by 7am on collection day.

✕

No site payment

Operatives cannot accept payment on site.

Bulky item rule South Hams example Action
Bedframe and headboard Classed as 1 item. Select the correct item in the form before paying.
Bed and mattress Classed as 2 items. Budget £25 per item.
3-piece suite Classed as 3 items. Book all pieces, not just “sofa”.
Fridge, freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer Each is classed as 1 item. Check the item list; if it is not listed, South Hams says it cannot collect it.
Collection location Easy access, no steps, locked gates or obstructions. Staff cannot enter homes, garages or outbuildings.
Reuse first: South Hams says some charities may take furniture and white goods free of charge, and most items can be disposed of at a local recycling centre.
Book bulky waste Check licensed waste carrier Call 01803 861234

Replacement containers and caddies

Use this when containers are missing, damaged or unsuitable for your property.

Need South Hams detail Best action
Kerbside recycling setup 1 kerbside food caddy, 2 recycling boxes and 1 reusable white plastic recycling sack. Order replacement containers if missing.
Refuse container Either a 180L wheelie bin or a seagull sack. Order the correct type for your property.
Garden container 1 brown 180L wheelie bin if subscribed. Order during subscription if you do not have one.
Internal kitchen food caddy 7L internal kitchen caddy costs £7. Buy if you want an indoor caddy; kerbside food caddy is separate.
Collect in person Recycling containers can be collected from Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE, Monday to Friday 09:00–16:30. Complete the form first; weekends and bank holidays are closed.
Delivery South Hams aims to complete deliveries within four weeks. Do not wait until collection day to request a missing container.
Order replacement container Call 01803 861234

Healthcare waste and sharps

Healthcare waste is not the same as ordinary refuse. Use the correct service so needles, syringes and infectious waste are handled safely.

Healthcare waste type South Hams detail What to do
Sharps Sharps collection is for needles and syringes. Request collection/replacement when the box is 3/4 full or no longer needed.
High grade medical waste Includes blood or other bodily fluids, swabs or dressings. A weekly service collects healthcare sacks and delivers empty sacks for the following week.
Low grade waste Incontinence pads, empty stoma bags and non-infectious swabs can be double bagged and placed in household refuse to be incinerated. Keep separate from recycling and food waste.
Purple-lidded cytotoxic container Not included in the council clinical waste collection service. Contact the healthcare provider, GP, hospital or treatment centre that supplied it.
Safety rule: never put needles, syringes or sharps loose in your refuse bin, recycling boxes or white sack.
Healthcare waste collection Call 01803 861234

Assisted collection

Assisted collection is for residents who are physically or medically unable to put recycling and refuse out for collection.

Do you have an age-related or medical condition?
You may apply if it prevents you putting waste out.
Is there another adult who can help?
If yes, you may not qualify. The service is for residents with no other adult able to help.
Will your circumstances be checked again?
South Hams may contact you in future and can remove the service if you no longer qualify.
Need to amend assisted collection?
Call 01803 861234.
Apply for assisted collection Call 01803 861234

Holiday lets and non-domestic waste

South Hams has many holiday lets. Waste from some non-domestic uses is not covered by normal household council-tax collection.

Rule South Hams detail Owner action
Holiday lets Properties operating as a holiday let may be charged under Controlled Waste rules and are not permitted to use taxpayer-funded domestic services. Arrange proper waste collection before guests arrive.
Business rates Paying Business Rates does not include waste collections. Do not assume bins are included because you pay rates.
Registered waste carrier Commercial waste must have an arrangement with a registered waste carrier. Keep Waste Transfer Notes / Duty of Care certificates.
South Hams CWR service The council’s annual non-domestic collection service is listed at £390. Use the CWR form if you want South Hams to collect in line with local services.
Legal proof Failure to produce Duty of Care documentation when requested can be a criminal offence. Keep certificates accessible for inspection.
Holiday-let tip: print the recycling box/white sack rules for guests. Guest contamination can quickly create missed collections and extra clean-up work.
Non-domestic waste collection Check registered waste carrier

Local tips for coastal, rural and tourist-season collections

South Hams has lanes, hills, coastal wind and seasonal visitor pressure. These small details prevent messy streets and missed collections.

Use this routine

  • Check the official address result after moving in or before peak season.
  • Put recycling boxes out securely so paper/card do not blow into the road.
  • Use the seagull sack properly where your property has one.
  • Put guest/tenant instructions near the kitchen bin.
  • Bring containers back after collection so pavements stay clear.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Putting plastics/metals in the recycling box instead of the white sack.
  • Putting dirty pizza boxes in Box 2.
  • Missing the two-working-day missed-bin report window.
  • Expecting garden waste to be the same day as refuse/recycling.
  • Using domestic bins for holiday-let or business waste.

Phone number and exact script

Use this when the form is unclear, a container is missing, or the case is unusual.

Need Contact Have ready
Bins, waste, recycling, missed collection, garden waste, bulky waste, assisted collection, healthcare waste 01803 861234 Address, postcode, container type, scheduled date, what was presented, and any crew log/form message.
Missed collection form Online missed collection route Use the day after collection and within the correct report window.
Container collection in person Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE Complete the form first; collection is Monday–Friday 09:00–16:30.

Simple call script

Hello, I’m calling about a South Hams waste collection issue at [full address and postcode]. The container is [refuse bin / seagull sack / Box 1 / Box 2 / white sack / food caddy / garden bin]. The scheduled collection date was [date]. It was presented at [location] at [time]. The issue is [missed / damaged container / wrong collection / garden subscription / healthcare waste]. Can you confirm the correct next step?

South Hams Refuse Collection FAQs

How do I check my South Hams bin collection day?

Use the official South Hams collection checker and select your exact address. It shows what collections are available at your property and the day they are collected.

What containers should a South Hams household have?

South Hams households can have a kerbside food caddy, 2 recycling boxes and a reusable white plastic recycling sack. Each property also has either a 180L refuse wheelie bin or a seagull sack.

What goes in the South Hams white recycling sack?

The reusable white sack is for household plastics and metals such as plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, cans, tins, empty aerosols, foil trays and metal lids.

What goes in South Hams recycling Box 1?

Box 1 is for paper and glass bottles or jars. Items should be sorted by material type inside the box, with paper at one end and glass at the other.

What goes in South Hams recycling Box 2?

Box 2 is for cardboard, cardboard boxes, corrugated cardboard, brown paper, food and drink cartons, and small bagged batteries or printer cartridges.

When can I report a missed collection in South Hams?

You can report a missed collection from the day after it was due. Reports must be made within two working days, except Friday missed collections, which must be reported before the end of Monday.

Does South Hams check missed-bin reports?

Yes. South Hams says crew reports are compared with the information you provide, and certain vehicles can also provide photographs and CCTV.

How much is South Hams garden waste collection?

The 2026/27 garden waste subscription costs £73 after 1 April and provides fortnightly emptying of a 180L brown wheelie bin. The service pauses for four weeks over winter.

How much is bulky waste collection in South Hams?

South Hams lists bulky waste at £25 for a single item and £25 for each additional item. Items must be selected from the booking form and placed outside by 7am on collection day.

What number do I call for South Hams waste services?

Call South Hams District Council on 01803 861234 for waste, recycling, missed collection, bulky waste, garden waste, assisted collection, healthcare waste or container questions.

Final practical advice

For South Hams refuse collection, the best routine is simple: check your address, use the correct box or sack, keep food waste in the caddy, report missed collections inside the short deadline, and remember that garden waste may run on a different day.

If the normal collection is the wrong route, choose the right service: garden waste subscription, bulky waste booking, replacement container order, healthcare waste, assisted collection, non-domestic holiday-let waste or a registered waste carrier.

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