Worthing Refuse Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins & Waste

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Worthing bins • coastal streets • missed collections

Worthing Bin Help Without Guesswork

Use this page to solve the real household task: check your bin day, put the right container out by 6:30am, report a missed bin correctly, avoid rejected recycling, and choose the right route for garden, food, bulky or electrical waste.

It is made for scanning. Pick the problem, follow the exact action, then open the official Adur & Worthing Council link only when it is the correct next step.

Choose my problem Collection pattern Missed bin steps

Quick answer: Worthing household refuse and recycling are normally collected on alternate weeks. Refuse uses a dark grey or black-lidded bin, recycling uses a blue-lidded bin or blue box, garden waste uses a paid green-lidded bin or official council garden sack, and weekly food waste collections start in phases from September 2026.

Most important rule: put bins on the kerbside nearest your home by 6:30am, visible and accessible from the road, with no extra waste beside the bin unless a specific bank holiday, Christmas/New Year or adverse-weather exception applies.

Check official bin day Report missed bin What can go in recycling

Choose your Worthing waste problem

Tap the issue first. This gives the correct next step before you call or open a form.

Choose one option above to see the best next step.

Worthing collection pattern

Start with this map of the service, then check your exact address because routes and bank holiday shifts can change the date.

Service Worthing setup Resident action
Household refuse Alternate-week collection. Most households use a wheelie bin with a dark grey or black lid, embossed with one dot. Use for general household waste only. Keep the lid closed and do not leave extra bags beside it.
Recycling Alternate-week collection for most properties. Some town-centre properties have weekly recycling. Containers are a blue-lidded wheelie bin or blue box. Put items in clean, dry, loose and squashed flat. No plastic bags.
Food waste Weekly food waste collections start in stages from September 2026. Refuse and recycling continue as usual every other week. Use the starter pack when delivered. Food waste will be collected weekly on the same day as either recycling or general waste.
Garden waste bin Paid annual subscription: £99 per year for a 240L green-lidded wheelie bin, collected weekly apart from the first two weeks after Christmas/New Year. Subscribe first. Put out by 6:30am, visible and accessible.
Garden waste sacks Official Adur & Worthing logo sacks cost £2.05 each, hold 75L and are collected weekly. Use official logo sacks only. Other bags will not be collected.
Bulky waste Chargeable booked collection. Worthing collections run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Book first. You will be offered dates up to six weeks ahead, based on availability.
Town-centre note: some Worthing town-centre properties have different recycling frequency. Always use the address checker before copying another street’s bin pattern.

6:30am and kerbside rules

Most missed-bin reports fail because the bin was late, hidden, blocked, overfilled or had wrong waste inside.

Rule Exact Worthing action What can go wrong
Put out time Bins should be ready by 6:30am on collection day. Late bins may not be treated as missed.
Collection window Bins may be collected up until 2pm. Do not report too early; the crew may still be on the round.
Position Leave bins on the kerbside nearest your home and accessible from the road. Bins blocked by a vehicle or not visible from the road can be missed.
Lid Keep the bin lid down. An overfilled bin with the lid up may not be emptied.
Side waste No additional waste beside the bin. Extra waste is not collected except after bank holidays, Christmas/New Year or adverse-weather missed collections.
After collection Bring bins back within your property as soon as possible on the same working day. Leaving bins on pavements creates obstruction and complaint risk.
Worthing coastal tip: in windy seafront and terrace streets, keep lids shut and avoid loose side waste. Wind-blown bags quickly become street litter and will not solve a capacity problem.

What goes where in Worthing?

Use this before bin day. The “no” column prevents rejected bins and wasted space.

Container / route Yes No / common mistake Quick rule
Grey/black-lidded refuse bin General household waste that cannot be recycled or composted. Clean recycling, garden waste, bulky furniture, soil, DIY waste, large electricals, hazardous waste and anything that should go to the tip. Use recycling and food waste first so the refuse bin has enough room.
Blue-lidded recycling bin / blue box Clean paper, card, cans, aerosols, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, glass bottles/jars, foil, cartons and accepted plastic packaging. Plastic bags, food bags, wrap, bubble wrap, polystyrene, dirty food packaging, textiles, batteries, electricals, black plant pots and non-recyclable glass such as Pyrex. Clean, dry, loose, squashed flat. No plastic bags.
Food waste bin Cooked and uncooked food, meat, bones, fish, dairy, fruit/veg, bread, rice, pasta, plate scrapings, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells, solid fats and pet food. Packaging, plastic carrier bags, oils/liquids, animal waste/bedding, flowers, cutlery and takeaway boxes. Use compostable liners, kitchen roll or newspaper; empty lined food into the outside bin.
Garden waste bin / sack Grass cuttings, weeds, prunings, flowers, leaves, plants, hedge cuttings and tree cuttings up to 100mm diameter. Seed trays, plastic pots, garden wire, plastic, glass, metal, gravel, stones, soil, compostable packing, cooked/uncooked food, animal poo, animal bedding and Japanese knotweed. Only paid green-lidded bin or official logo garden sacks are collected.
WEEE kerbside collection Small kitchen appliances, hairdryers, hair straighteners, power tools, DVD/Blu-ray players, remote controls, smoke detectors, radios, vapes and household batteries in a bag. Mobile phones, computers, laptops, TVs, monitors, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, fridges, freezers, washing machines and cookers. Place accepted small electricals next to your rubbish or recycling bin on bin day.
Worthing Recycling Centre / bulky waste Large items, reusable furniture, larger electricals, DIY-type waste and items too big for normal bins. Leaving large items beside the bin without booking. Use the tip, reuse route or bulky waste booking.
Quick memory rule: recycling bin = clean/dry/loose packaging; food bin = food only; garden bin/sack = plant material only; bulky/WEEE/tip = anything too large, electrical or unsafe.
Official recycling list Official refuse guide Official food waste guide

Missed bin collection: decision tree

Adur & Worthing says missed collections should be reported within two working days. Use this table first so you do not report a presentation problem as a missed bin.

Was it your correct collection day?
No → check the official bin-day page. Collection day can roll forward one working day after a bank holiday.
Was it out by 6:30am?
No → it may not count as missed. Put it out on the next correct collection date.
Is it before 2:30pm?
Wait. The bin-day page says missed reports are available after 2:30pm on collection day and up to two days after collection.
Was it visible and accessible from the road?
No → clear access next time. Bins blocked by vehicles or hidden from the road may not be collected.
Overfilled, lid up or extra waste beside it?
Yes → remove the problem. Extra side waste is normally not collected.
Wrong waste inside?
Yes → remove incorrect waste and present the bin on the next collection date. Crews will not return if it was not the council’s mistake.
Correctly presented and still missed?
Report within two working days. If it was missed by mistake, the council says it will come back as soon as possible.
Frozen-bin tip: the council suggests storing bins in a garage or sunny area, wrapping food waste in paper and placing cardboard at the bottom to help prevent contents freezing and sticking.
Official missed-bin guidance Check bin day and report Call 01903 851729

Recycling rules: clean, dry, loose and squashed

Worthing recycling fails when good items are bagged, wet, dirty or mixed with non-recyclables.

1

No plastic bags

Recycling must be loose. Plastic carrier bags, food bags, wrap and bubble wrap do not go in the recycling bin.

2

Keep paper dry

Wet paper and soggy cardboard cannot be recycled and can clog machinery. Keep the lid shut.

3

Wash and squash

Rinse containers, squash bottles, and keep recycling flat so more fits in your bin and truck.

Material Worthing yes Worthing no
Paper/card Cardboard, cereal boxes, clean pizza boxes, greetings cards without glitter, catalogues, envelopes with windows, newspapers, coffee cups. Padded envelopes, paper towels, tissues, photos, shiny/foiled wrapping paper, shredded paper and books.
Plastic Plastic bottles with lids on, pots, tubs, trays, takeaway containers, Easter egg packaging, toothpaste tubes, clean non-black plant pots at least 40mm x 40mm. Carrier bags, salad/crisp/bread bags, wrap, bubble wrap, polystyrene, toys, coat hangers, black plant pots, blister packs.
Metal/foil Empty aerosols with lid removed, tins, cans, biscuit tins, metal lids loose in bin, foil and foil trays scrunched up. Batteries, electricals, gas canisters, knives, paint tins, saucepans, utensils, crisp packets and food pouches.
Glass Glass bottles and jars, any colour. Pyrex, drinking glasses, vases, mirrors, window glass, lightbulbs, ceramics, crockery and spectacles.
Local reuse tip: the official recycling page points to Worthing Repair Café, Men in Sheds Worthing and other reuse options. Reuse good items before paying for bulky waste.

Food waste rollout from September 2026

Weekly food waste collections are being introduced in phases. Your refuse and recycling collections continue every other week; the food waste service is additional.

Food waste detail Official Worthing detail Resident action
Start Weekly household food waste collections start in stages from September 2026. Wait for your letter and starter pack; if you do not get one in August, your household is in phase two.
House pack 23L grey outdoor bin with orange lockable lid, 5L internal kitchen caddy, leaflet and starter roll of liners. No one needs to be home for delivery.
Flat pack 5L internal caddy, leaflet and liners; a 140L wheeled bin with orange lid goes in the bin store. Empty kitchen caddy contents into the shared food bin.
Collection day Food waste will be collected weekly on the same day as either recycling or general waste. Place out by 6:30am; your normal bin day does not change.
Processing Food waste is taken to an anaerobic digestion plant near Horsham to produce biofertiliser and renewable energy. Use the food bin even if you have very little; it will still be emptied.

Yes in food waste

  • Meat, bones, fish and shellfish.
  • Cheese, yoghurt and dairy products.
  • Cooked and uncooked fruit and vegetables.
  • Bread, cakes, pastries, rice, pasta and beans.
  • Plate scrapings, tea bags, coffee grounds, eggshells, solid fats, pet food and mouldy food.

No in food waste

  • Cutlery, takeaway boxes or non-food materials.
  • Packaging of any sort.
  • Oils or liquids.
  • Animal waste or bedding.
  • Flowers and plastic bags.
Caddy warning: do not put the small indoor caddy inside the outdoor bin for collection. Empty bagged or lined food waste into the outside bin.
Official food waste rollout

Garden waste: £99 bin service and £2.05 sacks

Garden waste is not part of the normal refuse or recycling bin. You either subscribe to the green-lidded wheelie bin service or use official council garden sacks.

Garden option Official detail Best action
Garden wheelie bin £99 per year for 2026/27. Includes a 240L green-lidded wheelie bin embossed with three dots. Subscribe online or call 01903 851729.
Collection frequency Weekly collection, apart from the first two weeks following Christmas and New Year. Check exact bin day after subscribing.
New bin delivery New garden waste bin delivery may take up to six weeks; subscription start is amended to reflect delivery delay. Do not expect instant collection right after payment.
Garden sacks Official AWCS biodegradable sacks cost £2.05 each, hold 75L and measure 80cm x 60cm x 25cm. Use only sacks with the council logo; other bags will not be collected.
Late renewal If payment was not made by the due date, collections may pause. Reinstatement after payment can take up to 14 days. Renew early if you depend on weekly garden collection.
Moving house The council asks you to let them know if you move so records can be amended and the bin can move to the new address. Do not assume the existing green bin at a new property is active in your name.

Yes in garden bin/sack

  • Grass cuttings.
  • Weeds and prunings.
  • Flowers, leaves and plants.
  • Hedge and tree cuttings up to 100mm diameter.
  • Loose garden waste only.

No in garden bin/sack

  • Seed trays, plastic plant pots or garden wire.
  • Plastic, glass, metal, gravel, stones or soil.
  • Compostable packing.
  • Cooked or uncooked food.
  • Animal poo, animal bedding or Japanese knotweed.
Worthing garden tip: if you only need occasional garden waste collection, official £2.05 sacks may be cheaper than a yearly wheelie-bin subscription.
Garden waste service Call 01903 851729 gardenwaste@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Bulky waste charge bands in Worthing

Bulky waste is for larger household items that will not fit in the bin. The final quote depends on the items and how easy they are to access.

Charge band 2026/27 price Equivalent example Important note
Category 1 £59 Up to 3 items of furniture or 9 sacks. No sack must weigh more than 25kg.
Category 2 £90 Up to 6 items of furniture or 18 sacks. Restricted access may increase complexity.
Category 3 £145 Up to 12 items of furniture or 36 sacks. If your items do not fit a band, assessment may be needed.
Worthing collection days Booking dependent Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. No immediate collection; date choices are offered up to six weeks ahead.

Bulky waste can include

  • Furniture such as tables, chairs, beds and mattresses.
  • Furnishings such as carpets and curtains.
  • White goods such as cookers, fridges and freezers.
  • Electrical items such as televisions, irons and microwaves.
  • Decorating items such as empty paint tins, old tiles and wallpaper.

Bulky waste does not include

  • Asbestos, plasterboard or chemicals.
  • Garden waste.
  • Loose chalk or soil.
  • Building rubble.
  • Large branches, roots or miscellaneous restricted items without advice.
Reuse first: good furniture, books, toys, clothing and some electricals may be better donated, repaired or reused before paying for bulky collection.
Official bulky waste service Check licensed waste carrier

Small electricals, vapes and batteries

Worthing has a kerbside WEEE route for some small electricals. Do not put batteries or vapes inside refuse or recycling bins.

Route Accepted examples Not this route What to do
Kerbside WEEE Kettles, toasters, hand mixers, blenders, hairdryers, straighteners, drills, jigsaws, sanders, DVD/Blu-ray players, remote controls, smoke detectors, radios, vapes. Mobile phones, computers, laptops, TVs, monitors, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, fridges, freezers, washing machines, cookers. Place accepted items next to your rubbish or recycling bin on bin day.
Batteries Household batteries if safe and possible to remove. Batteries loose inside the refuse or recycling bin. Put batteries in a bag for kerbside WEEE collection, use shop battery bins or take to the recycling centre.
Vapes Single-use vapes and reusable vape bodies. Loose vapes in refuse or recycling bins. Put in a bag so they do not fall out on the road; vape batteries can cause fires.
Fire risk: batteries and vapes should never be disposed of in recycling or refuse bins.
Official WEEE and battery guidance

Extra, larger and replacement bins

Use this when your problem is container size, missing bins or repeated lack of capacity after recycling properly.

Need Official route Best action
Check bin day and calendar Bin day page lets you check dates and download a calendar. Use before reporting a missed collection.
Extra or larger refuse bin Online services list “Request a larger refuse wheelie bin”. Use recycling, food waste and garden waste properly before requesting residual capacity.
Additional recycling bin Online services list “Request additional recycling bin”. Useful if your blue-lidded bin fills with clean recycling before collection day.
Damaged, lost, missing or stolen bin Online services list replacement bins for damaged, lost, missing and stolen bins. Order through the official route and keep waste secure while waiting.
Garden waste replacement bin Garden waste page has a replacement garden waste bin form. Use if a subscribed green-lidded garden bin is damaged or missing.
Online waste services Waste contact page Call 01903 851729

Assisted collection

Assisted collection is for residents who are disabled, elderly or not well enough to put rubbish, recycling or garden waste out for collection.

Can you put bins out yourself?
If no, you may apply for assisted collection.
Does someone in your home help?
If someone living with you can help, the council says you are unlikely to qualify.
Will your needs be assessed?
Yes. The council may assess your needs and may need to visit your home.
Assisted collection missed?
Report within two working days, using the missed-bin route.
Apply for assisted collection Call 01903 851729

Worthing Recycling Centre: when kerbside is the wrong route

Use the recycling centre or a licensed waste carrier when the item is too large, hazardous, commercial, DIY-related or not accepted at kerbside.

♻️

Good tip candidates

Large cardboard, reusable items, larger electricals, DIY-type materials, garden waste overflow and items too big for normal bins.

🗓️

Book/check first

West Sussex recycling centres use official site pages for opening times, booking and item rules. Check before loading the car.

⚠️

Private collector?

Check the waste carrier register before paying someone to take waste. You may still be responsible if your waste is fly-tipped.

Local reuse tip: Worthing Recycling Centre has reuse options, and the official recycling page points residents toward Worthing Repair Café, Men in Sheds Worthing and local bike repair/reuse projects.
Worthing Recycling Centre Book to Recycle Check waste carrier

Worthing local tips for bins, gulls, flats and busy streets

Worthing has coastal weather, flats, town-centre properties and narrow streets. These details help stop real-world collection problems.

Use this routine

  • Check your exact address and download the bin calendar.
  • Set app reminders for alternate-week refuse and recycling.
  • Keep refuse in closed bags inside the grey/black-lidded bin.
  • Keep recycling loose, dry and not bagged.
  • Place small WEEE beside the bin only on collection day.
  • Bring bins back on the same working day.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Reporting before 2:30pm on collection day.
  • Leaving extra bags beside the bin.
  • Putting general waste in the blue recycling bin.
  • Putting soil, food or plastic pots in garden waste.
  • Leaving garden sacks without the council logo.
  • Putting batteries or vapes into refuse or recycling bins.
Flat and town-centre note: if you live in a flat, above a shop or in a town-centre property, check the address result carefully. Your recycling setup or frequency may differ from standard wheelie-bin homes.

Phone number, email and exact script

Use this when the form is unclear, the property is not found, a container is missing, or the issue keeps repeating.

Need Contact Have ready
Bins, recycling, waste, missed bin, garden waste, larger bin, bulky waste, assisted collection 01903 851729 Full address, postcode, bin type, collection date, whether it was out by 6:30am, and any tag/reason left.
Waste team email help.aws@adur-worthing.gov.uk Photos if useful, bin type, address, collection date and short problem description.
Garden waste account/payment gardenwaste@adur-worthing.gov.uk or 01903 851729 Invoice/account details, address and whether subscription is new, renewal or moving house.
Worthing Borough Council switchboard 01903 239999 Use only if you cannot identify the correct service route.

Simple call script

Hello, I’m calling about a Worthing waste collection issue at [full address and postcode]. The bin is [grey/black refuse / blue recycling / garden waste / food waste / WEEE]. The scheduled collection date was [date]. It was out by 6:30am on the kerbside nearest my home and was [accessible/not accessible]. There [was / was not] extra waste or wrong material. Can you confirm the correct next step?

Worthing Refuse Collection FAQs

How do I check my Worthing bin collection day?

Use the official Adur & Worthing Councils bin-day checker and enter your exact postcode/address. You can also download a bin-day calendar and use the council app for reminders.

What time should I put my bins out in Worthing?

Bins should be ready by 6:30am on collection day, left on the kerbside nearest your home and accessible from the road. Collections may take place up until 2pm.

How often is refuse collected in Worthing?

Worthing household refuse is collected on alternate weeks. Most households use a wheelie bin with a dark grey or black lid, embossed with one dot.

How often is recycling collected in Worthing?

Recycling is collected on alternate weeks for most Worthing properties, although some town-centre properties have weekly recycling. Use the official address checker for your exact schedule.

What should I do if my Worthing bin was missed?

Check that it was the correct collection day, out by 6:30am, visible, accessible, not overfilled and not contaminated. Missed collections can be reported after 2:30pm on collection day and within two working days.

Can I leave extra bags next to my refuse bin?

No. Extra waste beside your bin will not normally be collected. The council lists limited exceptions after bank holidays, Christmas/New Year or missed collections caused by adverse weather.

How much is Worthing garden waste collection?

The 2026/27 garden waste bin subscription costs £99 per year and includes a 240L green-lidded wheelie bin with weekly collection, except the first two weeks after Christmas and New Year.

How much are Worthing garden waste sacks?

Official Adur & Worthing Councils garden waste sacks cost £2.05 each for 2026/27, hold 75 litres, are fully biodegradable and are collected weekly. Only sacks with the council logo are collected.

How much is bulky waste collection in Worthing?

For 2026/27, bulky waste charge bands are £59 for Category 1, £90 for Category 2 and £145 for Category 3. The quote depends on the items and how easy they are to access.

What number do I call for Worthing bins and waste?

Call the Adur & Worthing Recycling, Refuse and Waste team on 01903 851729 for bin-day, missed-bin, garden waste, bulky waste, larger bin, replacement bin and assisted collection support.

Final practical advice

For Worthing refuse collection, the best routine is simple: check your exact bin day, put the correct bin out by 6:30am, keep recycling clean/dry/loose, avoid side waste, and report missed bins only after 2:30pm and within two working days.

If normal kerbside collection is the wrong route, use the correct alternative: food waste rollout, garden subscription or official sacks, bulky waste booking, WEEE kerbside collection, Worthing Recycling Centre, assisted collection or a licensed waste carrier.

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