Waste and recycling collections
We offer four types of waste and recycling collections:
- Orange bins and sacks – for recycling
- Green bins – for garden waste
- Black bins – for rubbish which cannot be recycled or composted
- Grey bins - for food waste (your outdoor grey bin)
Most bins are emptied on an alternate weekly basis. Food waste is collected weekly.
- One week your black bin and outdoor food waste bin will be collected.
- The following week your orange recycling, garden waste bin and outdoor food waste bin will be collected.
Garden waste collections
Garden waste collections are suspended over winter between 1 December and 1 March each year.
Waste and recycling operational policies
Our waste and recycling policy (PDF) sets out our approach to the collection of waste within Bedford Borough. This policy is being updated to due to recent changes to collections.
Putting your bins out for collection
Your bins should be left at the edge of your property (closest to the highway) by 6am on your collection day and brought back on to your property as soon as possible after collection.
You can request new bins if you need additional containers or yours get damaged or stolen. Charges apply.
We will not collect black sacks which are left out alongside your bins.
Please do not leave your bins out for more than 24 hours after your collection. You can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 for leaving your bins out.
Bins left out on pavements after your collection can lead to increased littering and encourage fly-tipping. They also create obstructions for residents, particularly affecting the blind / partially sighted and wheelchair users.
Where a property cannot accommodate a wheeled bin, an officer will review and agree a suitable collection arrangement.
Report household bins regularly left out on street
You can report household bins regularly left out on the street to us using the form below, it should take no more than 3 or 4 minutes.
By submitting the form you agree that you have read and accepted how we process your personal data.
Use the button to report as a guest:
Alternatively, to report household bins regularly left out on the street.
Subscribe to email bulletins
You can subscribe to email bulletins for bin collection updates and recycling tips.