Waste and recycling collections
We provide a weekly recycling and waste collection service to households in the city of Leicester in partnership with our contractor Biffa Leicester.
Quick links
Christmas and New Year collection changes
Your recycling and waste collection days will change over the festive period. Find your new collection date below. Please ensure all recycling and waste is put out for collection by 7am on collection day.
| Normal collection | Changed to |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 24 December | Monday 23 December |
| Wednesday 25 December | Tuesday 24 December |
| Thursday 26 December | Friday 27 December |
| Friday 27 December | Saturday 28 December |
| Tuesday 31 December | No change |
| Wednesday 1 January | Thursday 2 January |
| Thursday 2 January | Friday 3 January |
| Friday 3 January | Saturday 4 January |
If your collection was missed, you can report it via our online form.
Please note, opening hours at our recycling centres and trade waste facility will change over the Christmas period.
Remember to recycle during the festivities
You can put out as many orange bags for collection as you need to.
- Flatten large cardboard boxes and place them under your orange bags for collection.
- Old Christmas cards and wrapping paper can be recycled, but please make sure they don’t have glitter on them and remove any bows or other ornaments before you put them into your orange bags for recycling.
- Some items such as Christmas food waste and polystyrene packaging can’t be recycled. These must go into your black bin.
- Unwanted gifts and clothes can be donated for reuse at a Charity Shop or our Reuse Shop at Gypsum Close. Visit the What can I recycle? page for full details.
Many of us use more batteries over Christmas. But please don’t bin old batteries or put them in with your recycling, as they can cause serious fires at recycling and waste facilities. Instead take them to one of our Recycling Centres or drop them off at a retailer near you. Or why not consider buying reuseable batteries which you can charge again and again.
Small electrical items such as broken fairy lights should also be taken to our Recycling Centres for recycling. Please do not put any electrical items into your bins at home.
Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for recipes and advice to help you reduce the amount of food you waste and save you money this Christmas.
Last year we were called out to clear up real and artificial Christmas trees that had been fly-tipped around Leicester. Once the festivities are over, please dispose of your Christmas tree correctly. Real Christmas trees can be taken to one of our Recycling Centres and dropped into the Garden Waste skip, from where they will be sent for composting.
Artificial trees can be stored and used again next year or donated to a charity or reuse shop. If they are broken, please take them to one of our Recycling Centres for disposal.
Where and when do I leave my waste and recycling?
Your orange bags and black general waste bin should be left at the edge of your property nearest the road for collection by 7am on collection day. Your bin should be left out no earlier than 7pm the day before collection, and must be back on your property no later than 7am the following day.
The bin lid should be closed, and no other bags other than the orange bags should be presented for collection. Large cardboard boxes can be flattened and placed underneath orange bags.
No other waste or recycling, bagged or otherwise, should be left around the bins.
Early collections during hot weather
Please put all bins and bags ready for collection from 6am on your collection day during hot summer weather.
What can I put in my black general waste bin?
- Food waste
- Nappies
- Broken glass
- Polystyrene/styrofoam
- Other general household waste.
What can't be put in the black general waste bin?
Some items cannot be placed in black bins:
- Clinical waste - find out about our separate collection service for medical waste such as needles.
- Rubble, bricks, stones, concrete or soil (take these to a recycling centre)
- Hard metal objects (take these to a recycling centre).
Hazardous items
The following hazardous items should be taken to a recycling centre:
- Asbestos (find out how this should be disposed)
- Batteries (in particular lithium batteries, commonly found in phones)
- Electrical goods, including fridge/freezer, TV monitors
- Energy saving lightbulbs and fluorescent tubes
- Hazardous chemicals such as solvent based products, some cleaning products or items contaminated with hazardous chemicals, including used containers.
- Oil, petrol, diesel or paraffin, brake fluid, antifreeze or items contaminated with these liquids including containers.
- Pesticides
- Plasterboard or cement products
- Wood preservatives.
We don’t collect hazardous waste. It is the responsibility of the householder to take their hazardous waste to the local household waste recycling centre or make arrangements with a private licensed contractor. Find out more on our hazardous waste webpage.
Bins left on the street
Our city wardens have been working with communities to address the issue of bins being left out on residential streets. Residents who do not remove their bins may be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £80. If there is an accident as a result of your bin being left out on a non-collection day, then you could be liable. You can report this issue to our city wardens:
Need help putting your bin/recycling bags out?
If you are unable to put your bin or recycling bags out, and there is no one else in the property that can help, you may be eligible for assistance. Submit your details using the online form so that we can discuss your requirements.
Waste and recycling at religious institutions
Religious institutions may be eligible for free refuse and recycling collections. We determine a religious organisation on the basis that they are a registered place of worship. Please email [email protected] to request a waste service.