Recycling: Blue bin

Your blue recycling bin is emptied once every two weeks.

You will need to put your bin out at the point nearest to the public highway where the collection vehicle stops, such as the end of a path or driveway. Collections are from 6am throughout the year.

If you think your bin has been missed, you should contact the Waste team within 48 hours of your planned collection date. 

Report a missed bin

You can find out your collection day by going to:

When is my bin day?

Your blue recycling bin is for clean and dry:

• paper and cardboard (not shredded)
• plastic bottles
• tins, cans and empty aerosols

Please make sure these items are loose and not in bags.

Please don’t recycle these items in your blue bin:

• plastic pots (including plant pots), tubs, trays, film and packaging
• polystyrene
• textiles
• electrical items or batteries
• food waste
• dirty cardboard such as pizza boxes
• shredded paper or card

If in doubt, leave it out.

Small electricals collection

You can leave out any small electrical items on top of your blue or black bin with a plug, battery or cable that fit in a standard carrier bag, for example: 

• kettles and small toasters
• hair dryers and hand blenders
• cables and phones
• vapes and e-cigarettes 

Charitable recycling

Charity shops around the district will take good quality items they are able to resell. If you have items you are intending to take to charity shops please ensure they are open and accepting donations; do not leave them outside the shop.  

There are also a number of recycling sites where clothes and shoe banks can be found. These banks are owned and emptied by charities. 

Read our full list of recycling sites and their locations.

Simpler recycling

You may have heard of Simpler Recycling - this is government legislation introduced to change recycling collections across England so that everyone can recycle the same items from home. The changes aim to improve recycling rates, benefit the environment and conserve valuable resources.

We've started to help you to recycle more through the introduction of our weekly food waste collection service in October 2025, meeting the Government's target date of March 2026.

To collect a wider range of materials for recycling, including plastic pots, tubs and trays, a new recycling sorting facility is needed. Hampshire County Council, as our waste disposal authority, has had plans for a new Materials Recovery Facility approved and it is expected to be operational from Spring 2028.

Over the next two years we will be planning for the recycling changes this will bring and confirming how future collections will work. 

Until this facility is operational, it's important you recycle all that you currently can, as outlined in the list above. Glass can be recycled in your glass box. These items are collected every two weeks. Place your bagged food waste into your caddy for collection every week.  

You can also sign up to our fortnightly garden waste collection service.