Bin collection Edinburgh: collection dates, what happens to green and brown bins, and guidance on coronavirus

Despite staff shortages and a lockdown Edinburgh Council have assured the public that they were working hard to keep services “running as normal”.

There are measures in place however that Edinburgh residents must adhere to in order to ensure their waste is collected safely.

What has happened to different types of waste collection?

Communal bin services

All Edinburgh Council communal bin services are currently running.

Grey bins

Edinburgh council are aiming to run grey bin services normally, but ask that residents present their waste for collection for 6am as there may be changes to your collection time.

Blue boxes (glass collection)

Blue box services have been suspended from Monday 23 March.

Residents are asked to rinse bottles and jars and store them at home and avoid using local recycling points

Brown bins and food waste collections

Edinburgh council are aiming to run brown bin services and food waste collection normally, but ask that residents present their waste for collection for 6am as there may be changes to your collection time.

Green bins

Edinburgh council are aiming to run green bin services normally, but ask that residents present their waste for collection for 6am as there may be changes to your collection time.

Assisted collections

This service is continuing to run as normal but the council are not able to add any new addresses to it at the moment.

Bulky items

Bulky items services have been suspended from 24 March. Residents are asked if they have large items to keep them at home and only use communal and wheelie bins for day to day waste and recycling.

What should I do with my waste if I have coronavirus?

If you have symptoms of Coronavirus or live with someone who does, you must store your personal waste for example used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths securely within disposable plastic bags.

When appropriate, these bags should be removed and placed into another bag and securely tied or sealed and kept separate from other waste. This must be stored for at least 72 hours inside your property before being put in your non-recyclable waste bin.

Other household waste can be disposed of as normal.

Are recycling centres still open?

To ensure non-essential travel and contact Edinburgh Council’s recycling centres are closed until further notice.

How you can make life easier for refuse collectors?

Members of the public have been asked to maintain a distance of at least two metres should they encounter members of Edinburgh’s bin collecting crews.

Residents have also been asked to assist those unable to take their bins out and to take care when parking on bin day parking at least 10m from a junction, park close to the kerb with wing mirrors folded in.