Check Your Stratford Council Bin Collection Schedule by Postcode
Use this plain-English guide to check Stratford-on-Avon District Council bin collection dates, understand the 123+ waste collection service, set out the right bin by 6am, report a missed bin within two working days, and avoid the garden waste, recycling and grey bin mistakes that cause missed collections.
What do you need today?
Choose the exact problem first. This page is built around real searches like Stratford council bin collection, bin calendar, 123+ collections, garden waste and missed bin reporting.
Find Your Stratford Bin Collection Day
Enter your postcode here to keep it handy, then open Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s official lookup. The council page will ask you to select your exact address before showing your bin collection dates.
How do I check my Stratford council bin collection date?
Use Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s official bin collection day page, enter your postcode, select your exact address and view your bin collections. The 123+ service means food waste is collected weekly, dry recycling is collected fortnightly, household non-recyclable waste is collected every three weeks, and garden waste is a chargeable fortnightly service for subscribed green bins.
Stratford Council Bin Collection: Official Sources Used for This 2026 Guide
This guide is based on Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s official waste and recycling pages, including the bin calendar, 123+ collection service, garden waste service, missed bin reporting, bulky waste and order-a-bin guidance.
Official bin collection day lookup
The council’s “Your Bin Collection Day” page lets residents select an address using the address lookup and view their bin collections.
123+ waste collection pattern
The official 123+ service uses weekly food waste, fortnightly dry recycling, three-weekly household non-recyclable waste and fortnightly paid garden waste.
Missed-bin rules
Missed collections can be reported online within two working days. Bins must be out by 6am and at the property boundary where the property meets the road or pavement.
Garden waste facts
The 2026-27 garden waste permit is £50 per green bin, valid from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, with a Christmas and New Year suspension.
Stratford Bin Collection Dates 2026: Check Your Schedule by Postcode
Your Stratford bin collection day depends on your exact address, so the postcode and address lookup is the safest first step.
Stratford-on-Avon District is not just Stratford-upon-Avon town. It includes villages, rural lanes, market towns and properties close to district boundaries. That means one generic “Stratford bin day” answer can be wrong unless you check your own address.
Open the official Stratford-on-Avon bin collection day page
Use the official Your Bin Collection Day page. This is the strongest source for searches like “Stratford council bin collection”, “Stratford bin calendar” and “what bin is it this week Stratford”.
Enter your full postcode
Use the full postcode, not only CV37, CV36, CV47, B49 or B50. The collection calendar needs the exact address because properties in nearby villages or rural lanes can have different collection points.
Select your exact address
Choose your own property from the address list. Do not select a neighbour’s address if yours does not appear, because the displayed bin dates and presentation point may not match your home.
Check all collection types
Look for food waste, dry recycling, grey household waste and garden waste if you pay for the green bin service. The 123+ service has different frequencies for each stream.
Set a reminder for the night before
Collections can be early. Bins should be out by 6am, so a phone reminder the evening before is the safest habit.
New resident tip: if you have moved into Stratford-upon-Avon, Alcester, Bidford-on-Avon, Shipston-on-Stour, Southam, Wellesbourne, Henley-in-Arden or a nearby village, ignore old notes left by a previous resident until you have checked the official address lookup.
Common Stratford Council Bin Collection Searches This Page Answers
This guide is expanded around the searches residents actually use: bin collection day, 123+ waste collections, grey bin dates, food waste weekly collection, blue-lidded recycling, green garden waste permit and missed bin reporting.
“Stratford council bin collection”
Answered with the official Stratford-on-Avon District Council bin calendar and postcode/address lookup.
“Stratford bin collection dates 2026”
Answered with the 123+ collection pattern, 6am set-out rule and Christmas schedule guidance.
“Stratford 123 waste collections”
Answered with weekly food waste, fortnightly recycling, three-weekly grey waste and chargeable garden waste.
“Stratford missed bin collection”
Answered with the two-working-day reporting window and the common reasons a bin is not collected.
“What goes in blue-lidded bin Stratford?”
Answered with recycling guidance and warnings about garden waste, batteries, textiles and food contamination.
“Stratford garden waste permit”
Answered with the £50 annual charge, permit period, no pro-rata rule, Christmas suspension and green bin contamination issues.
Stratford 123+ Waste Collections: Weekly Food Waste, Fortnightly Recycling and Three-Weekly Grey Bin
The 123+ service is the key to understanding the Stratford council bin collection schedule.
Since August 2022, Stratford-on-Avon District and Warwick District have used a joint waste collection service with Biffa called 123+. The purpose is to collect food waste weekly, recycle more, reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste and keep the grey bin for rubbish that genuinely cannot be recycled or composted.
| Collection type | Container | Frequency | Resident note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food waste | Kerbside caddy | Weekly | Use every week to keep food out of the grey bin. |
| Dry recycling | Blue-lidded bin or recycling box | Fortnightly | Recycling should be clean, accepted and not contaminated. |
| Household non-recyclable waste | Grey wheeled bin | Every three weeks | Only waste inside the bin is collected; extra side waste is not collected. |
| Garden waste | Green bin with valid permit | Fortnightly | Chargeable subscription service with Christmas and New Year suspension. |
Why residents get confused: “weekly”, “fortnightly” and “three-weekly” all apply to different parts of the same system. Do not assume every bin follows the same rhythm. Check the official calendar whenever your grey bin week feels out of sync.
Stratford Grey Bin, Blue-Lidded Recycling Bin, Food Caddy and Green Garden Bin Explained
Stratford residents commonly deal with four collection streams: weekly food waste, fortnightly recycling, three-weekly grey rubbish and paid green garden waste.
Food waste caddy
Weekly collectionUse the food waste caddy every week. This is the first “1” in the 123+ system.
- Food leftovers
- Peelings and scraps
- Cooked and uncooked food
- Use the council caddy system
Blue-lidded bin
Fortnightly recyclingUse this for dry recycling. Keep garden waste, batteries and non-recyclables out.
- Dry recycling only
- No garden waste
- No batteries inside bins
- Use A-Z guide if unsure
Grey bin
Every three weeksUse the grey bin for household waste that cannot be recycled or composted.
- Non-recyclable waste
- No extra side waste
- Lid should be closed
- Not out late after 6am
Green bin
Paid garden wasteUse only if subscribed. The green bin must display the valid permit for the correct year.
- £50 per green bin
- Fortnightly collection
- No soil or turf
- No food waste
One rule that prevents most missed collections: put the correct bin at the boundary where your property meets the road or pavement by 6am. If the bin is behind a locked gate, blocked by a car, too heavy, overloaded or in the wrong place, it may not be collected.
Stratford Blue-Lidded Bin Recycling: What Goes In and What Must Stay Out
Dry recycling is collected fortnightly using the blue-lidded recycling bin or black recycling box, depending on your property arrangement.
The most important recycling rule is contamination control. If the wrong material goes into the recycling stream, it can cause problems at the sorting facility and may stop the bin being collected. If you are not sure about an item, use Stratford’s A-Z recycling guide before guessing.
Usually suitable for recycling
Dry recyclable materials accepted by the council should go in the blue-lidded bin or recycling box. Keep items loose, dry and free from food contamination.
Do not put these in recycling
Garden waste, food waste, household rubbish, batteries, hazardous waste, large electricals, soil, turf and materials not accepted by the council should stay out of the blue-lidded bin.
Batteries and small electricals
Household batteries and small electrical items should not be put inside bins. Follow the council’s kerbside presentation advice or use the proper recycling route.
Practical recycling habit: if an item is wet, food-covered, bagged with rubbish or not clearly accepted, do not put it in the recycling bin. The grey bin being every three weeks makes recycling more important, but it does not mean anything can go into the blue-lidded bin.
Stratford Food Waste Collection: Weekly Kerbside Caddy Under the 123+ Service
Food waste is collected weekly in Stratford-on-Avon District, so it should not wait for your grey bin day.
The weekly food waste collection is one of the biggest advantages of the 123+ system. It keeps wet, smelly waste out of the grey bin and helps reduce the amount of non-recyclable household waste. If your household struggles with the three-weekly grey bin, using the food caddy properly is usually the first fix.
Why use it weekly?
Food waste is collected every week, while the grey bin is collected every three weeks. Using the caddy makes the grey bin easier to manage.
Common mistake
Residents sometimes put food waste in the green garden bin. The council says food waste should go in the food waste bin, not the green bin.
New property issue
If your food caddy is missing at a new home, use the order-a-bin route or contact the council rather than waiting until the next collection cycle.
Stratford Garden Waste Collection 2026: £50 Green Bin Permit, Fortnightly Collections and Christmas Suspension
Garden waste collection in Stratford-on-Avon District is a chargeable subscription service, not a free automatic service.
The permit charge for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 is £50 per green bin. Only green bins displaying valid permits will be emptied. The service is fortnightly except during the two-week annual suspension over Christmas and New Year.
Cost and period
£50 per green bin for the 2026-27 permit year, running from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
No partial subscription
The permit payment is for 12 months and there is no partial subscription or pro-rata rate if you subscribe later.
Replacement permit
A replacement permit can be requested, with a £5 charge for each replacement and the old permit cancelled.
What can go in the Stratford green garden waste bin?
The garden waste service is designed for material such as grass cuttings, leaves and small branches. Windfall apples and other compostable garden waste can go in the green bin, but make sure the bin is not too heavy for collection.
What should not go in the Stratford garden waste bin?
Do not put soil, turf, food waste or household rubbish in the green bin. If the green bin contains soil or turf, crews may be unable to empty it. If the blue-lidded recycling bin contains hidden garden waste, it may also be refused.
Permit rule: the collection crew will only collect green bins displaying a valid permit for the address shown. If you share a garden bin with a neighbour, that is a private arrangement, but the bin still needs the correct valid permit.
Missed Bin Collection Stratford: Report Online Within Two Working Days
If your Stratford collection was missed, report it online within two working days of when the collection was missed.
If the council arranges for the crew to return, leave the bins at the normal collection point on your property boundary. Do not pull the bin back into the garden or behind a gate while waiting for the return collection.
Check the official calendar first
Make sure today was the correct collection day for your exact address and that you presented the correct bin.
Check the bin was out by 6am
A bin may not be treated as missed if it was not out by 6am on collection day.
Check the presentation point
The bin should be where the boundary of your property meets the road or pavement, not hidden behind a locked gate or left somewhere crews cannot access.
Report within two working days
Use the official missed-bin report quickly. Waiting too long can mean the bin is collected on the next scheduled round instead.
Why bins are often refused: the bin was not out on the collection day, not out by 6am, not at the correct boundary point, overloaded, too heavy, blocked, behind a locked gate, affected by severe weather, or contained items which are not accepted.
Stratford Bin Collection Christmas and Bank Holiday Schedule: Do Not Manually Guess the Delay
Stratford bin collections can change around Christmas, New Year and some bank holidays, so check the official Christmas and revised collection page before putting bins out.
The council publishes revised arrangements for the festive period. Garden waste collections are also suspended for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. Christmas tree recycling may be offered separately, so always check the current seasonal page rather than relying on last year’s dates.
Christmas and New Year
There may be revised collection dates for refuse, recycling and food waste around Christmas and New Year.
Garden waste suspension
Garden waste collections are suspended for two weeks over Christmas and New Year.
Christmas tree collection
The council may publish separate Christmas tree collection instructions, including size and decoration rules.
Resident habit: do not count “one day later” in your head. Open the official seasonal page and your bin calendar. Holiday changes can create a chain of moved dates that does not match a simple one-day-delay rule.
Stratford Bulky Waste Collection: Charges, Item Limits and Boundary Rules
Stratford-on-Avon District Council offers a chargeable bulky waste collection service for large household items, but it is not a house-clearance service.
The council charges £51 for 1 to 3 items and £62 for 4 to 5 items. It will not collect more than five items. When booking, you must specify the items to be collected and the collection point, and items must be outside the property boundary, clearly visible and accessible by 6am on the specified collection day.
Examples of collected items
Sofas, armchairs, beds, mattresses, bookcases, cabinets, carpets, cookers, dishwashers, fridges, freezers, TVs, wardrobes, washing machines, bicycles and similar household items may be listed on the booking form.
Items not collected
Builders’ waste, business waste, commercial fridges or freezers, DIY waste, fitted kitchen units, garden waste, gas bottles, pianos, roofing materials, sheds, sink units, baths and toilets are listed as examples of items not collected.
Collection safety rule
Items must be liftable by two people and must not cause obstruction or danger. Cover items where possible so they do not become soaked before collection.
Do not use free text to add unlisted items: the council says items not on the online form should be checked by contacting 01789 260616. Items entered only in a free text field may not be collected.
Stratford Order a Bin: Recycling Box, Food Caddy, Garden Sacks and Replacement Containers
If a bin, recycling box or caddy is missing at your property, use Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s order-a-bin guidance rather than waiting for the next round.
The council says black recycling boxes are available free of charge on request and can be collected from council offices or delivered in some circumstances. Food waste can be collected using kerbside caddies. If a green bin is not possible, reusable green sacks may be purchased where you subscribe to the garden waste service.
Recycling box
Black recycling boxes are available free of charge upon request.
Food waste caddy
Food waste can be collected using kerbside caddies under the weekly food waste collection service.
Garden sacks
Where a green bin is not possible, reusable garden sacks can be purchased if you subscribe to the garden waste collection service.
Black sacks: the council does not provide rolls of black sacks for household non-recyclable waste. Residents are advised to make their own arrangements, and a maximum of two sacks can be put out for collection fortnightly where sacks apply.
Stratford Bin Collection Tips Residents Learn the Hard Way
These are the practical details that stop a simple Stratford bin day becoming a three-week wait for the next grey bin.
High-value checks before bin night
Use these checks when collection really matters and you do not want a refused bin.
6am means 6am
Put bins out the night before. If crews arrive early and your bin appears at 7am, it can be treated as not presented.
Boundary point matters
The bin should be where your property meets the road or pavement, not behind a locked gate or hidden by parked cars.
Grey bin is three-weekly
Use food waste and recycling properly or the grey bin fills quickly before the next collection.
No side waste
Additional household waste beside the grey bin will not be collected. Only waste inside the bin is collected.
Green bin permit
A green bin without a valid permit for the correct address and year may not be emptied.
Rural access
Village lanes, private tracks and awkward access points can have special presentation points. Check your address result if unsure.
Stratford Council Bin Collection: Stratford-on-Avon vs Stratford London
“Stratford council bin collection” can mean two different places, so check the council before using any form.
This page is for Stratford-on-Avon District Council in Warwickshire. If you live in Stratford, East London, your waste and recycling service is normally handled by the London Borough of Newham, not Stratford-on-Avon District Council. Using the wrong council page means your postcode will not show the right bin collection dates.
You are in Stratford-on-Avon District if…
Your address is in or around Stratford-upon-Avon, Alcester, Bidford-on-Avon, Shipston-on-Stour, Southam, Wellesbourne, Henley-in-Arden or nearby Warwickshire villages.
You may need Newham if…
You live in Stratford, London, near Westfield Stratford City, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or East London postcodes served by Newham.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council Bin Collection Official Links
Use these official pages for final confirmation before putting bins out, reporting a missed collection, paying for garden waste, ordering containers or booking bulky waste.
Stratford Council Bin Collection FAQ
These answers cover the main Stratford bin collection searches: bin day lookup, 123+ service, grey bin frequency, blue-lidded recycling, food waste, garden permits, missed bins, bulky waste and Christmas changes.
Use Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s official “Your Bin Collection Day” page, enter your postcode and select your exact address to view your bin collections.
The 123+ service means weekly food waste, fortnightly dry recycling, three-weekly household non-recyclable waste and fortnightly chargeable garden waste for subscribed green bins.
Bins should be out by 6am on your scheduled collection day and placed where the boundary of your property meets the road or pavement.
The grey household non-recyclable waste bin is collected every three weeks under the 123+ service.
Dry recycling is collected fortnightly using the blue-lidded recycling bin or recycling box, depending on your property arrangement.
Yes. Food waste is collected weekly using kerbside caddies under the 123+ service.
The garden waste permit for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 is £50 per green bin. Only bins showing valid permits are emptied.
No. The permit charge is fixed for one year from 1 April to 31 March, must be paid in full and has no monthly or pro-rata option.
Report a missed collection online within two working days. Leave the bin at the normal collection point on your property boundary if the council arranges for the crew to return.
No. Additional household non-recyclable waste left next to the grey bin will not be collected. Only waste inside the bin is collected.
The council charges £51 for 1 to 3 bulky items and £62 for 4 to 5 items. It will not collect more than five items.
You can contact the Streetscene team by email at info@stratford-dc.gov.uk or phone 01789 260616. Use the online bin calendar and forms first for the fastest route.
Editorial note
This guide helps residents reach the correct Stratford-on-Avon District Council waste and recycling service quickly. Always confirm your exact collection dates, missed-bin rules, garden waste permit status, bulky waste booking details and Christmas changes on the official Stratford-on-Avon District Council website before taking action.
Final summary: Use the official bin calendar first. Food waste is weekly, recycling is fortnightly, grey household waste is every three weeks, and garden waste is a £50 paid permit service for 2026-27. Put bins out by 6am at the property boundary and report missed bins within two working days.