Use this East Lothian Council bin collection guide to check your container collection days, understand green bin non-recyclable waste, recycling boxes and bags, silver food waste caddies, brown garden waste permit collections, missed-bin rules, bulky waste uplift and recycling centres in Dunbar, Kinwegar and North Berwick.
What do you need today?
Choose the action first. This page is built as a practical East Lothian resident help hub, not a thin council-link article.
How to check East Lothian Council bin collection dates
Open East Lothian Council’s official container collection day checker, enter your postcode and check when your containers will be collected. Present containers at the kerbside by 7am on the correct collection day. If a container is not emptied, East Lothian says it is not classed as missed until after 4pm on the scheduled day.
Official source verification for East Lothian Council bin collection
This is an independent resident guide for East Lothian. It is not the official East Lothian Council website, and it does not replace live council forms, calendars, email instructions, permits or service updates.
Postcode checker checked
The official collection-date checker asks for a postcode and returns when containers will be collected.
7am rule checked
East Lothian says containers should be presented at the kerbside by 7am on the collection day.
Brown bin permit checked
Garden waste is a fortnightly brown bin subscription service and the bin must display a valid permit sticker.
Missed-bin rules checked
Before reporting, check the correct day, 7am presentation, closed lid, sticker reason, access and 4pm collection window.
Last checked: 16 June 2026. Live council pages can change without notice, so use the official links before reporting, booking, paying, applying for a permit or travelling to a recycling centre.
3-minute East Lothian bin setup for houses, flats, rural homes and shared properties
Do this once. It prevents the most common East Lothian mistakes: wrong date, container out after 7am, brown bin without permit, wrong recycling material, heavy bin, blocked access and missed-bin reports too early.
Open the official postcode checker
Use the East Lothian container collection day checker and enter your postcode. Save the latest result, not an old screenshot.
Record every container separately
Write down green non-recyclable waste, recycling boxes/bags, silver food caddy and brown garden waste if you have a paid permit.
Set the 7am presentation rule
Containers should be at the kerbside by 7am. For green bins, keep the lid fully closed, handles facing the road and waste inside the bin.
Check brown bin permit week
Your garden waste permit pack includes the sticker and calendar showing the day and week for the brown bin collection.
Share the household note
For families, tenants, shared houses and flats, send a simple message: “This week: green / food / boxes / brown permit bin — kerbside by 7am.”
East Lothian bin collection calendar: postcode checker, 7am rule and seasonal changes
People searching “East Lothian Council bin collection”, “East Lothian bin days”, “bin collection dates East Lothian” or “East Lothian waste collection schedule” usually need the official postcode checker first, then plain-English rules for each container.
| User intent | What to do | Important East Lothian detail |
|---|---|---|
| Find my next collection | Enter your postcode in the official container collection day checker. | Use the checker as the final source for your address. |
| Put containers out | Present containers at the kerbside by 7am. | If access is blocked by parked vehicles, roadworks or severe weather, leave containers out for catch-up. |
| Brown garden waste date | Use the permit pack calendar and sticker. | Brown bins are only collected with a valid permit sticker and correct contents. |
| Christmas/New Year dates | Check seasonal waste and recycling arrangements. | No collections take place on listed Christmas/New Year closure dates; alternatives show on your calendar where applicable. |
| Need a copy of calendar | Use the checker or email wasteservices@eastlothian.gov.uk where the council advises requesting a copy. | Do this before a bank holiday or festive period. |
East Lothian brown bin garden waste collection: permit, cost, dates and accepted items
The brown bin is one of the highest-intent parts of this topic. In East Lothian, garden waste is a fortnightly subscription service, and crews will only empty a brown bin with a valid permit sticker for the registered property.
Permit required
You must have a pre-paid garden waste permit for the brown bin to be collected.
2026/2027 application window
The permit application system for 2026/2027 is open from Monday 11 May to Monday 6 July 2026.
Price
The garden waste permit charge is listed as £35 for the permit year.
One bin limit
East Lothian states there is a strict limit of one brown bin per household.
| Brown bin accepted | Brown bin not accepted | Practical rule |
|---|---|---|
| Grass cuttings, hedge clippings, leaves | Plastic bags or liners. | Garden waste should be loose inside the brown bin. |
| Bark, twigs, small branches, shrub prunings | Kitchen waste or food scraps. | Food waste belongs in the silver caddy. |
| Plants, weeds and flowers | Soil, turf, wood, plant pots, polystyrene, stones, bricks, rubble, animal faeces or bedding. | Use a recycling centre for soil, turf, rubble and similar materials. |
Brown bin missed? If the wrong items are inside, the bin is too heavy, the permit is missing or the waste is stuck in the bin, the crew may not empty it. Loosen stuck material and present it on the next collection unless it qualifies as a missed permitted collection.
East Lothian Bin Reminder Planner: save what goes out tonight
This mini-tool stores a reminder in your browser only. It does not submit personal data and does not replace the official East Lothian container collection checker.
My next East Lothian container reminder
First check the official collection checker. Then save your next container note here so the household knows what to present.
No reminder saved yet. Check the official collection checker, then save your next container note here.
Tonight’s East Lothian bin checklist
Repeat-visit idea: bookmark this page and share it with family, tenants, flatmates or neighbours.
East Lothian item route helper: green bin, recycling, silver caddy, brown bin, bulky waste or recycling centre?
Use this quick helper for common East Lothian disposal routes. It is not a full official database, but it prevents the most common green-bin, brown-bin, recycling and food-caddy mistakes.
Choose an item
Result: Select an item to see the likely East Lothian route.
Hard rule
East Lothian will only collect material presented in council-provided recycling and waste containers. If the wrong material is in a container, the crew may sticker it and leave it until the next collection after you remove the incorrect items.
East Lothian containers: green bin, recycling boxes/bags, silver food caddy and brown bin
East Lothian uses several containers, so “what bin is it this week?” is only half the answer. The correct material must be in the correct container.
| Container | Use for | Do not use for |
|---|---|---|
| Green bin | Waste that cannot be recycled in other containers, such as tissues, napkins, wrappers, films, polystyrene, broken cutlery, crockery, small broken toys and double-bagged sanitary or animal waste. | Cardboard, paper, plastic bottles/tubs/trays, tins/cans, glass bottles/jars, garden waste, food waste, rubble, paint, gas cylinders and batteries. |
| Recycling boxes/bags | Separated recycling such as plastics/metals/cartons, glass bottles/jars, paper/card and cardboard depending on your container setup. | Plastic bags/film, pouches, wrappers, polystyrene, plant pots, coffee cups, blister packs, engine oil or paint cans. |
| Silver food caddy | Cooked and uncooked food waste including bread, eggshells, meat/fish, fruit/veg, pet food, rice, pasta, tea bags and coffee grounds. | Oils/liquid fats, packaging, non-council compostable bags, animal faeces and bedding. |
| Brown bin | Subscribed garden waste with valid permit, such as grass cuttings, hedge clippings, leaves, twigs, small branches, shrub prunings, plants, weeds and flowers. | Food scraps, kitchen waste, soil, turf, wood, plant pots, polystyrene, stones, bricks, rubble, animal faeces and bedding. |
East Lothian recycling collection: plastics, metals, cartons, glass, paper and cardboard
East Lothian recycling is not “everything in one bin.” Check the right container for your address and keep materials clean, sorted and loose.
| Material | East Lothian route | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic bottles, toiletry bottles, cleaning bottles, detergent tubs, food pots, jars, tubs and trays | Plastics/metals/cartons recycling container. | Do not include plastic bags, liners, film, pouches, wrappers, plant pots, coffee cups, polystyrene or bubble wrap. |
| Food/drink tins and cans, empty aerosols, clean foil and trays, biscuit tins, metal lids | Metals recycling container. | Do not include engine oil or paint cans. |
| Liquid food and drink cartons | Cartons recycling container. | Cartons are the layered plastic-coated card style often with foil lining. |
| Glass bottles and jars | Glass recycling container or glass route for your address. | Do not mix with plastics/metals/cartons if your system separates them. |
| Paper, card and cardboard | Paper/card and cardboard recycling route. | Keep dry and do not include contaminated or non-paper items. |
| Household batteries | Battery recycling point or recycling centre. | Do not put batteries or car batteries inside household containers. |
East Lothian silver food caddy: weekly-style household food waste routine
East Lothian’s silver caddy is for cooked and uncooked food waste only. Use only liners provided by East Lothian Council and place the outdoor caddy at the kerbside by 7am.
How to use it
Line your kitchen caddy with the plastic liners provided by East Lothian Council, add food waste, tie the liner, then place it in the outdoor caddy.
Food accepted
Bread, cakes, cereals, eggshells, fish and meat, fruit and vegetables, pet food, rice, pasta, tea bags, coffee grounds and hard fats.
Not accepted
Oils/liquid fats, plastic or compostable packaging and bags other than East Lothian liners, animal faeces and bedding.
Need liners?
Secure the yellow tag from the end of the roll to the outdoor caddy handle when you present it, and a new roll should be left for you.
East Lothian missed bin collection: wait until after 4pm and check the reason first
East Lothian says your collection will not be classed as missed until after 4pm on the scheduled collection day. Before reporting, check the correct date, 7am presentation, closed lid, sticker reason, blocked access and container weight.
| Problem | Likely reason | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| It is before 4pm | Collection may still happen. | Wait until after 4pm before treating it as missed. |
| Container was not out by 7am | Crew may have already passed. | Use the reminder planner and present earlier next time. |
| Lid not fully closed | Overfilled containers may be rejected. | Remove waste until the lid closes. |
| Sticker left on container | Wrong items, contamination, heavy bin or another issue. | Remove wrong material and present on the next collection day. |
| Access blocked | Parked vehicles, roadworks or severe weather may prevent collection. | Leave containers out and the council says they will get to them as soon as possible. |
| Green bin too heavy | East Lothian will not empty a bin if it is too heavy. | Reduce the weight and present it next time. |
| Brown bin not emptied | Missing permit, wrong items, too heavy or material stuck inside. | Check permit and contents; loosen stuck material for the next collection. |
Catch-up note: East Lothian aims to catch up reported missed non-recyclable waste, recycling and food waste collections within two working days where the report qualifies. Garden waste catch-up is aimed for as soon as possible but no specific timescale is guaranteed.
Missed Collection Diagnosis Tool: report, wait or fix the issue?
This helps residents avoid weak missed-bin reports and gives a practical next step before using myeastlothian, email or phone contact.
Choose what happened
Result: Select a situation to get the next step.
Reporting rule
Report by the end of the next working day and keep the container at the collection point. Do not leave it presented on Saturday or Sunday; present it for 7am on Monday instead.
East Lothian bulky waste collection: charges, free uplift, accepted items and refused items
East Lothian bulky waste collection is for bulky household items such as mattresses, indoor furniture and large kitchen appliances. Reuse should be checked first if the item is still in good condition.
| Bulky waste rule | East Lothian guidance | Resident caution |
|---|---|---|
| Charge | There is a charge of £5 for each individual item uplifted. | Each household is entitled to one free uplift each calendar year, then charges apply for subsequent booked items. |
| Accepted examples | Beds, carpets, cookers, dining chairs, dishwashers, fridges/freezers, mattresses, sofas, wardrobes, washing machines and large televisions. | Fridges/freezers must be emptied, clean and defrosted. |
| Not collected | Baths/toilets/sinks, black bagged waste, building materials, batteries, cardboard boxes, doors/windows, garden waste, gas bottles, general waste, glass, paint, pianos, tyres and small electrical items. | Use recycling centre or specialist disposal route where needed. |
| After booking | You cannot alter number or type of items after booking confirmation, and the fee is non-refundable if cancelled. | List items accurately before confirming. |
| Presentation | Items should be presented safely and neatly at the kerbside by 7am on the collection day. | Crews do not collect from gardens, driveways, garages, sheds, houses, between parked cars or communal bin stores. |
East Lothian recycling centres: Dunbar, Kinwegar and North Berwick
East Lothian has three recycling centres. They are for household waste produced from domestic properties in East Lothian, and residents should bring photographic ID to prove they are from the area.
| Centre / rule | Details | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Dunbar Recycling Centre | One of East Lothian’s three recycling centres. | Check the official page for access rules and any temporary updates. |
| Kinwegar Recycling Centre | Kinwegar and Dunbar have raised areas so residents can deposit material without climbing stairs. | Follow the one-way system on site. |
| North Berwick Recycling Centre | One of the three local recycling centre options. | Bring only items you can unload yourself; attendants cannot assist. |
| Opening hours | Recycling centres are usually open seven days a week, 8:30am to 5pm. | Closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January; Christmas Eve and Hogmanay close at 2pm. |
| Vans and trailers | All vans and vehicles towing trailers have to pre-book space. | Slots are available from 10am to midday only. |
New containers, repairs, assisted collections and one-bin rules
If a collection problem keeps happening, the issue may be the container itself, the presentation point or the assisted collection arrangement.
| Need | East Lothian guidance | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| New or additional containers | Containers, caddies, covers and liners can be ordered through the council’s container pages. | Use council-provided containers because East Lothian only collects material presented in its recycling and waste containers. |
| Green or brown bin repair | Lids, axles and wheels on green and brown bins can be repaired or replaced. | Email wasteservices@eastlothian.gov.uk or call 01875 824 305. |
| Brown bin extra capacity | East Lothian says it cannot provide an additional brown bin. | Take extra garden waste to a local recycling centre. |
| Assisted collection | Assisted collections can be reported as missed if containers were at the agreed point and accessible by 7am. | When reporting, say it is an assisted collection and where containers are collected from. |
Official East Lothian Council bin collection links
Use these official links for live actions. This guide explains the process, but official pages control calendars, reports, permits, bookings and service rules.
Related council bin guides
I checked for directly relevant internal pages and did not find enough reliable matching live pages to link without risking irrelevant or missing URLs.
Suggested future guides as plain text: Edinburgh bin collection, Midlothian bin collection, Scottish Borders bin collection, East Lothian brown bin permit, East Lothian bulky waste uplift, Dunbar recycling centre, North Berwick recycling centre.
Service trust, reviews and complaint guidance
No fake ratings or testimonials are used on this page. Waste-service feedback is case-specific, so use the correct official service route before relying on social media comments.
For live service issues
Use the missed collection page, garden permit page, bulky waste page or recycling centre page first so the correct service team receives the issue.
For repeated problems
Keep a simple log: collection date, container type, time presented, lid status, sticker reason, access issue and whether neighbours were affected.
For shared properties
Agree who checks the postcode calendar, who presents containers by 7am and who removes contamination if a sticker is left.
East Lothian Council bin collection FAQs
Use East Lothian Council’s official container collection day checker and enter your postcode. The checker shows when your containers will be collected.
Containers should be presented at the kerbside by 7am on the scheduled collection day. East Lothian seasonal guidance also reminds residents to present containers by 7am.
East Lothian says a collection is not classed as missed until after 4pm on the scheduled collection day. Before reporting, check the right day, 7am presentation, closed lid, sticker, access and weight.
The green bin is for waste that cannot be recycled in other containers, such as tissues, wrappers, polystyrene, broken crockery, small broken toys and double-bagged hygiene or animal waste. Recyclable paper, card, plastics, tins, glass, food waste and garden waste should not go in it.
The brown bin is East Lothian’s fortnightly garden waste subscription service. You need a pre-paid permit and valid sticker for the bin to be collected.
The garden waste permit charge is listed as £35. The 2026/2027 application system is open from Monday 11 May to Monday 6 July 2026.
The brown bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge clippings, leaves, twigs and small branches, shrub prunings, plants, weeds and flowers. Do not add plastic bags, liners, kitchen waste, food scraps, soil, turf, wood, plant pots, polystyrene, stones, bricks, rubble or animal waste.
Report online through myeastlothian where possible after 4pm on the scheduled collection day. Report by the end of the next working day and keep the container at the collection point.
East Lothian lists a charge of £5 for each individual bulky item uplifted. Each household is entitled to one free uplift each calendar year, with charges applying to later booked items.
East Lothian has recycling centres at Dunbar, Kinwegar and North Berwick. They are usually open seven days a week from 8:30am to 5pm, with seasonal festive closures and early closures on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay.