South Kesteven Council Bin Collection: Dates & Schedule 2026
South Kesteven’s collection system is no longer a simple “black bin one week, recycling the next” routine. Most wheelie-bin households now work through a four-week sequence: black, silver, black, then purple-lidded paper and card—with a separate food-waste caddy collected every week.
This guide explains the exact 2026 pattern for Grantham, Stamford, Bourne, The Deepings and rural South Kesteven, including the 7am rule, postcode calendar, paper/card separation, weekly food recycling, £55 garden service, missed-bin deadline, sack properties, additional bins, bulky collections, assisted service, sharps and local recycling centres.
Quick Answer: Which South Kesteven Bin Is Due This Week?
Use SKDC’s postcode/address checker before relying on a generic four-week diagram. The standard wheelie-bin sequence is black → silver → black → purple-lidded, but your address determines the actual weekday and dates. Food waste is weekly on the usual bin or sack day.
South Kesteven Is a Large District—Use Your Exact Address
South Kesteven covers around 365 square miles, with urban, village and rural rounds. A Grantham date should not be copied for Stamford, Bourne, Market Deeping or a nearby village simply because the same council operates both areas.
The council redesigned collection rounds from 15 September 2025, so a reminder created before that change can still be wrong in 2026.
How to Find Your Exact South Kesteven Bin Collection Date
SKDC publishes a postcode checker plus downloadable 2026/27 calendars. The postcode result should come first because it tells you which date and schedule apply to your individual address.
Open SKDC’s checker
Use the official Find Your Bin Collection Day page.
Enter the postcode
Search the postcode for the household receiving the collection.
Select the exact address
Do not substitute another house on the street just to obtain a date.
Save all streams
Record black, silver, purple-lidded, food and subscribed green dates separately.
South Kesteven’s Four-Week Collection Cycle Explained
This is the most important pattern to understand before looking at your calendar.
Black Bin
Non-recyclable household waste.
Silver Bin
Clean, dry mixed recycling excluding paper and card.
Black Bin
Residual household waste again.
Purple-Lidded Bin
Clean and dry paper and cardboard only.
South Kesteven Bin Colours & Their Jobs
Black Bin
Residual household waste that cannot use the recycling, food, garden or specialist disposal routes.
Silver Bin
Clean, dry mixed recycling such as glass containers, metal packaging and accepted plastic bottles, pots and tubs—but no paper/card.
Purple-Lidded Bin
A black-bodied 240-litre bin with a purple lid exclusively for clean, dry paper and cardboard.
Food-Waste Caddy
Five-litre indoor caddy plus black 23-litre outdoor caddy with an orange lid for weekly food-waste recycling.
Green Garden Bin
Optional paid service for garden vegetation. It follows a separate light-blue or dark-blue collection calendar.
Black Bin: What Is It for in 2026?
The black 240-litre wheelie bin remains the residual-waste container and is collected every two weeks.
Use black for residual waste
Put household items here only after checking that they cannot use the silver, purple-lidded, food, garden, battery, electrical or recycling-centre routes.
Since April 2026, avoidable and unavoidable household food waste now has its own weekly collection instead of routinely using the residual stream.
Specialist materials stay out
- Electrical equipment
- Rubble
- Soil
- Hazardous household waste
- Garden vegetation
- Loose batteries
Silver Bin: Mixed Recycling Without Paper & Card
Twin-stream recycling means paper/card is deliberately removed from the silver-bin load.
| Material | 2026 route | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Glass bottles & jars | Silver bin | Empty and clean. |
| Metal food/drink cans | Silver bin | Empty and rinse. |
| Clean aluminium foil | Silver bin | Remove food residue. |
| Empty aerosols | Silver bin | Use household non-hazardous aerosols only. |
| Accepted cartons | Silver bin | Empty first. |
| Plastic bottles | Silver bin | Squash when practical to save space. |
| Plastic pots and tubs | Silver bin | Clean and dry. |
| Paper & cardboard | Purple-lidded bin | Do not mix with silver-bin recycling. |
| Soft films / crisp packets | Not silver bin | Use an appropriate alternative recycling route if available. |
Purple-Lidded Bin: Clean, Dry Paper & Card Only
SKDC introduced the separate paper-and-card stream to reduce contamination and send better-quality material directly for paper recycling.
Accepted examples
- Clean paper
- Cardboard boxes
- Cardboard tubes
- Clean food-packaging boxes
- Cardboard egg boxes
- Envelopes including window envelopes
- Junk mail
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Greeting cards without glitter/foil
- Non-foil wrapping paper
Keep these out
- Wet cardboard
- Card contaminated with food
- Used takeaway boxes with food residue
- Tissues
- Shredded paper
- Paper with paint or glue contamination
- Foil or glitter-covered wrapping
Weekly Food-Waste Collections Started 13 April 2026
This is the biggest new household collection in South Kesteven during 2026.
Same normal day
Put the outdoor food caddy out on the same weekday as your normal black, silver or purple-lidded collection.
Different lorry
The food-waste collection uses a dedicated specialist vehicle. Do not assume the caddy has been missed just because the main bin was already emptied.
No subscription
Household food-waste recycling is provided without a separate charge or annual subscription.
What Can Go in the South Kesteven Food-Waste Caddy?
Yes — food waste
- Raw and cooked meat
- Meat bones
- Fish and shellfish
- Fish bones and shells
- Fruit
- Vegetables and peelings
- Salad
- Dairy products
- Eggs and eggshells
- Bread, cakes and pastries
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Meal leftovers
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
- Tinned and dry pet food without packaging
- Small amounts of gravy or sauce remaining on food
No — keep these out
- Food packaging where it can be removed
- Milk and drinks
- Cooking water
- Large amounts of liquid oil
- Garden vegetation
- Ordinary household rubbish
South Kesteven Green Garden-Waste Service 2026/27
Garden waste is an optional paid service and runs separately from household food recycling.
What can go in?
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Flowers and plants
- Leaves
- Bark
- Twigs
- Small branches
Important service rhythm
Green bins are normally collected fortnightly for most of the year.
During December, January and February, the service reduces to approximately one collection per month.
The Current SKDC Set-Out Time Is 7am
Current live South Kesteven collection pages tell residents to have bins, sacks and recycling available by 7am.
By 7am
Do not wait for the hour that the lorry normally reaches your street.
Property boundary
Present the correct container at the edge of your property where the collection crew can clearly see and safely reach it.
Correct container
With three main wheelie-bin colours plus food and optional green waste, presenting the right container matters as much as the date.
Extra Bags Beside the Bin? South Kesteven Normally Says No
One of the biggest differences between SKDC and councils that allow occasional extra recycling is that normal side waste is not accepted.
Black-bin side waste
Extra sacks or loose household rubbish beside a black wheelie bin will not normally be collected.
Silver-bin side waste
Extra mixed recycling beside the silver bin is also not accepted as part of the normal service.
Paper/card side waste
Cardboard left beside the purple-lidded bin will not be taken. All paper/card must fit inside and remain clean and dry.
South Kesteven Bin Problem Checker
Choose what happened before submitting a missed-bin report.
When to Report a Missed South Kesteven Bin
Strong missed-bin case
- The postcode calendar showed the container was due.
- The correct bin or sack was presented.
- It was at the collection point by 7am.
- All waste was inside the correct receptacle.
- No contamination tag was left.
- The bin was not overloaded.
- You are reporting within two working days.
Reasons crews may not return
- Wrong bin presented
- Contamination
- Extra side waste
- Wrong collection point
- Presented after 7am
- Overloaded or unsafe container
What Happens If the Wrong Waste Is in Your Recycling Bin?
A bin intentionally rejected because it contains the wrong material is not the same as a bin the crew accidentally missed.
Crew checks
Collection staff can inspect the contents of recycling and garden containers before emptying them.
Rejected container
If unsuitable material is visible, the container can be tagged and left unemptied.
Resident fixes it
Remove the contamination and present the bin again on its next relevant scheduled collection.
Can a Large South Kesteven Household Get Another Black Bin?
Yes, but an additional black bin is controlled rather than supplied automatically.
Five or more people
The normal large-family criterion starts with five or more permanent residents living as one family at the address.
Waste audit
The household must be willing to participate in a review of current black-bin use so the council can confirm available recycling capacity is being used.
HMOs are different
The large-family criterion does not simply treat a house in multiple occupation as one large family.
New, Missing or Damaged South Kesteven Bins
Standard household set
A normal wheelie-bin household is based around:
- 240L black residual bin
- 240L silver mixed-recycling bin
- 240L black-bodied purple-lidded paper/card bin
New-build properties
Charges apply for new bins at a newly built property. Developers are encouraged to arrange provision before residents move in; otherwise the resident can become responsible for ordering them.
Collection damage
If the bin is damaged by the council during the collection process, replacement should be provided without charging the householder.
Other replacement damage
Damage caused by neglect, intentional damage or hot ashes can result in a replacement charge.
Pink & Clear Sack Collections
Not every South Kesteven property can safely store three large wheelie bins. Sack collections are used where space or vehicle access makes bins impractical.
Pink sacks
Pink SKDC sacks are used for non-recyclable domestic household rubbish.
Clear sacks
Clear sacks are used for dry mixed recycling, including paper/card under the current sack-property arrangement.
Who may use sacks?
- Flats with little/no external storage
- Properties without frontage
- Properties without rear access
- Very long-drive properties
- Places inaccessible to the collection vehicle
Annual delivery
Annual sack supplies are normally delivered in October and are intended to provide capacity comparable with the wheelie-bin service.
Four-sack limit
SKDC normally collects a maximum of four sacks per household on each collection date. Extra sacks count as side waste.
Assisted Bin Collections for Frailty, Disability or Ill Health
SKDC offers both permanent and temporary assisted collections where nobody in the household is able to put the waste out.
Assessment visit
After an application, a waste adviser can visit the property to assess the resident’s circumstances, access and the practical level of help required.
Helpful evidence
Documents such as a Blue Badge, disability-benefit letter or a supporting letter from a carer or healthcare professional can help with the assessment.
Flats & Communal Bin Stores
Individual assessment
A flat development may not have room for three individual 240-litre bins per household, so the council can assess communal provision.
Large containers
Where agreed, developments can use communal bins, including larger containers such as 1100-litre bins.
Access must remain clear
Furniture, bags or loose waste blocking a communal bin store can prevent the crew accessing and emptying the containers.
Household Batteries: Check the Current Service Before Putting Them Out
Do not put batteries inside any bin
Batteries can be crushed or punctured in collection vehicles or sorting equipment and create serious fires.
Use an alternative while suspended
Take suitable household batteries to a supermarket, shop with a battery-recycling point or a Household Waste Recycling Centre until SKDC confirms that kerbside battery collections have restarted.
Clinical Waste, Hygiene Waste & Sharps
Non-infectious hygiene waste
Nappies, drained stoma bags, sanitary products, non-infectious dressings and incontinence products can normally be securely bagged and placed in the residual black bin or pink sack.
Prescription sharps
Needles must be stored in a proper sealed sharps container. SKDC offers home collection of prescription sharps boxes.
Sharps containers are obtained through the GP or pharmacy rather than supplied by the council.
South Kesteven Bulky Waste Collection 2026
Examples the service accepts
- Armchairs
- Beds
- Mattresses
- Bookcases
- Chairs and tables
- Computers
- Cookers
- Dishwashers
- Fridges and freezers
- Lawn mowers
- Microwaves
- Sofas
- Televisions
- Tumble dryers
- Wardrobes
- Washing machines
Examples SKDC does not collect
- Builder’s rubble
- Bricks and concrete
- Loose excess household rubbish
- Fitted kitchens or bathrooms
- Gas bottles
- Paving slabs
- Radiators
- Sheds
- Soil
- Treadmills
Bank Holidays, Christmas & Extreme Weather
Public holidays
SKDC can move normal collection dates when bank holidays disrupt the operating week. Use the address calendar and current council announcement instead of simply adding one day yourself.
Christmas / New Year
Festive schedules can move some rounds earlier and others later. Check the council’s specific Christmas 2026 timetable when it is published.
Weather
Extreme heat, snow, road safety or other operational conditions can change collection timing or prevent a round.
Grantham Household Waste Recycling Centre
Lincolnshire County Council operates Grantham Recycling Centre for suitable household material that cannot use the South Kesteven kerbside service.
Open days
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday under the current published timetable.
Christmas closures
Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Vehicle permit
Vans, qualifying light-goods 4x4s and larger trailers require a free Lincolnshire recycling-centre permit.
Bourne Household Waste Recycling Centre
Bourne Recycling Centre is a useful alternative for residents in the south/east of the district.
Open days
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Useful material route
Suitable materials include household recycling, small electricals, scrap metal, wood, waste oil and excess household waste, subject to current site rules.
Permit rules
The same Lincolnshire permit requirement applies to vans, qualifying light-goods vehicles and specified large trailers.
South Kesteven Local Bin-Day Tips That Prevent Real Mistakes
Write the four-week pattern down
A simple household note saying Black → Silver → Black → Purple is easier to remember than trying to think of silver and purple as separate fortnightly services.
Food goes out every week
Do not wait for a particular bin colour. Present the outdoor food caddy every normal collection week.
Number your purple bin
SKDC recommends marking the back of the purple-lidded bin with your house number/name so it is easier to recover after collection.
Green stickers matter
The garden subscription is checked electronically and residents are also issued with a sticker for the green bin.
Keep silver recycling loose
Clean, dry recyclables should be placed loose rather than hidden inside plastic sacks.
Screenshot unusual disruption
If SKDC announces early heatwave rounds, weather cancellations or a special holiday date, save the notice until the collection is completed.
How Much Has the 2026 Service Expanded?
Food-waste recycling added another weekly container to a waste system that had already been reorganised through the 2025 round changes and twin-stream recycling.
Official South Kesteven Waste & Recycling Shortcuts
Find Bin Day
Postcode/address dates plus 2026/27 waste and garden calendars.
Missed Collection
Report after 3pm and within the two-working-day window.
Food Waste
Weekly collection, caddy rules, liners, food items and FAQs.
Garden Waste
Join, renew and check current 2026/27 subscription details.
Right Thing, Right Bin
Search unusual household items before contaminating a bin.
Bin & Sack Services
Missing bins, damaged bins, new builds, sacks and additional black-bin applications.
Bulky Waste
Prices, item list, exclusions, booking and refund rules.
Assisted Collection
Permanent or temporary help where nobody in the household can present the waste.
Battery Status
Check whether kerbside battery collections have restarted.
The Picture House
St Catherine’s Road
Grantham
NG31 6TT
Telephone: 01476 406080
Email: customerservices@southkesteven.gov.uk
South Kesteven District Council Bin Collection FAQs
1. How do I find my South Kesteven bin collection date?
Use South Kesteven District Council’s official postcode bin-day checker, enter your postcode and choose the exact address. The result should guide your actual collection dates rather than a neighbour’s routine or an old calendar.
2. What is the South Kesteven black, silver and purple bin cycle?
For most wheelie-bin households the four-week cycle is Week 1 black residual waste, Week 2 silver mixed recycling, Week 3 black residual waste and Week 4 purple-lidded paper/card recycling. The cycle then repeats.
3. What time should South Kesteven bins be put out?
Current SKDC collection guidance says waste and recycling bins or sacks should be available by 7am on the scheduled collection day. Earlier temporary starts can be announced during exceptional conditions such as very hot weather.
4. How often is the South Kesteven silver recycling bin collected?
The silver mixed-recycling bin is normally collected every four weeks. It alternates with the purple-lidded paper/card collection, with a black residual collection between each recycling stream.
5. How often is the purple-lidded paper and card bin collected?
The purple-lidded paper/card bin is normally collected once every four weeks. Paper and cardboard must be clean, dry and inside the container; normal side waste is not collected.
6. When is food waste collected in South Kesteven?
Weekly household food-waste collections began in the week commencing 13 April 2026. Present the black 23-litre outdoor caddy with its orange lid on your normal bin or sack collection day.
7. How much is South Kesteven garden-waste collection in 2026/27?
The annual 2026/27 collection charge is £55 for the first green garden bin and £45 for each additional subscribed bin. A new green bin costs £30 plus £15 delivery. New customers requiring their first bin therefore pay £100 in total.
8. When can I report a missed South Kesteven bin?
Wait until after 3pm on the scheduled day because crews can still be collecting. A normal missed collection must be reported within two working days. A bin rejected for contamination, side waste, late presentation or another valid reason is not treated as an accidental missed collection.
9. Can I leave extra recycling or cardboard beside my SKDC bin?
Normally no. South Kesteven does not collect normal side waste beside black, silver or purple-lidded bins. Excess waste or recycling should be stored until there is capacity or taken to an appropriate Household Waste Recycling Centre.
10. Where can South Kesteven residents take extra household waste?
Lincolnshire County Council operates local Household Waste Recycling Centres including Grantham at Mowbeck Way/Alexandra Road, NG31 7AH, and Bourne at South Fen Road, PE10 0DN. Both currently open 9am–4pm on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and are closed Wednesday and Thursday. Check the live site information before travelling.