Changes to Your Bin Collections

The Council is changing the collection routes to make sure the service continues to work effectively as the borough grows and develops.

There are now more than 91,000 households across the borough, with continued growth and new housing development.

The new routes will help us to:

• Respond to continued growth in the number of households
• Balance workloads and collection routes more effectively
• Support a more reliable and efficient service.
• Make better use of Council resources
• Reduce vehicle mileage, fuel use and associated emissions where possible.

While your bin collection day may be changing, the way you use the service remains largely the same.

• Black, green and brown bins will continue to be collected fortnightly
• Your bin should be presented at your usual collection point
• Your bin must be out by 7am on your collection day
• Existing bin presentation and recycling rules continue to apply.

What goes in each bin

There are no changes to the existing rules about what should go into your black, green and brown bins as part of this route change.

What can I put in my green bin?

Use your green bin for recyclable household packaging and materials, including:

• Paper and cardboard
• Newspapers, magazines and junk mail
• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
• Food tins and drinks cans
• Empty aerosol cans
• Glass bottles and jars
• Textiles
• Small electrical items (please remove batteries from electrical items and recycle batteries separately at Council Recycling Centres).

Please:

• Empty and rinse containers before putting them in your green bin
• Flatten cardboard boxes to make more space
• Do not put plastic bags or other items inside your green bin
• Do not put food waste, garden waste or general waste in your green bin.

What can I put in my brown bin?

Use your brown bin for food waste and garden waste, including:

• Fruit and vegetable peelings
• Meat, fish and bones
• Cooked and uncooked food
• Tea bags and coffee grounds
• Grass cuttings, leaves and weeds
• Small branches and hedge trimmings
• Flowers and plants.
• Takeaway pizza boxes (torn up & plastic removed)
• Shredded or wet paper
• Paper towels, napkins, tissues.

Please:

• Use compostable foody caddy liners approved for food waste or line your caddy with newspaper
• Do not put plastic bags, soil, rubble or general waste in your brown bin
• Do not overfill your bin or place waste beside it.

You can use the Translate function on the website to access this information in another language.

You can use the Translate function on the website to access this information in another language. Please scroll to the bottom this webpage to access the Translate feature – see below.

For additional assistance, contact us on 03300 561 020 or email

The ABC Council App provides another convenient way to access bin collection services and information.

Download the app to receive reminders to put your bin out and receive information on holiday collections.

The App is available to download on App store and Google Play store. Find out more here https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/abc-council-app/

If you have additional waste or recycling during the changeover period, you can use your local Household Recycling Centre.

Find your local Household Recycling Centre

When do the new collection days start?
The new bin collection routes will be introduced from week commencing 26 October 2026.

How will I know my new bin collection day?
A six-month collection calendar will be mailed to every household. You can also use the online Find My Bin Day service.

Is everyone’s bin day changing?
More than 75% of households will have a new bin collection day.

Will my bin be collected at a different time?
Yes, your bin may be collected at a different time of day under the new schedule. Please continue to put your bin out by 7am in the same location as you always have on your new collection day and remove from the kerbside after collection.

Will my bins still be collected fortnightly?
Yes. Black, green and brown bins will continue to be collected fortnightly.

Do I need to change where I put my bins?
No. Continue to use your usual collection point and follow the existing bin presentation requirements.

What happens if I put my bin(s) out on the wrong day?
If you put your bin out on the wrong day, it will not be collected until the next scheduled collection date on the new calendar posted out to each household. You can also find your next collection date on the ABC Council website’s ‘Find my Bin Day’ page and you can also check via the ABC App or call us on 03300 561 020.

Will the type of waste I put in my bins change?
No. The existing rules for what goes into your black, green and brown bins remain unchanged.

What can I put in my green bin?
Your green bin is for recyclable household packaging and materials, including paper and cardboard, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, tins, cans, aerosols, textiles, small electrical items and glass bottles and jars. Empty and rinse containers, and do not use plastic bags. Please remove batteries from electrical items and recycle batteries separately at Council Recycling Centres.

What can I put in my brown bin?
Your brown bin is for food waste and garden waste, including fruit and vegetable peelings, meat, fish, bones, cooked and uncooked food, tea bags, coffee grounds, grass cuttings, leaves, weeds, flowers and small branches, takeaway pizza boxes (torn up & plastic removed), shredded or wet paper, paper towels, napkins, tissues. Do not put plastic bags, soil, rubble or general waste in your brown bin.

Will there be a longer gap between collections?
Some households may experience a longer gap between collections during the changeover period. Please plan ahead and use your local Household Recycling Centre if you need to dispose of additional waste or recycling.

Will Council collect more than one bin per waste stream from my home?
No, only one bin per household will be collected unless an application is approved for additional capacity for larger families or residents with medical needs. More information is available at Request An Additional Bin

Will Council collect additional bags of waste from my home?

No, crews will not pick up extra bags, boxes, or loose rubbish left next to or on top of your bins.

Will my assisted lift be impacted from this change?
No. Council’s waste team are aware of assisted lift requirements and will continue to deliver these as normal.

What if I don’t have internet access?
Your new bin collection calendar will be mailed directly to your household. You can also contact the Council for assistance on 03300 561 020.

For information about the changes, call us on 03300 561 020 or email

To help raise awareness of these changes to bin collections and answer any queries from the public, officers from ABC Council’s Recycling Outreach Team are holding information sessions at the following venues:

• Mon 19 Oct, 10am-11am – Banbridge Leisure Centre
• Tue 20 Oct, 10am-11am – Richhill Recreation Centre
• Tue 20 Oct, 11.30am-12.30pm – Orchard Leisure Centre, Armagh
• Wed 21 Oct, 10.30am-11.30am – Tandragee Recreation Centre
• Wed 21 Oct, 12.30pm-1.30pm – South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon
• Thurs 22 Oct, 10am-11am – Dromore Community Centre
• Fri 23 Oct, 10am-11am – Rathfriland Community Centre