The brown bins (Food & garden Waste)
The brown bins (Food & garden Waste) will reduce to a 4 weekly collection over the winter period (13 Nov 2023 - 08 Mar 2024). Please refer to your online collection calendars at https://www.fife.gov.uk/services/bin-calendar to confirm your bin collection dates.
Waste collection and recycling services are provided by a four bin system:
- Grey bin - paper and cardboard
- Green bin - plastic and cans
- Brown bin - food & garden waste
- Blue bin - landfill waste
You can check your bin collection dates online
In the drop-down boxes below you can see the details of the materials collected for each bin and any changes to the materials you can put in each bin. This information is also available in our handy Recycling Guide.
You can recycle most paper and cardboard items in the grey bin including:
- Newspapers
- Greeting cards
- Catalogues
- Envelopes
- Cardboard boxes, cardboard tubes and other cardboard containers
Changes to Grey bin
Drinks and food cartons are now recycled in the green bin.
| Grey bin - no thanks | Correct bin |
|---|---|
| Plastic bags | Green bin |
| General waste | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Cartons (food & waste) | Green bin |
| Food | Brown bin - remove packaging |
| Nappies | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Padded envelopes | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Polystyrene | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Tissues / paper towels | Blue bin (landfill) |
You can recycle plastic and cans in the green bin including:
Metals
- Food cans
- Drink cans
- Foil trays
- Metal lids
Plastics
- Bottles
- Food and drink pots
- Tubs and trays of all colours
- Drinks and food cartons
Green bin changes – extra plastics that can be recycled
All plastic bags, wrappers, film and packaging including:
- Plastic pouches
- Fruit and veg nets
- Plastic sauce sachets
- The film from ready meal trays and fruit tubs – ripped off and separated
- Carrier bags
- Bread bags
- Snack bags – crisps and peanuts etc.
- Biscuit, chocolate and sweets bags, wrappers, tubs
- Cling film
- Pizza wrapping film
- Flower bouquet wrappers
- Pet food wrappers
- Plastic plant pots
- Plastic coat hangers
- Dry sheets - disposable duster refills, disposable dry floor cleaning sheets for dust and hair and disposable dryer sheets
| Green bin - no thanks | Correct bin |
|---|---|
| General waste | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Polystyrene | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Electrical items | Please take to a recycling centre |
| Food | Brown bin - remove packaging |
| Nappies | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Paint/varnish tins and pots | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Glass | Please take to a recycling point |
| Textiles, clothing, shoes and bags | Blue bin (landfill), or donate to charity shop |
| Toys | Blue bin (landfill), or donate to charity shop |
| Tools (e.g. saws) | Please take to a recycling centre |
| E-cigarettes | Blue bin (landfill), or please take to recycling centre |
You can recycle food and garden waste in the brown bin including:
Garden waste
- Grass cuttings
- flowers and plants
- twigs and small branches
Food waste
- Fruit and vegetables
- Poultry
- Meat
- Fish
- Plate scraping
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
| Brown bin - no thanks | Correct bin |
|---|---|
| General waste | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Plastic bags or liners | Green bin |
| Compostable plastics such as Vegware | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Animal waste | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Pet bedding/sawdust | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Liquids | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Invasive plants (i.e. Japanese Knotweed) | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Soil turf or compost | Please take to a recycling centre |
| Rubble or stones | Please take to a recycling centre |
| Nappies | Blue bin (landfill) |
| Timber | Please take to a recycling centre |
| Packaged food (food still in jars or packets) | Please remove food from packaging before putting in the brown bin and recycle the packaging in recycling bins |
Your blue bin is for landfill (household waste)
All the waste in the blue landfill bin is sent to local landfill sites where it is buried under the ground. To minimise waste going to landfill, only waste that cannot be recycled should be put in your blue landfill bin.
Back To TopIn multi-occupancy properties waste and recycling bins are provided whenever possible. There can be difficulties due to space restrictions and the number of bins needed for the block.
Collection frequencies for landfill waste will vary at each site and depend on the number of bins provided and the number of properties in the block. If you don’t know your waste arrangements, please speak to your landlord, factor or call our Recycling Helpline on 03451 55 00 22.
If recycling bins are not provided you can still recycle. Use Recycling Points to recycle your plastics, cans, paper, cardboard, glass and textiles.
Back To TopA property may be on a sack collection if:
- They do not have space to store a landfill bin on their property
- We cannot access their house due to the width of street, vehicle restrictions etc.
In these circumstances we may provide a sack collection to the resident. Sack collections are normally collected weekly. However, we are unable to provide a recycling service alongside this.
We deliver 50 sacks every six months equating to a use of two sacks per week. We will only uplift Fife Council branded sacks from the collection point.
Back To TopThe waste and recycling service provided to rural properties will vary. This will depend on their ease of access, condition of access road and ability to store bins at road end.
We provide up to a 3 bin service to rural properties including:
- Landfill (household) waste collection – emptied fortnightly
- Plastics and cans collection – emptied monthly
- Paper and cardboard collection – emptied monthly
We do not provide a food and garden waste collection to rural properties as it is not cost effective to do so.
You can check your bin collection calendar online.
Back To TopOther information to note:
- Bins should be out by 6am on collection day and left out until 9pm or when emptied
- Bin lids should be closed, or we may not empty the bin
- We will not collect any extra bags, boxes or other waste placed at the side of the bin
Assisted Collections (Take-Out and Return)
We can help if you are unable to put your bin out for collection and have no one to help you. You may be able to get an assisted collection service if you are elderly or disabled. This service is also known as "Take-Out and Return."
To request the "Take-Out and Return" service, you must have a medical certificate or letter from your Social Worker, Paid Carer, Housing Officer, or Elected Member stating that you aren't physically able to present the bins kerbside for collection.
Only start the online form below once you have this letter.
Report a domestic bin issue
You can use the button below to report a domestic bin issue or request an item such as:
- a missed bin collection
- request a new or replacement bin or small kitchen caddy (including new build properties)
- request a new bin recycling sticker (black, green and blue bins only as the brown bin sticker is no longer available)
- report a damaged bin
- request a bin to be removed
If you have previously reported a damaged bin or requested a new bin(s) and there hasn’t been a repair/delivery within the given timescales, then please contact us via:
- Web Chat (Click the red button on the right of this page)
- Email Fife.Council@fife.gov.uk
- Complete a Report a domestic bin issue form
- If you have no online access, telephone 03451 55 00 22
New Build Properties
You can use the form below to order bins for your new build property.
Household Clinical Waste Collection
Some clinical waste needs separate disposal in an incinerator. Your GP or NHS practitioner will tell you this.
Contact NHS Fife to clarify if your medical waste needs treatment in this way.
Advice for presentation of bins during high winds
During high winds, some bins with a small amount of waste can be blown over, especially the green bins containing lighter waste. While this is an unusual occurrence, it can cause littering in the street.
Please help us during periods of high winds by only putting your bin out when necessary. Does your bin need to be emptied? If not, please consider the points below.
- If you think the wind is so bad that it might tip over the bin, please consider waiting and presenting your bin at your next collection date.
- Can you store your recycling/ landfill temporarily, or take it to a Recycling Point or Recycling Centre?
If your bin does need to be emptied, then if possible:
- Please make sure bins are closed and secure.
- Do not put your bin out too early. If possible, put your bin out on the morning of collection, before 6am.
- Protect your bin from the winds by putting your bin alongside a shelter, such as a wall or a fence, if this is available on the kerbside. If this is not practical, then place bins in clusters with your neighbours’ bins.
- Bring your bin in as soon as possible, after collection.
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