Chichester Bin Collection Days, Recycling and Food Waste: What Goes in Which Bin

Who collects the bins in Chichester?

Household bins in the Chichester area are collected by Chichester District Council, not West Sussex County Council. The county council is responsible for the recycling centres (the tips), which are covered in a separate guide. The district council's rubbish and recycling page is the starting point for everything below, and that covers the city itself plus Fishbourne, Bosham, Lavant, Tangmere and Summersdale.

How do I find out my bin collection day?

Use the council's check your bin day page. You enter your postcode (the council's example is PO19 3DX), pick your address from the list, and it shows your collection dates for food, recycling, general waste and garden waste. The council notes that garden waste dates do not appear unless you have a valid subscription.

The council also runs a free mobile app, described on the Chichester District Council app page, which the bin day page says can show your collection days, send bin reminders and tell you what can and cannot be recycled.

How often are the bins collected?

As published by the council on its general waste page, there is a weekly food waste collection and an alternate weekly collection of general waste and recycling. Garden waste, for those who subscribe, is collected fortnightly. Most properties use two wheeled bins, a burgundy bin for recycling and a black bin for general waste, plus a smaller grey and orange bin for food waste.

Put your bins out by 6am on collection day. The collection point for the food, recycling and general waste bins is just inside your property boundary at the nearest point to the public road. The garden waste bin is collected from outside the boundary so that it is clearly visible.

What goes in the burgundy recycling bin?

The council's recycling bin page says items must be clean, dry and loose, with no plastic bags. In summary, it lists as accepted:

- paper and cardboard, including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard packaging and cereal boxes (flatten large pieces of cardboard)
- plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays (squash bottles and put the top back on)
- glass bottles and jars (take the lids off so they can be recycled separately)
- food and drink cans, empty aerosols, clean foil and foil trays
- cartons such as milk, juice and soup cartons

The same page lists things to keep out, including shredded paper, tissues and paper towels, plastic bags and film, crisp packets, polystyrene, drinking glasses and Pyrex, window glass, paint tins, batteries and electrical items. Always check the page itself for the full list, as it is updated by the council.

What goes in the black general waste bin?

The general waste page says the black bin is for general household waste only and that food waste should go in the food bin. The council says your bin may not be collected if it contains items such as gas bottles, motor vehicle parts, bricks, rubble or plasterboard, garden waste, soil, commercial waste, hazardous waste such as batteries, disposable vapes, low energy light bulbs or paint, syringes or needles, or electrical items.

Waste must fit inside the bin with the lid closed. Extra waste left on top of or beside the bin will not be taken unless it is in a biodegradable council excess waste sack. As published by the council, the sacks cost £1.25 each and are sold at East Pallant House in Chichester, Selsey Town Council and The Grange in Midhurst.

What goes in the food waste bin?

The council's food waste bin page says all food waste can go in the grey and orange bin, including raw and cooked meat and fish, bones, dairy, tea bags, coffee grounds, rice, pasta, bread, vegetable peelings, fruit and pet food. It says not to put in liquids such as milk or oil, garden waste or flowers, packaging of any kind, animal waste and bedding, or compostable and biodegradable products other than liners. If the bin contains the wrong items it will not be emptied.

If you need a food waste bin, the food waste page links to a request form, and there is separate guidance there for properties that share bins.

How do I report a missed bin?

Use the council's missed bin form. You can report a missed bin up to 24 hours after the scheduled collection. The council says it will not return if the bin was not out at the correct collection point by 6am, if it held items the council cannot accept, or if more than 24 hours have passed. If it finds the bin was presented correctly, it says it will come back within seven days. Crews normally leave a notice on a bin they have rejected.

What does the garden waste service cost?

As published on the council's garden recycling service page, the fortnightly service costs £78.00 per year and a green bin is included in the price. You subscribe online, and your collection dates appear on the bin day checker about 24 hours after the green bin is delivered. The council says it will contact existing customers before the subscription expires with details of how to renew, and you can pay online or by direct debit. Charges can change, so check the page before you sign up.

Is there help if I cannot move my bin?

The council's waste page links to an assisted collection service for households where nobody is physically able to move the bins, and to a bulky waste collection for large items. Our recycling centre guide covers the bulky collection price and the tip booking rules.