Collection days are organised per street and works on a week 1/week 2 system.  A search function on the Cheltenham council website allows quick and easy access to information on refuse and recycling collection. All bins and boxes should be placed on the pavement by 7am on the allocated days and removed from kerbside once collected. Collection dates may vary on and around bank holidays and regularly updated information can be found here.

The green household refuse bins, collected fortnightly, are for general, unrecyclable and unusable waste. Due to health and safety regulations, bins will not be collected if the lid is not fully closed. Bags of waste left outside the bin will not be collected. The following materials should not be put into the green bins – stones, gravel, rubbles, builders’ waste, garden waste, soil, sharp objects, needles, hazardous waste, electrical goods and business waste.

Recycling boxes, also collected every two weeks, are for materials that are not reusable but can be recycled, such as; plastic bottles, glass jars/bottles, food/drink/pet cans, and the majority of paper/cardboard. Please do not put the following materials into the recycling boxes; unrecyclable plastics (e.g. cling film/carrier bags/polystyrene/yoghurt and margarine tubs), window panes, Pyrex dishes or crockery, food pouches or packets, wallpaper, wrapping paper, hardback books or large corrugated cardboard boxes.

Food waste is collected every week. Residents are entitled to two food waste caddies: a 23 litre and a 7 litre. The smaller of the two can be used to collect waste in the kitchen before being emptied into the large container – usually the one that gets put out onto the street for collection. These caddies are dishwasher safe and can be lined with newspaper or compostable food waste liners with the seedling logo. Do not use plastic carriers as these will not be collected. This food waste bin is for food and is not for plastic, packaging, faeces, pet litter, animal bedding or cardboard. The caddies can be locked with the handle in order to avoid spillages on the pavement or in the home. Take care when filling the caddies.

Additional bags cannot be collected and residents are reminded to take advantage of all local recycling facilities available to them – the Swindon Road and Wingmoor Farm Recycling Sites, Freecycle and a number of recycling charities.

If you live in terraced houses and do not have a wheeled bin – residents may present waste in bags. There is a maximum of 3 black sacks per household per fortnight. Large family households can request larger wheeled bins (360 litre) and may be asked to demonstrate their need for it. Extra recycling boxes can also be ordered direct from the council.

Residents are advised by the council to put your house name or number on the box so it can be easily identified after collection. However, it is not uncommon for bins and boxes to go missing. Please contact customer services to order or purchase a replacement bin. You can also use the collection problem form to report a lost, stolen or damaged bin as well as reporting a missed bin.

Please note that it is the residents’ responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of boxes and bins. If your containers do become dirty, you can use disinfectant or a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and warm water to clean the bins. It is also advised that you regularly rinse the containers to avoid unwanted odours.

For more information on refuse bins, recycling boxes and the other collection services that the council offer (food waste, garden waste, etc), please visit the waste and recycling website or contact customer services. Alternatively, click here to view the frequently asked questions on the Gloucestershire County Council waste collection services.