Durham has three main household bins to think about: rubbish, recycling, and garden waste. Food waste caddies are also being introduced across 2026, and if you’re eligible for assisted collections, the crew can help put bins out.
| Container | What goes in it | When to put it out |
|---|---|---|
| Rubbish bin | General waste that can’t be recycled, including items like nappies, pet waste, food waste that can’t be composted, polystyrene/bubble wrap, plastic bags/wrap/film, crisp packets, broken glass, and empty disposable lighters | Put it out on your normal rubbish collection day |
| Recycling bin | Clean, loose recyclables such as plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, paper and card, food and drink cans, cartons, glass bottles and jars, lids and caps, and foil trays | Put it out on your normal recycling collection day; extra recycling can go in a clear/see-through bag beside the bin |
| Garden waste bin | Loose garden waste like grass cuttings, shrubs, leaves, weeds, flowers, hedge clippings and small branches thinner than 7cm | Put it out on your garden waste collection day, by 7.00am |
| Food waste caddy | Food waste such as banana skins, tea bags, coffee grounds and plate scrapings | Put it out on the same day as your rubbish and recycling, but at a different time |
| Assisted collection | This is not a separate bin type; it’s help getting your existing bins to and from the collection point | Bin(s) must be accessible from 7.00am on collection day |
A couple of useful rules: Durham says recycling should go loose, not in black bags, and garden waste should also be loose, not bagged. If you want, I can also break down exactly what goes in each bin in a simple list.