11/06/2026
🗑️ What to do in the event of a missed bin 🗑️
On any given four-week period, there are more than 498,700 collections to be made, and crews will always attempt to catch up on missed bins as soon as is practicably possible.
🕑 If you presented your bin by 7am on its collection day and it was not collected by 4.45pm—and it was not tagged—please leave the bin out in the first instance.
👉 Visit aberdeenshire.gov.uk/binsdisruptions to see if there are any extra collections being organised or missed bins noted for your area. If there are, then there is no need to get in touch as crews will be working hard to catch up on your route.
If your area is not listed, residents can complete a missed bin form here online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/missedbins. While the reply will be automated, the important information you give will be acted on wherever practicably possible. Trade customers can contact [email protected]
Unless it is otherwise noted on our website or via an alert on the myAberdeenshire app, you can leave your bin out for up to five days to allow collection crews the best opportunity to catch up on the route—as and when resource becomes available.
Bin collections can be missed for many reasons including adverse weather, road closures, or vehicles being in for maintenance and repair.
If at any point your bin was not collected within five days, then crews will collect excess on the next collection day for that same bin—unless it was originally tagged or not presented.
To make the best use of our resources, crews will not return for bins that were not presented. Our in-cab technology allows crews to evidence which households did not present bins for collection, which is shared with our customer services should they receive a call.
⬛ If a black lid bin is presented and missed, we will collect up to two extra black bags of excess waste on its next scheduled collection day.
♻️ If a recycling bin is presented, missed, and not tagged, we will collect extra recycling of the same type on its next scheduled collection day.
You can present excess for...
⬛ The black lid bin (non-recyclable materials) in up to two extra black bin bags—double bag if necessary.
🟦 The blue lid bin (paper, card, and cardboard only) in cardboard boxes. Please keep them clean and dry.
🟧 The orange lid bin (metal tins, cans, aerosols and foil, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays) in non-black plastic bags so that the crews can clearly see the contents.
Should you not wish to wait for the next scheduled collection of a missed bin for any excess to be collected, residents can visit their nearest household recycling centre.
We ask that all visitors to our household recycling centres check the website prior to travelling in case of a change in opening times, a need to book, a closure, to see what can be recycled, and the type of vehicles that are welcomed. When visiting, please arrive early enough to unload the vehicle before the lunchtime or end-of-day close.
Booking is required for all vehicles visiting Inverurie and Westhill household recycling centres. Only commercial-type vehicles and vehicles with a trailer must book at all other recycling centres.
If you do need to book, please arrive on time as entry may be refused to anyone arriving outside of their given time slot.
For the most up-to-date information on any delay to your specific bin collections and when each bin is due to be collected (domestic customers only), please download the MyAberdeenshire app and be sure to turn on notifications: aberdeenshire.gov.uk/my/mobile-app
