Rubbish and waste in Portsmouth
Disposing of your rubbish responsibly is good for the environment, and keeps our streets tidy.
Most houses in the city have their rubbish collected weekly, and recycling every fortnight. Depending on where you live, you may also have a food waste bin to recycle kitchen scraps.
Heading home for the holidays?
If you are leaving the city during the Christmas period, do your bit to help reduce the amount of waste left behind. Top tips to consider before you go:
- Speak to a friend or neighbour - If you aren't going to be here, ask a neighbour or friend if they can put your bins out on the correct days for you.
- Don't leave your bin on the pavement while you're away - Bins and bags of rubbish are only allowed out on the day of collection and the evening before after 7.00pm. You run the risk of ripped bags from animals, and your bin may be taken away or swapped for a smaller one by the council.
- Get ahead of the game! - If you have access to a car, you can take your usual rubbish to the local tip at Port Solent for free before you leave, something less to think about when you get back!
- Christmas and New Year collection dates - don't forget to visit the Portsmouth City Council website for any collection date changes over the festive period and other useful rubbish and recycling information.
Here's everything you need to know about Recycling in Portsmouth - including your council bin collections, what to do with food scraps, and where to take your glass bottles, tetrapaks, crisp packets and more.
General rubbish
Your general rubbish is collected once a week on your street’s collection day.
For properties with forecourts
If you have a forecourt and wheelie bins:
- Only use black wheelie bins provided by Portsmouth City Council - any other bins, or anything outside of the bin won’t be picked up.
- Put all rubbish in tied sacks or plastic bags inside the bin.
- The bin lid should be able to fully close.
- Put out your wheelie bin by 6.00am on your collection day.
- Take your bins in as soon as they’re collected to avoid obstructing the pavement.
- If you need a bigger bin, please contact the Council who may be able to upgrade the size.
For flat-fronted properties
If you don’t have a forecourt and wheelie bins:
- Buy sturdy bin bags and make sure you tie them properly.
- Double wrap anything sharp and items that may attract animals, like food.
- Put out your rubbish by 6.00am on your collection day. Don't leave it outside on the pavement all week as this will attract pests but also complaints from neighbours.
- Put your rubbish at the boundary where your property meets the pavement.
- Standard waste allowance is three black sacks per week. If you need more allowance, please contact the Council who may be able to provide extra waste stickers.
You can put your bin out from 7.00pm the evening before collection day. Once emptied, please bring it back in by the end of the day. This keeps the streets accessible and clean for everyone. If your bin is left out, we may take it away or give you a smaller one.
For communal flats
If you live in a flat or another type of communal residence, you will have a communal rubbish collection. You need to put your rubbish in the big wheeled bins that you will find in your bin storage area. You can put your rubbish down a chute if you have one. Communal rubbish bins are usually emptied at least once a week.
See the council’s website for information on how to put your rubbish out for collection.
