Check Your Postcode, PDF and Bin Day
West Lothian bin collection dates are set by postcode and exact address. Use the official lookup first, then download the current PDF calendar for your property.
This refreshed guide explains the May 2026 to August 2027 calendar, daily updates, 7am and 8pm rules, missed bins, grey, blue, green and brown bins, garden permits, replacement bins, bulky uplift and phone help.
Quick answer for West Lothian residents
Enter your postcode on West Lothian Council’s official bin calendar page, select the exact address, then scroll to the bottom of the result and download the new PDF bin calendar. The current calendar covers May 2026 to August 2027.
Put bins out by 7am. Treat a collection as reportable only after 8pm if the bin was presented correctly and no daily update, roadworks, contamination or access issue explains the delay.
Check West Lothian bin collection dates by postcode
Searches like “west lothian bin collection postcode”, “west lothian bin collection dates” and “west lothian bin collection days” should all start with the official postcode result.
Open the official bin calendar page
Use West Lothian Council’s bin collection calendar page. Avoid generic search snippets, copied social posts or a PDF saved for another address.
Enter the full postcode
Type the full postcode and let the address list load. A partial postcode is not enough for a property-specific collection result.
Select the exact address
Choose the correct house, flat, named property, rural road or road-end collection address. Do not copy a neighbour’s result.
Save the colour dates
Record the dates for grey, blue, green and brown bins. Also check whether your brown bin is food-only or paid garden-waste permit use.
Download the West Lothian 2026 PDF bin calendar
There is no one safe universal 2026 PDF for every West Lothian address. The PDF calendar is generated from the postcode and address result.
Coverage period
The current official calendar covers May 2026 to August 2027, so it continues beyond the 2026 calendar year.
Download location
After entering your postcode and loading the result, scroll down and choose “Download your New PDF Bin Calendar.”
Address-specific
Use the PDF for the selected property only. A neighbour, rural road-end, communal or older calendar can be wrong.
- Confirm the address before downloading the PDF.
- Save grey, blue, green and brown dates separately.
- Check brown-bin permit status before using the brown bin for garden waste.
- Use the daily update page if a collection does not happen as expected.
West Lothian bin collection update today
The daily updates page is the first place to check when a bin has not been collected. It helps separate a known service issue from a genuine missed bin.
| Update field | What it means | What you should do | Do not do this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | The date the disruption entry was logged. | Check whether it matches your scheduled collection date. | Do not rely on an old update without checking the latest page. |
| Colour | The affected bin service, such as grey, blue, green or brown. | Match the colour to your own calendar result. | Do not assume all bins are delayed because one colour is listed. |
| Area or streets | The affected place, route or streets. | Check spelling, nearby villages, rural roads and road-end collection points. | Do not submit a duplicate report if your street is already listed. |
| Issue | Common issues include vehicle breakdown, no access, roadworks, weather or service issue. | Leave the bin accessible and follow the update instruction. | Do not move the bin back too early if the council gives a return date. |
| Return By | The date the council expects to return. | Keep the bin presented as instructed until that date. | Do not report again unless the return-by instruction fails. |
West Lothian bin collection times: 7am and 8pm rules
West Lothian uses a clear presentation and reporting window. The bin must be out by 7am, and crews may work until 8pm.
Out by 7am
Present bins at the kerbside or agreed collection point by 7am on the scheduled collection day.
Wait until 8pm
A collection is normally classed as missed only after 8pm when the bin was correctly presented.
Remove locks and straps
Remove locks, straps, weights or anything that stops the crew emptying the bin safely.
No side waste
Side bags are not uplifted. Use the correct bulky, recycling-centre or storage route for extra waste.
Missed bin collection in West Lothian
Use the missed-bin form only when the bin meets West Lothian’s missed-collection definition. Most early reports, access problems and contamination issues should be handled differently.
Wait until after 8pm
Do not report during the working day. Crews can collect until 8pm, and different bin colours can be collected at different times.
Check daily updates first
If your street, area or bin colour is listed, follow the council’s return-by instruction rather than creating a duplicate missed-bin report.
Check presentation
Confirm the bin was out by 7am, lid closed, not contaminated, accessible and free from locks, straps or weights.
Use the correct form
Use the missed-bin form for a genuine missed collection. Use the calendar-issue form for wrong address or wrong scheduled day problems.
Can I report it?
This is a static helper, not a live council form.
West Lothian bin colours: grey, blue, green and brown
Use West Lothian’s own colour rules. Do not copy bin-colour meanings from another Scottish council.
Grey bin
Household waste that cannot be recycled. Keep recycling, glass, batteries and electricals out.
Blue bin
For fibres such as paper and cardboard where your property has separate blue and green recycling bins.
Green bin
For metal and plastic containers where your property has the blue-and-green recycling setup.
Brown bin
Food waste, and garden waste only when a valid garden waste permit is displayed.
Tap a bin colour
Official PDF and source details that matter
West Lothian’s PDF-style guidance is useful, but only when used carefully. The calendar PDF is address-generated, while recycling PDFs explain sorting and presentation rules.
| Source | What it confirms | How to use it | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| New PDF bin calendar | Current dates after postcode and address lookup, covering May 2026 to August 2027. | Download it from the bottom of your official address result. | Using a neighbour’s PDF or an older downloaded file. |
| Blue-bin visual aid PDF | Materials should be clean and dry, not placed inside plastic bags, and the bin should be put out by 7am. | Use it as a quick recycling reminder, then check the live blue/green bin page for current accepted items. | Bagging all recycling inside a plastic bag or putting dirty/food-wet items in. |
| Daily update table | Disruption date, colour, area, issue and return-by instruction. | Check before reporting a missed bin or moving the bin back in. | Reporting a duplicate missed bin when the street is already listed. |
| Brown-bin permit form | 2026/27 permit price and validity dates. | Check before putting garden waste in the brown bin. | Assuming food-waste permission means garden waste is free too. |
What goes in each West Lothian bin
This table gives a practical first check. The council A-Z or colour-specific pages remain the final source for unusual items.
| Bin or route | Use for | Keep out | Micro-help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grey bin | Non-recyclable household waste such as nappies, sanitary items, bubble wrap, polystyrene, pet waste, vacuum contents and some contaminated packaging. | Glass bottles/jars, textiles, blue/green recyclables, food/garden waste, batteries and electricals. | Do not use side bags. Remove batteries from items before disposal. |
| Blue bin | Clean and dry paper/card-style materials where your property has the separate blue-and-green recycling setup. | Food, liquids, dirty nappies, used tissues, glass, clothes and bagged-together contamination. | Keep paper/card dry and loose. Do not bundle recycling inside a plastic bag. |
| Green bin | Clean, empty and dry plastic containers, tins, cans, foil and accepted containers where supplied. | Problem plastics, food waste, dirty items, batteries, electricals and items not listed by the council. | Follow the label on your own bin because not all homes have the same recycling setup. |
| Brown bin | Food waste; garden waste only with a displayed valid permit. | Garden waste without a permit, overfilled waste, contaminated waste or material compacted so tightly it cannot empty. | Food-only use is still allowed without a garden permit. |
| Glass recycling points | Glass bottles and jars. | Do not place glass in the grey bin when a glass recycling route is available. | Check the council recycling location guidance if you are unsure where to take glass. |
Brown bin garden waste permit 2026/27
The brown bin has two different uses: food waste and paid garden waste. Mixing these up is one of the easiest ways to lose a collection.
£55.75
The 2026/27 garden waste permit costs £55.75 per household, for up to two brown bins.
1 Jun 2026–31 May 2027
The current permit is valid from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027.
Display the permit
Attach the permit to the brown bin as soon as it arrives. Crews service garden waste only when the permit is displayed.
Food waste still allowed
If you do not have a garden permit, only food waste should go in the brown bin.
Missing, stolen or damaged bins
Use the replacement-bin route for bin condition problems. Do not report a damaged bin as a normal missed collection.
| Problem | Use this route | Official detail to remember | Before you submit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bin missing or stolen | Replacement-bin request. | Use the online replacement-bin service or contact support if online help is needed. | Check with neighbours first in case it was moved after collection. |
| Bin damaged by collection vehicle or crew | Replacement-bin request. | The council says you will not be charged if the bin was damaged by the crew or fell into the collection vehicle. | Report promptly with collection date and bin colour. |
| Broken wheels | Replacement or removal route. | If wheels are broken, the bin should be empty and accessible or the council may be unable to remove it. | Empty it safely before replacement/removal where possible. |
| Need extra capacity | Request new bins or collection changes. | West Lothian has routes for assisted collection, additional/replacement blue/brown bins and additional grey-bin capacity. | Explain household need, bin colour and address clearly. |
Bulky uplift and extra waste
Extra bags are not collected beside normal bins. Large household items and bulky waste need a separate uplift or recycling-centre route.
| Need | Use this route | Current official detail | Preparation tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large bulky household items | Book a bulky uplift. | West Lothian bulky uplifts cost £38.59 for up to five items. | Count item groups carefully before paying. |
| Change item number or type | Amend before deadline. | Changes must be made by 12 noon on the working day before collection or the appointment may be forfeited. | Check the booking email and item list early. |
| Wardrobe bundles or large items | Prepare as instructed. | Bundles should be manageable, under 6ft long and liftable by one person. | Keep items accessible and safely presented. |
| Bagged waste | Use another route. | West Lothian says bagged waste is not accepted as part of a bulky uplift. | Do not book ordinary bags as bulky items. |
| General waste bags | Grey bin or safe storage. | General-waste bags should be placed in the grey bin or stored safely until there is capacity. | Do not leave side bags beside the bin expecting a normal uplift. |
West Lothian bin collection phone number and support script
Use online forms where possible, but phone help is useful for permit issues, replacement bins, bulky uplift support, missing services and recycling questions.
Phone number
West Lothian waste pages list 01506 280000 for Customer Service Centre support.
Have this ready
Postcode, full address, bin colour, scheduled date, whether the bin was out by 7am, and whether a daily update is listed.
Call script
“My postcode is [postcode], address is [address], bin colour is [colour], and I need help with [calendar / update / missed bin / permit / replacement bin].”
Official West Lothian links after you know your task
Use these for live lookup, PDF download, service updates, missed-bin reporting, permits, replacement bins, bulky uplifts or final council confirmation.
Postcode calendar
Use this to check exact collection dates and download the current PDF calendar.
Open bin calendar pageDaily updates
Use this before reporting a missed collection or moving the bin back in.
Open daily updatesMissed bin
Use after 8pm only if the bin was out by 7am and no update or presentation issue explains it.
Report missed binWest Lothian bin collection FAQs
How do I check my West Lothian bin collection date?
Use West Lothian Council’s official bin calendar page, enter your postcode, select the exact address and save the dates shown for each bin colour.
Can I search by postcode?
Yes. The official calendar route starts with a postcode search, but you still need to select the exact address before trusting the result.
How do I download the West Lothian 2026 PDF bin calendar?
Enter your postcode on the official calendar page, scroll to the bottom of the results page and choose “Download your New PDF Bin Calendar.”
What period does the current West Lothian bin calendar cover?
The current official calendar covers May 2026 to August 2027, so it continues beyond the 2026 calendar year.
What does “West Lothian bin collection update today” mean?
It means checking the official daily updates page for current service issues, roadworks, weather delays, affected bin colours, areas and return-by dates.
What time should bins be out in West Lothian?
Bins should be presented by 7am on the scheduled collection day, with lids closed and locks, straps or weights removed.
When can I report a missed bin?
West Lothian defines a missed collection as a bin not uplifted by 8pm where it was out by 7am and no update, contamination or presentation issue explains the non-collection.
Does my brown bin need a garden waste permit?
Food waste can go in the brown bin without a garden permit. Garden waste needs a valid permit displayed on the brown bin, or the bin will not be emptied.
What is the West Lothian bin collection phone number?
West Lothian waste pages list 01506 280000 for Customer Service Centre support. Have your postcode, address, bin colour and issue ready.
How much is a West Lothian bulky uplift?
West Lothian lists bulky uplifts at £38.59 for up to five items. Changes to item number or type must be made by 12 noon on the working day before collection.
Final collection-night checklist
Check the official postcode result, download the correct PDF, put the right bin out by 7am, close the lid, remove locks or straps, keep access clear, check daily updates, and wait until after 8pm before reporting a missed bin.
Remember the West Lothian colour rule: grey is non-recyclable waste, blue and green are recycling routes depending on your setup, and brown is food waste plus permitted garden waste only.