Mid Sussex Bin Collection Dates 2026: Check Day & Calendar
Mid Sussex bin collection dates in 2026 follow the district’s new 1‑2‑3 system: food waste every week, mixed recycling every two weeks and black-bin rubbish every three weeks. This independent guide helps residents in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead and surrounding villages find the correct address calendar, prepare every bin correctly, handle missed collections, calculate bulky-waste charges, understand the £99.50 garden-waste service and plan a booked recycling-centre visit without searching across multiple council pages.
How to check your Mid Sussex bin collection day
Use the official bins and waste service, enter the full postcode and choose the exact property. The result displays the registered food-waste, recycling, rubbish and garden-waste dates for that address.
Do not use a general town calendar or copy a neighbour’s schedule. Collection rounds changed for all residents when the district-wide 1‑2‑3 system began, and nearby streets or communal buildings can have different arrangements.
Set up the correct Mid Sussex collection routine
Complete these steps once for the exact property. They prevent most wrong-day, wrong-bin, overfilled-bin and access-related collection failures.
Search the full address
Enter the postcode in the official service and select the correct house, flat or communal property. If the address is missing, contact the waste team rather than selecting a neighbouring property.
Check the registered property scheduleRecord all three core services
Write down the weekly food-waste date, fortnightly recycling date and three-weekly rubbish date. These services do not necessarily fall on the same weekday for every property.
Add garden waste separately
The paid green-bin service has its own fortnightly calendar and is suspended for the two weeks containing the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Prepare bins by 7am
Place council-provided bins at the edge of the property, clearly visible and accessible. Close the lid fully and keep recycling clean, dry and loose.
Wait until after 3pm before reporting
Mid Sussex says collections can take place until 3pm. If the bin remains unemptied after that, check the missed-bin rules and report through the official service.
What is collected each week under the 1‑2‑3 system?
The district-wide system started in November 2025 and remains the core 2026 pattern. Exact dates vary by address, but the service frequency is consistent.
| Service | Normal frequency | Presentation | Important 2026 detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food waste | Weekly | Green 23-litre outdoor bin by 7am, lid locked. | Communal properties use a shared 140-litre food bin. |
| Mixed recycling | Every two weeks | Clean, dry and loose; no plastic bags. | Contaminated bins are normally left until the next scheduled collection. |
| General rubbish | Every three weeks | Council-provided black-lidded bin, lid fully closed. | Food waste must be separated into the weekly service. |
| Garden waste | Fortnightly | Paid 240-litre bin, no extra side waste. | 25 collections; two-week Christmas/New Year suspension. |
Bank-holiday planning: Mid Sussex says the normal pattern repeats through the year, with temporary changes at Christmas and New Year. Always use the address calendar for the final live date.
Save a Mid Sussex bin reminder and project future dates
Enter one date already confirmed by the official address calendar. The tool stores the reminder in this browser and projects the repeating interval. Christmas, New Year, severe weather and operational changes can override the estimate.
Build my reminder
My planning board
No date saved. Check the official property calendar first.
Planning aid only. Verify altered dates with Mid Sussex District Council.
What goes in each Mid Sussex bin?
Correct sorting is more important under the three-weekly rubbish cycle. Use the weekly food service and fortnightly recycling service fully before placing anything in the black bin.
Black-lidded rubbish bin
- Nappies and double-bagged pet waste
- Non-recyclable packaging and plastic film
- Polystyrene and broken crockery
- Shredded paper
Keep out: food waste, electricals, textiles, garden waste, DIY rubble, hazardous or clinical waste.
Blue-lidded recycling bin
- Paper, card, coffee cups and scrunchable wrapping paper
- Clean foil trays and tin foil
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal cans, empty aerosols and tins
- Food and drink cartons
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
Keep out: shredded paper, tissues, Pyrex, crockery, batteries, cables, toys, plant pots, bags, film and polystyrene.
Green food-waste bin
- Meat, fish, shellfish and bones
- Dairy, eggshells and solid fats
- Fruit, vegetables and peelings
- Bread, cakes, rice, pasta and beans
- Plate scrapings, tea bags and coffee grounds
- Pet food and out-of-date food
Keep out: packaging, plastic bags, liquids, oils, animal bedding, pet waste, cut flowers and garden waste.
Green-lidded garden bin
- Grass cuttings, leaves and weeds
- Hedge trimmings and prunings
- Small twigs and branches
- Domestic green garden waste only
Keep out: food, pet bedding or waste, packaging, soil, rubble, invasive plants and anything that prevents the lid closing.
Which Mid Sussex bin or service should I use?
Choose a common item for a fast route. Use the West Sussex recycling A–Z for unusual, hazardous or construction materials.
Household item finder
Result: Select an item above.
Fast sorting rule
- Food: weekly green food bin.
- Clean packaging: blue-lidded recycling bin.
- Remaining non-recyclables: black-lidded rubbish bin.
- Garden material: paid garden service or recycling centre.
- Electrical, bulky, DIY or hazardous waste: separate service.
Food caddy sizes, liners, smells and flats
Every household receives a 5-litre indoor caddy and a 23-litre lockable outdoor bin. Communal buildings use a shared 140-litre food bin in the bin store.
| Question | Practical answer | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Do I need a liner? | No. Newspaper or purchased compostable liners can be used. | Ordinary plastic bags and packaging. |
| How do I stop smells? | Rinse after emptying, keep out of direct sun and clean with washing-up liquid, lemon juice or white vinegar. | Leaving the lid open or liquids inside. |
| What about flies? | Lock the outdoor lid, wrap strong-smelling scraps in newspaper and clean the caddy regularly. | Exposed food or unlocked containers. |
| No space for indoor caddy? | Food can be taken directly to the larger outdoor bin. | Returning food to the black rubbish bin. |
| Flats and communal buildings? | Empty the indoor caddy into the shared 140-litre food bin. | Using communal dry-recycling bins for food. |
Free service: residents are not charged an additional subscription for the core weekly food-waste collection.
Wait, fix the problem or report the collection?
Do not report before 3pm on the scheduled day. First check the exact address date, presentation time, visibility, closed lid, contamination and road access.
| Situation | Likely reason | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| It is before 3pm | The collection round may still be operating. | Leave the correctly presented bin outside. |
| Wrong date or service | The 1‑2‑3 calendar was misread. | Check the exact property calendar and use the next listed date. |
| Bin was not out by 7am | Late presentation is not a missed collection. | Present earlier next time. |
| Bin hidden, blocked or inaccessible | The crew could not safely reach it. | Move it to the visible property edge and remove the obstruction. |
| Recycling contaminated | Non-recyclable items were found. | Remove all contamination; it will normally wait until the next scheduled date. |
| Genuine miss after 3pm | The correctly presented service was not completed. | Report through the official bins and waste service. |
| Garden bin genuinely missed | No exclusion applies under the subscription terms. | Report by 1:30pm on the following working day. |
Missed-bin diagnosis
Result: Select the closest situation.
Information to prepare
- Full address and postcode
- Scheduled date and service type
- Confirmation the bin was out by 7am
- Whether the lid closed fully
- Any sticker, contamination or access issue
- Whether the property has assisted collection
Order containers or ask for extra rubbish capacity
The bins and waste service can be used to request replacement rubbish, recycling and food-waste containers. Extra black-bin capacity is assessed rather than automatically supplied.
Replacement recycling bin
Request a blue bin or black bin with a blue lid through the registered-address service.
Food caddy or outdoor bin
Order a missing or replacement 5-litre kitchen caddy or 23-litre outdoor food bin.
Two children in nappies
Contact customer services to apply for a second rubbish bin when two children are in nappies full time.
Large household or exceptional waste
Email the waste team for advice if a household cannot manage the three-weekly rubbish capacity after using food and recycling services fully.
Nappies and adult hygiene products: Mid Sussex does not currently provide a district-wide separate absorbent-hygiene collection. Double-bag these items before placing them in the black rubbish bin.
How assisted waste collection works
Residents who cannot physically move bins and have no suitable help at home can apply for crews to collect containers from an agreed place outside the house.
Services included
Household rubbish, mixed recycling, outdoor food waste, subscribed garden waste and registered clinical waste can be included.
Collection point
The crew can move a wheelie bin from outside the house or garden to the collection area.
Setup time
Allow three working days. Present bins at the normal point if the next collection falls within that setup period.
Missed assisted collection
Contact customer services promptly so the individual arrangement can be checked.
Mid Sussex garden-waste cost, collections and contract rules
The paid service supplies a 240-litre green-lidded bin and 25 fortnightly collections over a 12-month subscription, excluding the two weeks containing Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
| Subscription detail | Current rule | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| New application price | £99.50 per 240-litre bin. | Each additional subscribed bin is charged at the full annual rate. |
| Collection frequency | 25 fortnightly weekday collections. | The two Christmas/New Year weeks are excluded. |
| Start date | First working day of the calendar month after payment. | Check the first live collection date before filling the bin. |
| Presentation | Visible, accessible and within one metre of the highway by 7am. | No collection if hidden, late, too heavy or the lid cannot close. |
| Renewal | Automatic annual renewal unless cancelled at least 14 days before renewal. | Keep the registered email and direct debit details current. |
| Cancellation | 14-day cancellation before service begins; no part refund after service starts. | Review the terms before payment. |
| Moving within Mid Sussex | Notify the council 14 days before moving and take the bin to the new property. | Subscriptions do not transfer between councils or residents. |
| Missed collection | Report by 1:30pm on the following working day when no exclusion applies. | A valid recovery collection is arranged when reasonably practicable. |
Common rejection reasons: extra waste beside the bin, open lid, excessive weight, frozen contents, food or pet waste, compostable packaging, invasive plants or unpaid subscription.
Mid Sussex bulky-waste prices and booking rules
The chargeable domestic service collects portable furniture, white goods and other household items that would normally move with you. It does not accept commercial, garden, DIY, building or black-bag waste.
Usable item
Sell, donate or offer it for reuse before paying for disposal.
You can transport it
Book a West Sussex recycling-centre slot and check material restrictions.
You need collection
List every item accurately, calculate the charge and complete the official booking.
Bulky-waste cost estimator
Estimate: £27.50 for one item.
Estimate only. The 50% reduction is subject to council verification of qualifying Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.
Collection checklist
- Maximum ten items per booking.
- First item £27.50; each additional item £18.
- Contractor contacts you within five working days.
- Collection normally completes within ten working days.
- Place items outside, ground level, inside the property boundary by 7am.
- Cover sofas and mattresses to keep them dry.
- Changes or cancellation by 2:30pm on the preceding working day.
POPs furniture: sofas, armchairs, futons, bean bags, office chairs, stools and similar upholstered items may contain persistent organic pollutants. Do not cut them up before collection.
Kerbside electrical collection with the black bin
Small electricals and household batteries are collected every three weeks with the scheduled black-bin collection for eligible kerbside properties. The service is not currently available from communal bin stores.
| Rule | What to do | Do not do this |
|---|---|---|
| Bag size | Use one tied carrier-size bag no larger than 35 × 40cm. | Do not use a black bin bag. |
| Batteries | Remove accepted household batteries and place them in a separate tied bag. | Do not leave removable batteries inside appliances. |
| Presentation | Place bags beside the black bin by 7am. | Do not put electricals inside any wheelie bin. |
| Quantity | One electrical bag and one battery bag per collection. | Do not save a large backlog; use the service little and often. |
| Wet weather | Keep bags dry and hold them for the next collection if heavy rain is expected. | Do not leave exposed electricals outside. |
| Missed bags | Store for the next black-bin date or use a recycling centre. | Do not expect a separate return visit. |
Fire safety: never put batteries or vapes inside the black rubbish bin. Disposable vapes stay intact; rechargeable vape batteries should be removed only when designed to be removable and bagged separately.
Burgess Hill and East Grinstead opening times and booking
West Sussex County Council operates the recycling centres. Vehicle visitors must book a timed slot; pedestrians, cyclists and mobility-scooter users can attend without a booking under the published access rules.
Burgess Hill Recycling Centre
Address: Fairbridge Way, Burgess Hill, RH15 8AR
- 1 April–30 September: daily 9am–6pm
- 1 October–31 March: closes at 4pm
- Vehicle booking required
- Phone: 01444 243041
- Pedestrian, bicycle and mobility-scooter access without booking
East Grinstead Recycling Centre
Address: High Grove, Imberhorne Lane, East Grinstead, RH19 1TZ
- Summer: Mon 9am–6pm; Tue/Wed closed; Thu–Sun 9am–6pm
- Winter open days close at 4pm
- Vehicle booking required
- Phone: 01342 323967
- 2.2m height limit and other large-vehicle restrictions
Before travelling: book up to 14 days ahead, carry proof of West Sussex residency and check the recycling A–Z for accepted materials or charges. Centres close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Mid Sussex waste links and contact details
Waste management contact
Telephone: 01444 477440
Email: wastematters@midsussex.gov.uk
Address: Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1SS
Information checked: 27 June 2026. Exact dates, disruptions, prices, booking availability and centre hours can change. Use the linked official service only for the final live lookup, report, booking or payment.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my Mid Sussex bin collection date for 2026?
Use the official bins and waste service, enter the full postcode and select the exact property. The result shows food-waste, recycling, rubbish and subscribed garden-waste dates.
What is the Mid Sussex 1‑2‑3 bin schedule?
Food waste is collected every week, mixed recycling every two weeks and general rubbish every three weeks. The exact day depends on the registered address.
What time should Mid Sussex bins be put out?
Place council-provided bins at the visible edge of the property before 7am with the lid fully closed and access clear.
When can I report a missed Mid Sussex bin?
Wait until after 3pm on the scheduled collection day. Check the address date, 7am presentation, visibility, access, lid and contamination before reporting through the official service.
What goes in the blue recycling bin?
Clean, dry and loose paper, card, coffee cups, clean foil, glass bottles and jars, metal cans and aerosols, cartons and accepted plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
Can plastic bags go in Mid Sussex recycling?
No. Recycling must be loose. Plastic bags, film, crisp packets and polystyrene do not go in the blue-lidded recycling bin.
How often is the green food bin collected?
The 23-litre outdoor food bin is collected weekly. Communal buildings use a shared 140-litre food bin, also collected weekly.
How much is Mid Sussex garden-waste collection in 2026?
A new subscription costs £99.50 for one 240-litre green-lidded bin and 25 fortnightly collections over the subscription year.
How much is Mid Sussex bulky-waste collection?
The first item costs £27.50 and items two to ten cost £18 each. A verified 50% reduction may be available for specified benefits.
Can I get a second rubbish bin for nappies?
Households with two children in nappies full time can contact customer services to apply for a second bin. Other large households can ask the waste team for advice and assessment.
Do small electricals go in the black bin?
No. Eligible small electricals should be placed in one tied carrier-size bag beside the black bin. Household batteries must be in a separate tied bag.
Do I need to book Burgess Hill or East Grinstead recycling centre?
Vehicle visitors must book a timed slot. Published rules allow pedestrians, cyclists and mobility-scooter users to attend without a booking.