Southampton to Introduce New Bin Collection Days from January 2026

Southampton residents will see permanent changes to their waste and recycling collection days from Monday 5 January 2026, Southampton City Council has confirmed. The update follows temporary adjustments over the festive period and forms part of the council’s broader efforts to modernise waste services across the city.

The new schedule, which affects all general waste, recycling and garden waste collections, is designed to improve service reliability, increase efficiency and prepare for the launch of weekly food waste collections in February.

Under the revised timetable, collection days will shift as follows:

Residents are being urged to check their updated collection day as early as possible and ensure bins are presented by 6am from the date of the change.

According to the council, the redesigned routes will make waste services more resilient during busy periods such as Christmas and bank holidays, and better equipped to cope with pressures from extreme weather. They also support the city’s wider waste modernisation programme, including the introduction of weekly food waste collections.

Cllr John Savage, Cabinet Member for Environment and Net Zero, said:
“These changes are an important step in modernising Southampton’s waste services and making them more reliable for residents. By updating our collection routes, we’re ensuring that crews can work more efficiently and that households receive a more consistent service. With weekly food waste collections also beginning in February, this is a significant moment for the city as we continue working towards a cleaner, greener Southampton.”

The council has confirmed that assisted collections will continue as normal. Updated information will be available on its website, with alerts and reminders rolling out across social media throughout December and January.

Residents are advised to:
• Visit the council’s bin changes webpage
• Check their new permanent collection day
• Present bins by 6am on the updated day from 5 January
• Watch for further updates on official council channels