Report a missed household collection
We aim to collect all bins on schedule, however occasionally we do miss some.
Before you attempt to report a missed bin collection, please check our bin service announcement page to see if we have not been able to visit your street for any reason and if we are already planning to return to empty your bin.
If we miss your bin collection we can return to empty the bin if all of the following criteria have been met:
- The bin or sack was placed out by 6am on the day of collection
- The normal collection point was used
- Access to the bin was clear (for example, in the case of assisted collections, the gate was unlocked)
- The bin was correctly used and the crew have not issued an advice card to you about a problem. Please check our What goes in which bin page.
- There was no issue recorded by the collection crew, for example, contamination, bin too heavy or too full, excessive waste and bin was frozen.
- We receive the report of the missed collection on time, 3:30pm the day after collection.
Please check our online calendar to find your bin collection day.
Reporting a missed bin collection
You cannot report your bin as missed until after 3:30pm on your collection day. Please let us know if your bin has been missed by 3:30pm the day after your scheduled collection.
This deadline is necessary for us to process and schedule the work in a timely manner and ensure we can return to you as quickly as possible.
Report a missed household bin collection
Festive period bin collection changes
Due to the Christmas bank holidays some of our bin collection dates will be changing over the festive period. Normal collection dates will resume after this time.
| Regular collection day | Festive period collection day |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 24 December | No change |
| Wednesday 25 December | Monday 23 December |
| Thursday 26 December | Friday 27 December |
| Friday 27 December | Saturday 28 December |
| Tuesday 31 December | No change |
| Wednesday 1 January | Monday 30 January |
| Thursday 2 January | No change |
We ask residents to report their bins within 24 hours of their collection and we always aim to go back to collect missed bins within three working days after the scheduled collection. However, If we have available resources then we will collect it sooner (in the working week), so please make sure you leave your bin out. If your missed bin does not get reported within this time frame, unfortunately we would not have crews in the areas until the next scheduled collection.
Incorrect use of bins
If we are unable to empty a bin because the wrong items have been put into it, the crew will leave a card notifying you about the reason for non-collection.
In those circumstances the wrong items should be removed from the bin and we will empty it on the next scheduled collection.
Check what goes in which bin.
Disruptions to our service
Occasionally there are unscheduled disruptions to our service. This can be due to adverse weather, accidents and road works.
This type of disruption will be reported on the service announcements page.
In these circumstances, please leave your bin out for collection and we will return as soon as possible to empty it.
If you are Greater Cambridge commercial waste customer and would like to report a commercial missed bin, please visit their website and get in touch with a member of the Commercial waste team.