Advice on frozen bins
NewsUpdated: 5 January 2026Waste and recycling
Despite best efforts from our crews, we may be unable to empty your bin if the content is frozen due to the very cold weather.
During the cold weather, extra shakes on the lifting equipment may not be enough to empty your bin if the contents are frozen and could damage the lifting equipment or the bin itself. Unfortunately, we are unable to return until the next scheduled collection. We understand you’ll be frustrated by this, and we apologise for the inconvenience.
Here are some tips you can take a few simple measures to reduce the risk of your bin becoming frozen:
- If you have a lot of garden waste, do not compress it into your bin.
- Fill your bin on the day of collection, if possible.
- Loosen the contents by sliding a spade or similar between the contents and the inside of the bin.
- Store your bin in a warmer spot, for example, in a shed or garage, or beside your house. Please remember to place it on the boundary by 6am on collection day.