Recycling rules for Lincoln
Based on Lincoln published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Lincoln.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Lincoln
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Lincoln's recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Brown bin or black box.
Food waste: Lincoln has a separate food waste collection
Takes raw and cooked meat and fish, including bones and shells, fruit and vegetables, including peelings, dairy products (cheese, yoghurt) and more.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Brown bin or black box.
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Brown bin or black box.
Your bins in Lincoln, by colour
Container colours as published by Lincoln. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Black bin
Household rubbish
Or purple sack
Purple sack
Household rubbish
Black caddy (orange lid)
Food waste
23 litres, for kerbside collections
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
The brown bin or black box is for dry and clean recycling, that is only accepted by Lincolnshire County Council's recycling plant::
- Clean and dry paper or card · Brown bin or black box
- Clear or light colour plastics · Brown bin or black box
- Clean glass bottles and jars · Brown bin or black box
- Metal food and drink cans · Brown bin or black box
- Plastic bottles and drink containers · Brown bin or black box
- Empty aerosol cans · Brown bin or black box
Not accepted
The brown bin or black box is for dry and clean recycling, that is only accepted by Lincolnshire County Council's recycling plant::
- Textiles like clothing or bedding
- Soft toys
- Polystyrene
- Wood
Food Waste
Accepted
You can recycle a wide range of food waste, including::
- Raw and cooked meat and fish, including bones and shells
- Fruit and vegetables, including peelings
- Dairy products (cheese, yoghurt)
- Bread, cakes, and pastries
- Rice, pasta, and beans
- Plate scrapings and leftovers
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Loose pet food (dry or tinned)
- Small amounts of sauces, gravy, and custard
- Oil and fats
Food Waste, all food intended for human or household pet consumption (regardless of nutritional value) including biodegradable material resulting from the processing or preparation of food, including::
- Eggs and eggshells
Not accepted
What can go in your food waste bin, items not to include::
- Packaging materials
- Liquids
- Non-food items such as plastics, metals, glass
Garden Waste
Accepted
The green bin is for garden waste only::
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves
- Hedge trimmings
- Flowers and weeds
- Sticks smaller than 2.5cm in width
Not accepted
The green bin is for garden waste only::
- Soil
- Treated wood
- Stones or rubble
When are bins collected in Lincoln?
This page covers what goes in each bin. Collection days are set by the council and vary by street. See how to find your bin collection day, or browse streets by postcode to see schedules your neighbours have added.
Bank holidays, in Lincoln’s own words: “Like other waste services, food waste collections may have temporary changes over the Christmas period due to bank holidays and increased demand. We’ll share any changes to collection days well in advance, so you’ll know when to put your caddy out.” See the council’s page →
In Lincoln’s own words: “Food waste is collected weekly on your usual bin collection day.”
No streets in Lincoln on BinBosh yet — be the first to add yours, and your neighbours can adopt it instead of setting up their own.
Frequently asked questions
What bin does polystyrene go in Lincoln?
In Lincoln, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Lincoln?
In Lincoln, clean glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Brown bin or black box.
What bin does food waste go in Lincoln?
In Lincoln, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes raw and cooked meat and fish, including bones and shells, fruit and vegetables, including peelings, dairy products (cheese, yoghurt) and more.
What bin do tins and cans go in Lincoln?
In Lincoln, metal food and drink cans go in your recycling bin. Brown bin or black box.
What goes in the recycling bin in Lincoln?
Lincoln's recycling bin accepts clean and dry paper or card, clear or light colour plastics, clean glass bottles and jars, metal food and drink cans, plastic bottles and drink containers, empty aerosol cans, and more. Brown bin or black box.
What goes in the food waste bin in Lincoln?
Lincoln's food waste bin accepts raw and cooked meat and fish, including bones and shells, fruit and vegetables, including peelings, dairy products (cheese, yoghurt), bread, cakes, and pastries, rice, pasta, and beans, plate scrapings and leftovers, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Lincoln?
Lincoln's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, flowers and weeds, sticks smaller than 2.5cm in width, and more.
What can't be recycled in Lincoln?
Items not accepted in Lincoln: textiles like clothing or bedding, soft toys, polystyrene, wood.
Helpful guides
Source: Lincoln council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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