It is important to dispose of your household waste correctly, so it does not cause problems for you, your neighbours, or the local environment.
Most housing in Leeds has two types of bins for your household waste, which are emptied by Leeds City Council. If you live in a shared house or flat, you might have a bigger bin that is shared with other people living in the same property.
These are:
- Green bins for recycling: check what can and cannot be recycled by Leeds City Council Green Bins
- Black bins for general household waste that cannot be recycled: This includes food waste and nappies. Black bins are emptied once a week. Be aware, there are some types of waste you are not allowed to put in your black bin. You must use council tips for these. Check here: Leeds City Council Black Bins
- Brown bins: for garden waste. Not all households have these, only in some areas of Leeds. Check here: Leeds City Council Brown Bins
Find out more on the Leeds City Council website:
A to Z of reusing, recycling and waste disposal
Putting your bins out
Bins are collected on different days of the week in different areas of Leeds. You can find out when your bins are collected on the Leeds City Council website:
You should put your bin out on the street before 7am on collection day and bring it back into your garden or the grounds of your property on the same day after it has been emptied.
If you live in certain areas of Leeds (Armley, parts of Burley, Harehills, Headingley, Hyde Park, Little London, Little Woodhouse, parts of Woodhouse or Woodhouse Moor) then there are extra rules in place by Leeds City Council called Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO). This means it is an offence to leave your bin out on the street before 6pm the day before collection day and after 9am on collection day and you will be fined £100 if you are caught.
Be aware, you need to make sure the lid of your black bin closes properly even if it is full, otherwise your waste will not be taken away. Also, if you leave bags of waste next to your bin or on top of it, they will not be taken away. You will need to wait until your bin is emptied and put them inside.
Recycling
The Council has a guide that tells you where to dispose of different items of waste:
Find Out Where to Dispose of Different Items of Waste
Council tips
There are 8 council tips and recycling sites in Leeds where you can take big items such as household appliances, furniture, and other items you are not allowed to put in your bin. You will need a resident’s permit.
Leeds City Council website tells you where to find your local site, and how to get a resident’s permit.
Be aware, there are costs to dispose of some types of household waste. Find out more here:
If you own a business, there are also costs to dispose of your waste from the business. Find out more here:
Giving items to charity
You could donate your unwanted items to a charity shop if they are in good condition. Some shops will collect them from you if you do not drive. Remember you can also use charity shops to find affordable second-hand furniture and items for your house.
Council collections
The council may also collect some items from you if you cannot transport them to a tip. Be aware, it can take a long time to get a collection made and there are several rules regarding collections.
Find out more on the Leeds City Council website:
What you are not allowed to do
Fly-tipping
It is illegal to leave your waste on the street or council land. This includes household waste and large items for example, furniture, electrical goods or mattresses. This is called fly-tipping and you could be fined if you are caught. If you see fly-tipping, you should report it to the Council.
Find out more on the Leeds City Council website:
Litter
It is illegal to drop litter and cigarettes in a public place, including on the streets outside your house. If you are caught, you could be fined a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100.
Find out more about litter on the Leeds City Council website:
Street Cleaning and Dog Fouling
Dogs
There are some rules in Leeds that you must follow if you have a dog. They include:
- All dogs over 8 weeks old must be microchipped – failure to do so is a fine up to £500
- All dogs in a public place must have a collar and tag with the owner’s name and address on it – if your dog does not have these you can be fined up to £5,000
- It is illegal to leave dog poo on the street or in a public place and you could be fined £100. You must pick it up and put it in a bin.
- You can only walk a maximum of four dogs at the same time.
- Your dog must be under control at all times and on a lead on pavements or next to roads.
Find out more about rules for dog owners in this Leeds City Council leaflet:
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