When can I report a missed bin collection in Birmingham?

You can report a missed bin collection in Birmingham from 1.30pm on the day the collection was due. Birmingham City Council does not accept reports before 1.30pm because crews may still be working their rounds. Leave your bin out and report after that time if it has not been emptied.

How do I report a missed bin collection in Birmingham?

Go to birmingham.gov.uk and use the missed bin collection reporting tool. You may be asked to sign in or create a free BRUM account. Enter your address, select the bin type that was missed, and submit. Keep the reference number you receive.

Do I need a BRUM account to report a missed bin in Birmingham?

You may be prompted to sign in or create a free BRUM account. Birmingham City Council has moved waste services online. Creating an account is free and lets you check your bin day and report missed collections more quickly in future.

What bin is it this week in Birmingham?

To find out which bin goes out this week in Birmingham, use the bin day finder on birmingham.gov.uk or log into your BRUM account. Collections alternate fortnightly between black bin (general waste) and green bin (recycling).

What happens if Birmingham City Council does not return within 2 working days?

If the crew has not returned within 2 working days of your report being accepted, bring your bins in and put them out on your next scheduled collection day for that bin type. Keep your reference number in case the problem repeats and you need to make a formal complaint.

My recycling bin had a tag on it. Is that a missed collection?

No. A tag means the bin was refused, most often for containing incorrect items. Remove the wrong items and present the bin correctly sorted on your next scheduled recycling collection day in Birmingham.

What goes in the black bin in Birmingham?

Your black bin is for non-recyclable general household waste that cannot go in the green recycling bin or brown garden waste bin items like nappies, crisp packets, and polystyrene. Do not put recyclables or garden waste in the black bin.

What goes in the green bin or recycling box in Birmingham?

Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and tubs, tins and cans, and glass bottles and jars. Cardboard left neatly alongside the bin is also collected. Do not put plastic bags, food waste, or non-recyclable packaging in the recycling bin.

Are there Birmingham bin collections at Christmas or bank holidays?

Birmingham City Council usually adjusts bin collection dates over Christmas, New Year, and bank holidays. Check birmingham.gov.uk or your BRUM account for the latest schedule before reporting a missed bin during these periods.

Birmingham bin collection: how to report a missed bin and what happens next

Checked against Birmingham City Council's official pages on 19 July 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us on the contact page.

This guide covers Birmingham Council bin collection for all residential properties across the city. If your bin was not collected in Birmingham, the steps below tell you exactly what to do.

Quick answer: if your Birmingham bin collection was missed, you can report it from 1.30pm on the day it was due. Reports go through Birmingham City Council's online system you may need to sign in or create a free BRUM account. Once accepted, the crew aims to return within 2 working days. Leave your bins out while you wait. This guide covers black bin, green bin, brown bin, and recycling collections.

Birmingham bin collection: missed bin rules at a glance

Who collects	Birmingham City Council (BCC)
When to report	From 1.30pm on your bin collection day
How to report	Online via birmingham.gov.uk BRUM account may be required
Crew return target	Within 2 working days of the report or known miss
While you wait	Leave your bins out at the kerbside
If they don't return in 2 working days	Bring your bins in and put them out on your next scheduled collection day for that bin type
Applies to	Black bin (general waste), green bin (recycling), brown bin (garden waste)

Report a missed bin collection in Birmingham

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Before you report: two Birmingham-specific checks

Check whether the council already knows about the missed collection. Birmingham's system lets you see if your road's bin collection is already logged as missed or disrupted before you submit a report. If it is, you do not need to report it just leave your bins out and the crew will return within 2 working days.
Check your bin was not refused rather than missed. If the bin contained the wrong items, was overfilled, or the round was affected by a road closure or service disruption, the system may flag a refusal instead of a miss. A refused or contaminated bin will not be collected under a missed collection report you need to remove the incorrect items first, then wait for your next scheduled collection day.

Service disruption note, July 2026: Birmingham's waste collection service has been affected by industrial action in recent times. During disruption, Birmingham City Council may pause missed collection reporting or change its return promises. If the report page shows a disruption banner, follow that advice first. We update this note as things change.

How to report a missed bin collection in Birmingham: step by step

Wait until 1.30pm on your collection day. Birmingham City Council does not accept missed bin reports before 1.30pm for general waste, because crews may still be working their rounds through the morning. Leave your bin out and report after 1.30pm if it has still not been collected.
Open the council's report page using the green button above. You will land on the missed bin or sack collection page on birmingham.gov.uk.
Sign in or create a BRUM account if prompted. Birmingham City Council has been moving waste services into its BRUM account system. Signing up is free. Once you add your address, you can check your bin collection day, see upcoming dates, and report problems faster next time.
Check for known issues on your round. The form first checks whether BCC already knows your collection was missed. If your street is already listed, stop here the crew is already scheduled to return. Leave your bins out.
Submit your missed bin report. Confirm your address, select the bin type that was missed (black bin, green bin, or brown bin), and submit. Keep the reference number you receive you will need it if the crew does not return, or if the problem repeats.
Leave your bins at the kerbside. The crew aims to return within 2 working days. If they have not come by then, bring your bins back in and put them out on your next scheduled collection day for that bin type.

What bin is it in Birmingham? Black, green, and brown bin guide

Not sure which bin goes out, or what goes in which bin? Here is a quick guide to Birmingham's three bin types useful to know when reporting a missed collection or checking what your crew should have taken.

Bin type	What goes in it	Collection frequency
Black bin (general waste)	Non-recyclable household waste anything that cannot go in the green or brown bin. Do not put food waste, recyclables, or garden waste in the black bin.	Every 2 weeks (fortnightly)
Green bin / recycling box	Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and tubs, tins and cans, glass bottles and jars. Cardboard left neatly alongside the bin is also collected. No food-contaminated packaging.	Every 2 weeks (alternating with black bin)
Brown bin (garden waste)	Grass cuttings, leaves, plants, hedge trimmings, small branches. No food waste, soil, rubble, or plastic bags.	Fortnightly (seasonal check your collection calendar)

To find your specific Birmingham bin collection day and dates, use the council's bin day finder or check your BRUM account once registered.

When is my bin collected in Birmingham? Finding your bin day

Before you report a missed collection, it is worth confirming your bin day was correct. Many Birmingham residents searching for what bin is it this week, or when is my bin emptied, discover their collection day moved for a bank holiday rather than being missed.

To find my bin day in Birmingham, use the council's bin day finder with your postcode. It shows your bin collection dates for the coming weeks, tells you which bin goes out and when, and confirms whether bin days have shifted. If you are asking what bins go out tonight or what bin day is it tomorrow, this is the fastest answer.

Your Birmingham bin collection calendar alternates fortnightly between black bin and green bin. Brown bin garden waste follows its own seasonal schedule. Check your bin collection dates before assuming a collection was missed, because presenting the wrong bin is not treated as a missed collection.

Find your Birmingham bin collection day

What Birmingham City Council will and will not collect under a missed bin report

General waste (black bin) that was missed: the council will collect it when the crew returns. Leave it out. Do not add extra bags on top of the bin lid the crew will collect a reasonable amount.
Recycling (green bin) that was missed: leave it out. Cardboard left neatly at the side of your recycling bin is also collected on the return visit.
Garden waste (brown bin) that was missed: leave it out if you have a brown bin subscription. The council will not return for brown bin collections if your subscription has lapsed.
Contaminated or refused bins: if the wrong items were put in your bin, the crew will not return for it under a missed collection report. Remove the incorrect waste, then present the bin on your next scheduled collection day.
Overfilled bins: bins with lids that cannot close may be left. Remove excess waste before the return visit.
Anything urgent: you can take waste to a Birmingham household recycling centre yourself at any point rather than waiting for the crew to return.

Missed bin collections keep happening on your street in Birmingham?

Keep a record of every missed collection report reference number and the dates involved. After repeated missed collections you can make a formal complaint to Birmingham City Council. If the council does not resolve the complaint, you can escalate to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Our refunds and compensation guide walks through the process with template letters you can copy and use.

Birmingham missed bin collection: frequently asked questions

When can I report a missed bin collection in Birmingham?: You can report a missed general waste (black bin) collection from 1.30pm on the day it was due. Do not report before 1.30pm Birmingham City Council's crews may still be working the round through the morning. Leave your bin out and report after that time if it has still not been emptied.
How do I report a missed bin collection in Birmingham?: Go to birmingham.gov.uk and use the missed bin collection reporting tool. You may be asked to sign in or create a free BRUM account. Once logged in, enter your address, select the bin type that was missed, and submit your report. You will receive a reference number keep it safe.
Do I need a BRUM account to report a missed bin in Birmingham?: You may be prompted to sign in or create a BRUM account, as Birmingham City Council has been moving its waste services online. Creating an account is free. Once your address is saved, you can check your bin collection day, view upcoming collection dates, and report missed collections more quickly in future.
What bin is it this week in Birmingham?: To find out which bin goes out this week black bin, green bin, or brown bin use the bin day finder on birmingham.gov.uk or log into your BRUM account. Collections alternate fortnightly between general waste and recycling.
What happens if the crew does not return within 2 working days?: If the crew has not returned within 2 working days of your report being accepted, bring your bins back in. Put them out again on your next scheduled collection day for that bin type. Keep your reference number in case the problem repeats and you need to make a formal complaint.
My bin was not collected but it has not been tagged is it a missed collection?: If there is no tag and your bin was presented correctly before the crew arrived, it is likely a genuine missed collection. Report it from 1.30pm on the collection day. If there is a tag on the bin, that usually means it was refused most often for containing the wrong items. Remove the incorrect waste and present the bin on your next scheduled collection day; that is not covered by a missed collection report.
My recycling bin had a tag on it. What does that mean?: A tag means the bin was refused, not missed. In Birmingham this most commonly happens when the wrong items are in the recycling bin for example, plastic bags, food waste, or non-recyclable materials. Remove the incorrect items, and present the bin clean and correctly sorted on your next scheduled recycling collection day.
Can I report a missed bin collection in Birmingham by phone?: Birmingham City Council's preferred method is online reporting through birmingham.gov.uk, using a BRUM account where required. Phone reporting may be available for residents who cannot access the online form check the council website for current contact details, as these can change.
What goes in the black bin in Birmingham?: Your black bin (general waste) is for non-recyclable household rubbish that cannot go in the green recycling bin or brown garden waste bin things like nappies, crisp packets, polystyrene, and broken items that cannot be recycled. Do not put food waste, glass, cardboard, tins, or garden waste in the black bin.
What goes in the green bin or recycling box in Birmingham?: Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and tubs, tins and cans, and glass bottles and jars. Cardboard can be left neatly alongside the bin and will be collected. Do not put plastic bags, food waste, or non-recyclable packaging in the recycling bin.
Is there a Birmingham bin collection during Christmas or bank holidays?: Birmingham City Council usually adjusts its bin collection dates over Christmas, New Year, and bank holidays. Missed bin collection reporting rules may also change during these periods. Check birmingham.gov.uk or your BRUM account for the latest Christmas and bank holiday collection schedule before reporting a missed bin.