Glasgow City Council uses a colour-coded bin system for household waste collection. Getting it wrong means your bin might not be emptied — and persistent contamination can lead to warnings.
Blue Bin — Recycling
Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, food tins, drink cans, empty aerosols. Items should be clean, dry, and loose — not bagged. No food waste, nappies, or black bags.
Brown Bin — Food & Garden Waste
Food scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, fruit and veg peelings, grass cuttings, small hedge trimmings, leaves. Use a compostable liner or newspaper to wrap food waste. No cooked meat in large quantities, no soil, no animal waste.
Green Bin — General Waste
Everything that can't be recycled or composted: nappies, broken crockery, polystyrene, crisp packets, cat litter, vacuum cleaner contents. This is your residual waste bin.
Purple Bin — Glass
Glass bottles and jars only. Remove lids (metal lids go in the blue bin). No broken glass, window panes, mirrors, or Pyrex — these have different melting points and contaminate the batch.
Grey Bin — Where Applicable
Some areas have grey bins for additional recycling streams. Check your local collection schedule on the council website.
Collection Schedule
Bins are collected on a fortnightly rotation. Download the Glasgow City Council app or check their website to find your exact collection days. Bins should be out by 7am on collection day.
What If You Have Too Much?
If your bins are overflowing, you can take excess to a recycling centre or book a professional uplift. We handle overflow waste regularly — a quick photo and we'll quote you.
Need help with waste removal?
Send a photo of what needs to go and we'll quote you within minutes. Same-day service available across Glasgow.