Recycling and waste services for flats

If you live in a flat, your recycling and waste arrangements may be different from other homes. This page explains how to use your bins or collection points, and what to do with items that cannot be recycled.

If you are unsure which arrangement applies to your flat, check your bin store, ask your managing agent or caretaker, or look at your collection calendar on our check your bin day webpage.

You can also check what goes in each bin.

Your flat may have one of these arrangements

Food waste collections for flats

Most flats will have received an internal kitchen caddy only and will either use a communal food waste bin in the bin store or an external food waste collection point nearby instead of a separate small outdoor food bin. If you do not have an internal kitchen caddy for food waste, you can request one using the online form below.

By submitting the form you confirm that you have read and understood how we process your personal data.

Report a missing food waste kitchen caddy

If you have your own individual bins

If you have your own bins, you should leave them at the edge of your property, closest to the highway, by 6am on collection day and bring them back as soon as possible after collection. Collections in Bedford Borough are usually alternate weekly for recycling and general waste, with food waste collected weekly. 

Learn more about your bin collections

Communal bins

Image

If your building has communal bins, please use the bins provided in the bin store and do not leave waste beside or on top of them. Communal recycling bins have orange lids and are for dry recycling only, while communal household waste bins have black lids for non-recyclable waste.

If your building has a communal food waste bin, this will usually be a silver-lidded black wheelie bin in the bin store. If you are unsure where the food waste bin is located, ask your managing agent or caretaker. You should also have an internal kitchen caddy to help you separate your food waste in your flat.

If your communal bins are ever full or there is an issue with your bin store, please report this to your managing agent or caretaker.

Separate food collection points

Image

Due to space constraints, some flats do not have a communal food waste bin and instead use a nearby green external food waste collection point. Please take your food waste to the collection point nearest to your property and use the one provided for your block or building.

Public food points

As well as food waste collection points on private land associated with flats, there are also public external food waste collection points in Bedford, Queens Park and Brickhill. 

Find the locations below:

Other waste and recycling options

Reduce, reuse and recycle

Recycling and reducing the amount we throw away helps the environment and saves us money.

Many of the small lifestyle changes we make in our homes can have a big impact. 

Visit the Reduce, reuse and recycle webpage

Recycle Locator

Use the Recycle Now Recycling Locator to check whether an item can be recycled in your orange-lidded bin, and if not, find your nearest recycling point. 

Bulky waste collection service

We provide a chargeable service for the collection of bulky waste items which are too large for your bin store. 

Visit the bulky waste webpage

Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC)

If you are a Bedford Borough resident bringing your household waste and recycling to the HWRC by car you do not need to book an appointment. 

It’s open 9am-5pm seven days a week. Last entry to the site is 4.50pm. You may need to request a free permit if you are bringing certain items. 

Visit the HWRC webpage