Non-metropolitan district · South East, England

Canterbury bin collection day

Everything you need for bin day in Canterbury: the official bin day checker, bank holiday changes and which bin is which. Canterbury City Council empties bins in 6 postcode districts, including CT1, CT2, CT3 and CT4, covering places such as Adisham, Ash,Canterbury and Barham.

Check your Canterbury bin day

Canterbury publishes bin days on its own website. Use the official finder below to reach the right page, then pick your address.

GOV.UK bin day finder Canterbury website

Once you have your dates, our bin calendar turns them into reminders.

Check a postcode in Canterbury

Not sure whether your street is in Canterbury? Postcode districts on council borders can be split, so enter your full postcode to check.

Canterbury at a glance

Map showing where Canterbury is in the UK

166,762residents (2020)

309 km²area

6postcode districts

75places listed

About 166,762 people live in Canterbury (mid-2020 estimate) across 309 square kilometres. That makes it a mix of towns and countryside, where rural rounds can be long and run early.

Council: Canterbury City Council
Type: Non-metropolitan district
County council: Kent County Council
Region: South East

Who collects what in Canterbury

Canterbury City Council collects household bins, recycling, garden waste and bulky items. Kent County Council is the waste disposal authority, so it runs the household waste recycling centres (the tips) and decides where the waste goes after collection. If you have a question about your bin day, missed bins or new bins, contact Canterbury. For tip opening hours, van permits or booking a tip slot, contact Kent County Council.

Bank holidays and Canterbury bin days

When a bank holiday lands on or before your collection day, Canterbury may collect as normal or move collections later in the week. These are the next bank holidays in England and Wales:

Date	Bank holiday
Friday, 25 December 2026	Christmas Day
Monday, 28 December 2026	Boxing Day (substitute day)
Friday, 1 January 2027	New Year's Day
Friday, 26 March 2027	Good Friday
Monday, 29 March 2027	Easter Monday

Christmas and New Year cause the biggest changes. See Christmas bin collections for what usually happens.

Recycling rules in England

Under Simpler Recycling, councils in England must collect the same core recycling from every home: paper and card, glass, metal, plastic (including cartons), food waste every week, and garden waste for households that ask and pay any charge. The rules applied from 31 March 2026, with plastic film and bags joining the plastic stream from 31 March 2027. Councils still choose their own bins, colours and rotas.

GOV.UK: Simpler Recycling household guidance

Not sure which bin something goes in? Our which bin A to Z covers everyday items, and bin colours explained covers what each colour usually means. Canterbury has the final say, so check its website if your bin label disagrees.

Postcode districts in Canterbury

Canterbury collects bins in all or part of these postcode districts. Districts marked on more than one council page cross a boundary.

Towns and villages in Canterbury

Bins in these places are collected by Canterbury.

Adisham (CT3)
Ash,Canterbury (CT3)
Barham (CT4)
Bekesbourne (CT4)
Beltinge (CT6)
Bishopsbourne (CT4)
Bladbean (CT4)
Blean (CT2)
Bossingham (CT4)
Boyden Gate (CT3)
Bramling (CT3)
Breach (CT4)
Bridge (CT4)
Broadoak (CT2)
Broomfield (CT6)
Calcott (CT3)
Canterbury (CT1)
Chartham (CT4)
Chartham Hatch (CT4)
Chestfield (CT5)
Chislet (CT3)
Clapham Hill (CT5)
Cop Street (CT3)
Derringstone (CT4)
Fordwich (CT2)
Grove (CT3)
Hales Place (CT2)
Harbledown (CT2)
Herne (CT6)
Herne Bay (CT6)
Herne Common (CT6)
Hersden (CT3)
Highstead (CT3)
Hillborough (CT6)
Hoaden (CT3)
Hoath (CT3)
Honey Hill (CT2)
Hunters Forstal (CT6)
Ickham (CT3)
Kingston (CT4)
Littlebourne (CT3)
Lower Hardres (CT4)
Maypole (CT3)
Nackington (CT4)
Old Wives Lees (CT4)
Ottinge (CT4)
Patrixbourne (CT4)
Pean Hill (CT5)
Petham (CT4)
Reculver (CT6)
Rhodes Minnis (CT4)
Rough Common (CT2)
Seasalter (CT5)
Shalmsford Street (CT4)
Shottenden (CT4)
Sixmile Cottages (CT4)
Sole Street (CT4)
Stodmarsh (CT3)
Street End (CT4)
Sturry (CT2)
Swalecliffe (CT5)
Thanington (CT1)
Tyler Hill (CT2)
Upper Hardres Court (CT4)
Upstreet (CT3)
Waltham (CT4)
West End (CT6)
Westbere (CT2)
Westmarsh (CT3)
Whitstable (CT5)
Wickhambreaux (CT3)
Wingmore (CT4)
Womenswold (CT4)
Woollage Green (CT4)
Yorkletts (CT5)

Councils near Canterbury

Canterbury bin questions

How do I find my bin collection day in Canterbury?

Enter your postcode on this page to confirm that Canterbury collects your bins, then use the Canterbury website. Pick your address and it shows the next date for each bin. Copy those dates into our bin calendar to get reminders.

Do Canterbury bin days change on bank holidays?

Many councils keep normal collection days on most bank holidays and only change around Christmas and New Year, while others move every collection in a bank holiday week by a day. Canterbury publishes any changes on its website before each holiday. Our bank holiday page lists the dates for England and Wales.

What should I do if Canterbury misses my bin?

Check your bin day first, as collections sometimes run late into the evening. If the rest of your street has been emptied and yours has not, report it on the Canterbury website, usually within one or two working days. Leave the bin out unless the council says otherwise. Our missed bin guide explains what to expect.

Does Canterbury collect food waste?

Under Simpler Recycling, councils in England must collect food waste every week from all households, free of charge, from 31 March 2026. A few councils were given a later start date, so check the Canterbury website if you have not received a food caddy yet.

Where is the tip for Canterbury?

Household waste recycling centres in Canterbury are run by Kent County Council, not by Canterbury. Many now ask you to book a slot, and vans and trailers may need a permit.

Which postcodes does Canterbury cover?

Canterbury collects bins in all or part of these postcode districts: CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6. Districts on the edge of the council area can be shared with a neighbouring council, so enter your full postcode to be sure.

Bin Collection Day is independent and not run by Canterbury City Council. Collection dates and services can change at short notice; the council's website is always the final word.