Scottish unitary authority · Scotland

Highland bin collection day

Check your Highland bin day, plan around bank holidays and set up free reminders for every collection. The Highland Council empties bins in 86 postcode districts, including IV1, IV2, IV3 and IV4, covering places such as A'Chill, Aberarder and Aberchalder.

Check your Highland bin day

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

Find the Highland website on GOV.UK Highland website

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

Check a postcode in Highland

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

Highland at a glance

235,430residents (2020)

25,653 km²area

86postcode districts

1,199places listed

About 235,430 people live in Highland (mid-2020 estimate) across 25,653 square kilometres. That makes it a largely rural area, where some lanes are served by smaller lorries and collection times vary a lot.

Council: The Highland Council
Type: Scottish unitary authority
Region: Scotland

Who collects what in Highland

The Highland Council is a single-tier council, so it handles everything: bin collections, recycling, garden waste permits, bulky uplifts and the household waste recycling centres. In Scotland, bulky collections are often called special uplifts.

Bank holidays and Highland bin days

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

Date	Bank holiday
Monday, 30 November 2026	St Andrew's Day
Friday, 25 December 2026	Christmas Day
Monday, 28 December 2026	Boxing Day (substitute day)
Friday, 1 January 2027	New Year's Day
Monday, 4 January 2027	2nd January (substitute day)

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

Recycling rules in Scotland

Scottish councils set their own collections, and many follow the voluntary Household Recycling Charter, which aims for more consistent recycling across Scotland. Food waste is collected in most urban areas, and many councils charge a yearly permit for garden waste. GOV.UK's bin day finder does not cover Scotland, so use your council's own checker.

Zero Waste Scotland

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. Highland has the final say, so check its website if your bin label disagrees.

Postcode districts in Highland

Highland 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 Highland

Bins in these places are collected by Highland (the first 160 of 1,199 alphabetically).

A'Chill (PH44)
Aberarder (PH20)
Aberchalder (PH35)
Aberscross (KW10)
Abersky (IV1)
Abriachan (IV3)
Achagavel (PH33)
Achandunie (IV17)
Achany (IV27)
Achaphubuil (PH33)
Acharacle (PH36)
Achargary (KW11)
Achateny (PH36)
Achavanich (KW5)
Achentoul (KW11)
Achfary (IV27)
Achgarve (IV22)
Achiemore (KW13)
Achies (KW12)
Achiltibuie (IV26)
Achina (KW14)
Achindown (IV12)
Achinduich (IV27)
Achingills (KW12)
Achintee (IV54)
Achintee Ho (PH33)
Achintraid (IV54)
Achlean (PH21)
Achleek (PH33)
Achlyness (IV27)
Achmelvich (IV27)
Achmony (IV3)
Achmore (IV53)
Achnabat (IV1)
Achnabourin (KW14)
Achnacarnin (IV27)
Achnacloich (IV46)
Achnaclyth (KW6)
Achnagairn (IV5)
Achnagarron (IV18)
Achnaha (PH36)
Achnahanat (IV24)
Achnahannet (PH26)
Achnalea (PH33)
Achnasaul (PH34)
Achnasheen (IV22)
Achorn (KW6)
Achosnich (IV25, PH36)
Achreamie (KW14)
Achriabhach (PH33)
Achriesgill (IV27)
Achrimsdale (KW9)
Achtoty (KW14)
Achuvoldrach (IV27)
Achvaich (IV25)
Achvarasdal (KW14)
Achvraie (IV26)
Ackergill (KW1)
Advie (PH26)
Aimster (KW14)
Airigh-drishaig (IV54)
Airor (PH41)
Aitnoch (PH26)
Alcaig (IV7)
Aldie (IV19)
Alligin Shuas (IV22)
Allnabad (IV27)
Allt na h-Airbhe (IV26)
Allt-na-subh (IV40)
Alltbeithe (IV40)
Alltnacaillich (IV27)
Alltsigh (IV3)
Alness (IV17)
Altanduin (KW11)
Altass (IV27)
Alterwall (KW1)
Altnaharra (IV27)
Altura (PH34)
Alvie (PH21)
Anaboard (PH26)
Anaheilt (PH36)
Ankerville (IV19)
Annat (IV22)
Applecross (IV54)
Ardachvie (PH34)
Ardaneaskan (IV54)
Ardarroch (IV54)
Ardcharnich (IV23)
Ardelve (IV40)
Ardersier (IV1)
Ardery (PH36)
Ardessie (IV23)
Ardgay (IV24)
Ardheslaig (IV54)
Ardindrean (IV23)
Ardintoul (IV40)
Ardmair (IV26)
Ardmolich (PH36)
Ardmore (IV19)
Ardnagoine (IV26)
Ardnagrask (IV4)
Ardnarff (IV54)
Ardochu (IV28)
Ardroe (IV27)
Ardshave (IV25)
Ardshealach (PH36)
Ardullie (IV16)
Ardvar (IV27)
Ardvasar (IV45)
Ardverikie (PH20)
Arienskill (PH38)
Arinacrinachd (IV54)
Arisaig (PH39)
Arivegaig (PH36)
Armadale (IV45, KW14)
Arnipol (PH38)
Arnisdale (IV40)
Arnish (IV40)
Arscaig (IV27)
Aryhoulan (PH33)
Attadale (IV54)
Aucharrigill (IV27)
Auchgourish (PH24)
Auchindrean (IV23)
Auchintoul (IV27)
Auchlunachan (IV23)
Auchnagallin (PH26)
Auchterneed (IV14)
Auckengill (KW1)
Auldearn (IV12)
Ault a'chruinn (IV40)
Aultanrynie (IV27)
Aultbea (IV22)
Aultguish Inn (IV23)
Aultiphurst (KW14)
Aultnagoire (IV1)
Aultvoulin (PH41)
Aundorach (PH25)
Avielochan (PH22)
Aviemore (PH22)
Avoch (IV9)
Back of Keppoch (PH39)
Backies (KW10)
Backlass (KW1)
Badanloch Lodge (KW11)
Badavanich (IV22)
Badbea (KW7)
Badcaul (IV23)
Baddidarach (IV27)
Badicaul (IV40)
Badintagairt (IV27)
Badlipster (KW1)
Badluarchrach (IV23)
Badnaban (IV27)
Badnabay (IV27)
Badnagie (KW6)
Badninish (IV25)
Bailebeag (IV1)
Balachuirn (IV40)
Balaldie (IV20)

Councils near Highland

Highland bin questions

How do I find my bin collection day in Highland?

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

Do Highland 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. Highland publishes any changes on its website before each holiday. Our bank holiday page lists the dates for Scotland.

What should I do if Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland collect food waste?

Most councils in Scotland collect food waste in a small kitchen caddy and a larger outdoor caddy, though some rural and island areas do not. Check the Highland website for your address.

Where is the tip for Highland?

Highland or its waste partnership runs the local household waste recycling centres. Many tips now need a booking, and vans and trailers may need a permit, so check before you go.

Which postcodes does Highland cover?

Highland collects bins in all or part of these postcode districts: IV1, IV2, IV3, IV4, IV5, IV6, IV7, IV8, IV9, IV10, IV11, IV12, IV13, IV14, IV15, IV16, IV17, IV18, IV19, IV20, IV21, IV22, IV23, IV24, IV25, IV26, IV27, IV28, IV40, IV41, IV42, IV43, IV44, IV45, IV46, IV47, IV48, IV49, IV51, IV52, IV53, IV54, IV55, IV56, IV63, IV99, KW1, KW2, KW3, KW5, KW6, KW7, KW8, KW9, KW10, KW11, KW12, KW13, KW14, PA38, PA80, PH19, PH20, PH21, PH22, PH23, PH24, PH25, PH26, PH30, PH31, PH32, PH33, PH34, PH35, PH36, PH37, PH38, PH39, PH40, PH41, PH42, PH43, PH44, PH49, PH50. 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 The Highland Council. Collection dates and services can change at short notice; the council's website is always the final word.