Bin Collection Day

Non-metropolitan district · East of England, England

Ipswich bin collection day

Check your Ipswich bin day, plan around bank holidays and set up free reminders for every collection. Ipswich Borough Council empties bins in 4 postcode districts, including IP1, IP2, IP3 and IP4, covering places such as Akenham, Castle Hill and Chantry.

Check your Ipswich bin day

The quickest way to see the next date for each of your bins is the council's own checker. Pick your address and it lists every collection.

Open the Ipswich bin day checker Make a reminder calendar

Link goes to app.ipswich.gov.uk. If it has moved, use the GOV.UK bin day finder or the council website.

Check a postcode in Ipswich

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

Ipswich at a glance

Map showing where Ipswich is in the UK
135,979residents (2020)
40 km²area
4postcode districts
5places listed

About 135,979 people live in Ipswich (mid-2020 estimate) across 40 square kilometres. That makes it a dense urban area, where many homes share communal bins or have bins collected from the back of terraces.

Council: Ipswich Borough Council
Type: Non-metropolitan district
County council: Suffolk County Council
Region: East of England

Who collects what in Ipswich

Ipswich Borough Council collects household bins, recycling, garden waste and bulky items. Suffolk 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 Ipswich. For tip opening hours, van permits or booking a tip slot, contact Suffolk County Council.

Bank holidays and Ipswich bin days

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

DateBank holiday
Friday, 25 December 2026Christmas Day
Monday, 28 December 2026Boxing Day (substitute day)
Friday, 1 January 2027New Year's Day
Friday, 26 March 2027Good Friday
Monday, 29 March 2027Easter 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. Ipswich has the final say, so check its website if your bin label disagrees.

Postcode districts in Ipswich

Ipswich 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 Ipswich

Bins in these places are collected by Ipswich.

  • Akenham (IP1)
  • Castle Hill (IP1)
  • Chantry (IP2)
  • Ipswich (IP1, IP3, IP4)
  • Whitton (IP1)

Councils near Ipswich

Ipswich bin questions

How do I find my bin collection day in Ipswich?
Enter your postcode on this page to confirm that Ipswich collects your bins, then use the Ipswich bin day checker. Pick your address and it shows the next date for each bin. Copy those dates into our bin calendar to get reminders.
Do Ipswich 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. Ipswich 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 Ipswich 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 Ipswich 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 Ipswich 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 Ipswich website if you have not received a food caddy yet.
Where is the tip for Ipswich?
Household waste recycling centres in Ipswich are run by Suffolk County Council, not by Ipswich. Many now ask you to book a slot, and vans and trailers may need a permit.
Which postcodes does Ipswich cover?
Ipswich collects bins in all or part of these postcode districts: IP1, IP2, IP3, IP4. 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 Ipswich Borough Council. Collection dates and services can change at short notice; the council's website is always the final word.