Information for students

If you’re at university and living in Derby, this page tells you what you need to do about your waste and recycling while living off campus. Help us get it right for Derby and the environment.

If you’ve just moved in

You can check what day your bins are collected using our Bin day lookup tool. Search your postcode or street name and house number or name.

We empty bins Tuesday to Friday between 6:30am and 4pm. Please make sure your bins are present by 6:30am on your bin day and take them in before midday the day after your collection.

All waste should be placed inside your bins with the lids closed. We won’t collect additional waste left at the side of the bins.

How to get additional or replacement bins

Visit our Bin requests page and select the most suitable option.

Put your house number or name on your bins. This can prevent them from being stolen or misplaced after they have been emptied. We can provide stickers for your bin to remind you what to put in each one – contact us if you require stickers.

What can and can’t go in blue, brown and black bins

To find out what we can and can’t accept in our bins in Derby, visit our What goes in which bin? page. You’ll find useful information for all three bin types, as well as our Recycling Helper, where you can search for information on how to properly dispose of any item you may not be sure about.

What to do with your waste at the end of the year

There are many ways you can responsibly dispose of waste you may have at the end of term.

Recycle it

If you have anything with a plug, battery or cable, visit the recycle your electricals website to find out where your nearest drop off point is.

Many supermarkets also offer recycling points for items ranging from batteries to bread bags and other soft plastics that we cannot accept in the blue bin. Check out what your local shop can take the next time you visit.

As a resident of Derby, you can make use of Raynesway Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) up to 12 times per year. You’ll need to book a slot before you visit.

Sell it

Money can be tight during your studies. You could consider selling your preloved items on sites such as eBay, Depop, Gumtree or Vinted. Whether you have old clothes you don’t need or books that you won’t need to use next semester, there are many ways to gain that extra bit of cash.

Donate it

If you’re struggling for time to sell your preloved items, you could consider donating to a charity shop in the city.

You can also give items a new home with Derby Freegle, an online service that allows you to give and get items for free that are too good to be thrown away. It's all about reusing and keeping items from being thrown away.

If you have old crockery or glassware, or a pair of jeans you don’t wear any more, Anglo Doorstep Collections is a free service which collects a wide range of unwanted household items. You can select a charity of your choice to support.

Bin it

If you can’t sell or find a suitable place to donate your items, help us get it right for Derby and make sure you bin it to avoid unwanted deposit issues at the end of your tenancy. If you’re unsure about which bin to use, use our Recycling Helper.

Larger items

We offer a bulky waste collection service which can be arranged for a fee, where we will collect waste and any bulky items from the kerbside.