Big Changes to Bin Collection Days in Reading from 9 June

Reading Borough Council has confirmed that changes to bin collection days will come into effect from Monday 9 June, and every household in the borough will be affected in some way.

For some residents, the update will mean a full shift in their collection schedule, including a swap between grey and red bin weeks and potentially a new day of the week. Others may keep their current week rotation, but will still see their collection day change.

Despite the reshuffle, the overall frequency of collections remains the same: food waste will continue to be picked up weekly, and grey (residual waste) and red (recycling) bins will still alternate every other week.

The Council says these changes will help improve the reliability and efficiency of the service. Going forward, only one type of waste—either recycling or residual—will be collected across the borough each day. This focused approach means the Council can respond more quickly to staff or vehicle shortages, helping to avoid missed collections.

The new structure also prepares Reading’s waste services for the future. It creates room for the introduction of new kerbside collections—like glass recycling—once those are launched. It’s also a step toward managing the rising demand brought on by new housing and a growing population.

Residents will be able to check their updated collection schedules online soon. In addition, everyone will receive a leaflet through the post in late May that includes a printed calendar showing their new bin days—so it’s worth keeping an eye out for that.

To help keep track of the changes, the Council is recommending the free Scrapp app, available from any phone app store. Once installed, users can enter their address and enable reminders the night before each collection. After selecting “England” and then “Reading Borough Council,” users will see the ‘Bin Reminders’ option on the homepage, where they can tap to subscribe.