Get help to take your bins out

If you’re unable to put your bins out, we may be able to help.

We can:

• take your bins out on your collection day
• empty them
• return them to a specific location on your property.
   

We can help if you:

• are unable to take your bins out yourself due to a physical or medical condition
• do not have anyone physically able in your household aged 14 or over
• do not have someone you can ask for help, such as a neighbour or a relative.

Once you apply, a council officer might arrange to visit you to confirm that you’re eligible. We can only offer this service to people who need it.

This service is free.

You can apply for yourself, or you can ask someone else (such as a neighbour or a relative) to apply on your behalf.

If applying online, you or the person applying on your behalf will need an email address.

You’ll need to tell us:

• your age
• any medical conditions
• if you’re registered as disabled
• if you live with any other adults and why they cannot put the bins out
• where you store your bins and any details about steps, gates, and path surfaces.

You’ll also need to give us either:

• a supporting letter from a social worker, paid carer, health worker, or housing officer
• evidence of a medical condition.

Acceptable evidence of a medical condition could include one of the following:

• proof that you receive benefits such as:
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – mobility element
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – mobility element
  • Adult Disability Payment (ADP) – mobility element
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) – for physical and mobility health issues
  • Universal Credit – limited capability for work related activity element
  • Pension Age Disability Payment  
  • Attendance Allowance
• hospital or GP letters detailing the condition
• NHS delivery notes for support equipment
• personal receipts for purchased support equipment as well as both of these:
  • proof of date of birth, such as a birth certificate or passport
  • proof of address, such as a utility bill or appointment letters from a hospital, GP, or dentist.

You’ll be able to upload your evidence when you apply using the online form. If you prefer, you can send us photocopies of your evidence by post instead:

Apply for help to take your bins out

If you do not want to apply online, you can apply by phoning us on 0300 300 0300.

It will take up to 10 days for us to review your application.

We’ll send you a letter in the post to confirm that we’ve approved your application. This letter will also include some “Assisted Collection” stickers for you to stick on your bins. These stickers will help our bin collectors know which bins you’d like them to collect.

Your assisted collection service will begin within 2 weeks of the date shown on your approval letter.

Make sure to store your bins in a location where our bin collectors can access them. Any gates should be unlocked and in good working condition. Any dogs should be secured somewhere else to help keep our bin collectors safe.

Annual review

We review all assisted collections each year. You’ll need to tell us if your circumstances change and you no longer need help to take your bins out.

Moving house

If you move house, you need to tell us so we can update our records.