Waste collection in Fareham

Frequently Asked Questions

When is my refuse/recycling/garden waste due to be collected and where is it taken?
We collect recyclables in your blue top bin one week, and the following week we collect refuse in the green bin. You get a collection every week, alternating between recycling and refuse. Garden waste is collected on the same day as your recycling. Your recyclables are transported to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Portsmouth where they are sorted and sent for processing into new items. Your general waste is taken to the Energy Recovery Facility in Portsmouth, where it is burned cleanly to generate electricity for the National Grid. Very little of Fareham''s household waste is now landfilled.



What shall I do with my garden waste?
One sack of garden waste is collected free from each household, on the same day as your recycling bin. There is a charge for second and subsequent bags of garden waste.



We will collect extra garden waste in disposable garden waste bags, which can be purchased at a cost of £20 for 25 bags. They can be used for garden waste as you wish, whether you put out one additional bag or a number of bags after a busy weekend in the garden; or share a pack between family and friends. There is no limit to the number of disposable bags each household can purchase, or put out on collection day. Please note we will only collect disposable garden waste bags sold by the Council.



You can buy disposable garden waste bags from our Customer Service Centre by calling 01329 236100 or emailing customerservices@fareham.gov.uk. Alternatively you can take your garden waste to any Household Waste Recycling Centre, or you may wish to try home composting (for more information visit www.recyclenow.com/compost (this is an external hyperlink)).

Please note that you must not put garden waste in your refuse or recycling bins.





How do I order a new bin or garden waste sack?
Bins for refuse or recycling, and garden waste sacks, can all be ordered from our Customer Service Centre by calling 01329 236100 or emailing customerservices@fareham.gov.uk



Why can''t the council take plastic packaging such as food trays and yoghurt pots - can''t I recycle everything with the recycling symbol on them?
Trays, tubs and other plastic packaging are invariably made of different plastic polymer types, and those that are made of the same polymer have a different Melt Flow Index (MFI)anyway. This means that the material will not be consistent, which is the absolute key in plastics processing.

Some examples:

Yoghurt pots can be made from either polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS), and there is no pattern as to which is used where. If you try to manufacture something from a blend of PP/PS you end up with something of no physical strength that will simply delaminate.

Trays could be PP/PS/PVC or others, each of which has radically different melt points and physical properties, so by the time you are melting one polymer in the mix, you could easily be degrading another.



Why can''t the council take glass in the blue top bin?
It is not possible to collect glass and paper together in the same collection vehicle. Some of the glass inevitably gets broken and gets caught up with the paper, making it difficult to process. Please take all glass jars and bottles to the recycling banks.





Is there assistance available to help me put my bin out?
Householders who are disabled or infirm and cannot move their bin or garden waste sack can request an assisted lift. This means the crews will collect the bin or garden waste sack from where you keep it on your property, and return it there.

This service is only offered where there is no other able-bodied person at the property who could put the bin out on the edge of the highway. A Waste and Recycling Officer will visit you to discuss your request.



Where is my local amenity tip and what time is it open?
There are several Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC), across Hampshire. They will take garden waste, bulky items and recyclable and excess household waste. They are unable to accept trade waste.



There are HWRCs at:

Barnes Wallis Road, Segensworth; Telephone number 01489 589396
Port Solent; Telephone number 023 9221 9819
Grange Road, Gosport; Telephone number 023 9252 4112
Find your nearest HWRC (This is an external hyperlink).


All sites are open 7 days a week, including bank holidays. They are only closed on 25th and 26th December, and 1 January.

Opening times:
Most HWRCs in Hampshire operate under a ‘three-tier’ system of opening hours, as outlined below:

1 March – 31 March: 8am to 5pm
1 April – 30 September: 8am to 7pm
1 October – 28 February: 8am to 4pm
Check the opening times of your nearest HWRC (This is an external hyperlink).

How can I avoid smells and flies in my bin?
Keep your bin as clean as possible. Ensure all food waste, pet faeces or nappy waste is tightly tied in plastic bags, double-bagged if necessary. If possible, keep the bin in the shade and away from doors and windows.

Keep the lid shut - all waste should fit in the bin and not be so full that the lid will not shut.

Wash your bin out when necessary with boiling water and diluted disinfectant or bleach.