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Report a Missed Bin

Why was my bin not emptied?

If your bin has been missed, you should report this to our customer services team on 01856873535. Please note your bin/bags should be out at the designated collection point no later than 08:00 on your collection day. Our refuse vehicles will not normally be sent back to your property if your bin has been missed unless in exceptional circumstances. If your bin has been missed, you can hold onto your waste until your next collection day when the Council will collect double or alternatively you can take your rubbish/recycling to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.

During inclement weather such as high winds, the service may choose not to collect certain types of recyclates that are more prone to being blown away from the truck when the wheeled bin is being uplifted such as plastic bottles or paper and card, or they may choose to not collect any waste/recycling at all. When there is snow and ice on the roads, they may only collect waste/recycling where it is safe to do so for the refuse collection vehicle. For example they may miss side roads. In such circumstances, the service may return to collect the waste/recycling and notification is usually provided via OIC Updates on Facebook, or you can contact us on 01856873535 for further information. You are advised in these circumstances to leave your bin out for possible collection the following day or days.

Contaminated Recycling bins

Recycling containers that include items they shouldn’t are considered 'contaminated' and are not generally emptied. If the item(s) are clearly visible to the collection crews, they will attempt to empty the bin and put back those items that are not accepted. However, if there are a lot of mixed items that shouldn’t be in the bin, your bin may have been left and ‘tagged’. The crews will attach a white tag to your bin and mark on the tag the items which are not accepted for example, cardboard or food container.

The Council does not have a facility at the waste transfer station to manually sort recyclable materials. The materials are dropped into their different bays ready for baling and onward shipment to relevant re-processors on the Scottish Mainland.  To see items that you can recycle using the kerbside collection system, please review our recyclate guide called "What to Recycle" in the related download section of this page. Don’t forget you can recycle a larger range of items at our recycling centres around the County including juice cartons, batteries, cooking oil, green waste, textiles and cardboard. We can also provide you with free bin stickers for your recycling bins that clearly show what can go into the recycling at home and what can’t.

If you would like a set of stickers posting out to you, please contact our Waste Strategy Officer on 01856 873535 extension 2343.

Love your bin - love your bin collector!

Below are some reminders of the simple things you can do to help bin collections run smoothly and prolong the life of your bin.

Taking these steps will help our crews empty bins quickly - and safely - and complete their schedules so that everyone’s bin gets dealt with.

Related Downloads


School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY

Telephone: 01856 873535

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Orkney Islands Council: BOREAS DOMUS MARE AMICUS