Waste and recycling collection arrangements - January 8 and 9 2026

It's been a tricky week in Orkney, with heavy snow fall, drifting and difficult road conditions leading to service disruptions - including to waste and recycling collections and facilities. 

As we try and get things back on track here is the latest information on planned and catch-up waste (grey bin/black bag)collections this week. Please note to allow us to catch up with waste collections, there will be no recycling collections (green bins)  - please hold on to your recyclates until your next planned collection. We understand this will be frustrating for some - but hope you can understand why we've had to plan services in this way. 

Thursday 8 January

• Areas 12 and 14 will have their grey bin/black bag waste collected  - this is your normal collection date
• Area 9 will also have their grey bin/black bag waste collected  - this is a catch-up on the missed collection on Monday. 
• One trade waste vehicle

Friday 9 January

• Areas 13 and 15 will have their grey bin/black bag waste collected  - this is your normal collection date
• Area 10 and 11 will also have their grey bin/black bag waste collected  - this is a catch-up on the missed collections from Tuesday and Wednesday
• We are also working on arrangements for a Shapinsay collection and will confirm shortly..
• One trade waste vehicles

We will be unable to carry out the following collections

• Any recycling collections in Kirkwall and the East on either Thursday or Friday. 
• Hoy – should be Thursday - but will collect extra next week
• Westray and Flotta  -  will collect extra next week

Other key things to note are:

• All Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open tomorrow – Bossack, St Margaret’s Hope, Hatston, Cursiter, Garson
• All collections are dependent on vehicles being able to safely access roads.  Some side roads may not be accessible due to the conditions so crews will be exercising their judgement as they go round.  If householders think their road could be tricky, and if it is safe to do so, taking their bins to the junction with the main road would be helpful
• All of the above is dependent on no further vehicle breakdowns
• Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay, Stronsay, Sanday, Eday, Rousay, Egilsay, Wyre and Graemsay are all serviced by contractors so best to check locally to see if they are making any changes