In 2024, UK councils missed over 2.5 million bin collections nationwide, averaging more than 10,000 missed pickups every working day. Local authorities have cited causes such as strikes, safety regulations, and even ‘warm and wet weather’ as factors contributing to this widespread disruption, leaving many residents frustrated.
The Yorkshire and the Humber region suffered the most, with over 312,000 missed collections—equating to 57 missed bins for every 1,000 residents. This rate was more than twice that of the North East of England and Northern Ireland.
An interactive map allows residents to check how their own council performed on bin collections last year.
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Several councils, including Gloucester, Somerset, Oxford, Lichfield, Gedling, Tamworth, Melton, and Tandridge, failed to respond to Freedom of Information requests. Likewise, Edinburgh, East Lothian, East Dunbartonshire, and Midlothian councils in Scotland declined to provide data.
Barnsley Council in South Yorkshire was the worst performer, missing 146,000 collections—equivalent to 2,800 bins every week. The council invested £1.8 million this year to recruit additional staff to improve services. Councillor James Higginbottom explained that severe weather, fires at waste facilities, and adjustments to safe working procedures contributed to the disruptions. He also noted that increased garden waste weight during the warm and wet conditions added pressure. Barnsley suspects differing counting methods between councils may partially explain its poor official record.
Data collected via Freedom of Information requests from over 350 councils revealed that Labour-controlled areas missed bins at a higher rate—41 per 1,000 residents—compared to 28 in Conservative-led and 34 in Liberal Democrat-run councils. Due to limited sample size, authorities led by Reform UK or other parties were excluded from fair comparison.
Joanna Marchong of the TaxPayers’ Alliance expressed concern: “The scale of missed bin collections across the UK is shocking. Residents wonder what their council tax pays for when rubbish piles up.”
A Local Government Association spokesperson defended councils, emphasizing continued high public satisfaction and stating that the majority of collections are completed without issue.
Northern Ireland’s Belfast reported the most missed collections, with nearly 2,100 bins missed, slightly down from 2023. Glasgow topped Scotland with 31,000 missed collections, though Renfrewshire and Falkirk had higher missed rates per population. Wales saw Swansea miss almost 30,000 bins, while Denbighshire had the second-highest missed rate nationwide after Barnsley.
Other areas with high missed bin rates per resident included Thurrock, North Norfolk, and Brighton & Hove.
Birmingham reported 78,183 missed collections, the second-highest total in England, not accounting for strike impacts starting in March 2025. Considering population size, Birmingham ranked 40th by missed bins per resident.
Some councils did not supply data, including Derry City, Strabane, and Bridgend. Meanwhile, Stockton-on-Tees reported zero missed bin collections for 2024.
Top councils with the highest missed bin totals by region highlight widespread service challenges, underscoring a pressing need for improvement in waste collection across the UK.