Scottish unitary authority · Scotland

East Lothian bin collection day

Everything you need for bin day in East Lothian: the official bin day checker, bank holiday changes and which bin is which. East Lothian Council empties bins in 13 postcode districts, including EH21, EH22, EH31 and EH32, covering places such as Aberlady, Athelstaneford and Auldhame.

Check your East Lothian bin day

East Lothian publishes bin days on its own website. Use the official finder below to reach the right page, then pick your address.

Find the East Lothian website on GOV.UK East Lothian website

Once you have your dates, our bin calendar turns them into reminders.

Check a postcode in East Lothian

Not sure whether your street is in East Lothian? Postcode districts on council borders can be split, so enter your full postcode to check.

East Lothian at a glance

Map showing where East Lothian is in the UK

107,900residents (2020)

679 km²area

13postcode districts

64places listed

About 107,900 people live in East Lothian (mid-2020 estimate) across 679 square kilometres. That makes it a largely rural area, where some lanes are served by smaller lorries and collection times vary a lot.

Council: East Lothian Council
Type: Scottish unitary authority
Region: Scotland

Who collects what in East Lothian

East Lothian Council is a single-tier council, so it handles everything: bin collections, recycling, garden waste permits, bulky uplifts and the household waste recycling centres. In Scotland, bulky collections are often called special uplifts.

Bank holidays and East Lothian bin days

When a bank holiday lands on or before your collection day, East Lothian may collect as normal or move collections later in the week. These are the next bank holidays in Scotland:

Date	Bank holiday
Monday, 30 November 2026	St Andrew's Day
Friday, 25 December 2026	Christmas Day
Monday, 28 December 2026	Boxing Day (substitute day)
Friday, 1 January 2027	New Year's Day
Monday, 4 January 2027	2nd January (substitute day)

Christmas and New Year cause the biggest changes. See Christmas bin collections for what usually happens.

Recycling rules in Scotland

Scottish councils set their own collections, and many follow the voluntary Household Recycling Charter, which aims for more consistent recycling across Scotland. Food waste is collected in most urban areas, and many councils charge a yearly permit for garden waste. GOV.UK's bin day finder does not cover Scotland, so use your council's own checker.

Zero Waste Scotland

Not sure which bin something goes in? Our which bin A to Z covers everyday items, and bin colours explained covers what each colour usually means. East Lothian has the final say, so check its website if your bin label disagrees.

Postcode districts in East Lothian

East Lothian collects bins in all or part of these postcode districts. Districts marked on more than one council page cross a boundary.

Towns and villages in East Lothian

Bins in these places are collected by East Lothian.

Aberlady (EH32)
Athelstaneford (EH39)
Auldhame (EH39)
Ballencrieff (EH32)
Belhaven (EH42)
Bolton (EH41)
Broxburn (EH42)
Carfrae (EH41)
Cockenzie and Port Seton (EH32)
Crossgatehall (EH22)
Danskine (EH41)
Dirleton (EH39)
Drem (EH39)
Dunbar (EH42)
East Fortune (EH39)
East Linton (EH40)
East Saltoun (EH34)
Elphinstone (EH33)
Elvingston (EH33)
Garvald (EH41)
Gifford (EH41)
Gilchriston (EH36)
Gladsmuir (EH33)
Gullane (EH31)
Haddington (EH41)
Halls (EH42)
Humbie (EH36)
Innerwick (EH42)
Inveresk (EH21)
Kingston (EH39)
Levenhall (EH21)
Longniddry (EH32)
Longyester (EH41)
Luffness (EH32)
Macmerry (EH33)
Meadowmill (EH33)
Mungoswells (EH39)
Musselburgh (EH21)
New Town (EH34)
New Winton (EH33)
Newcraighall (EH21)
North Berwick (EH39)
Oldhamstocks (TD13)
Ormiston (EH35)
Papple (EH41)
Peaston (EH35)
Peastonbank (EH34)
Pencaitland (EH34)
Pitcox (EH42)
Preston (EH40)
Prestonpans (EH32)
Samuelston (EH41)
Skateraw (EH42)
Spittal (EH32)
Spott (EH42)
Stenton (EH42)
Thorntonloch (EH42)
Tranent (EH33)
Traprain (EH41)
Tyninghame (EH42)
Wallyford (EH21)
West Barns (EH42)
West Saltoun (EH34)
Whitekirk (EH39)

Councils near East Lothian

East Lothian bin questions

How do I find my bin collection day in East Lothian?

Enter your postcode on this page to confirm that East Lothian collects your bins, then use the East Lothian website. Pick your address and it shows the next date for each bin. Copy those dates into our bin calendar to get reminders.

Do East Lothian bin days change on bank holidays?

Many councils keep normal collection days on most bank holidays and only change around Christmas and New Year, while others move every collection in a bank holiday week by a day. East Lothian publishes any changes on its website before each holiday. Our bank holiday page lists the dates for Scotland.

What should I do if East Lothian misses my bin?

Check your bin day first, as collections sometimes run late into the evening. If the rest of your street has been emptied and yours has not, report it on the East Lothian website, usually within one or two working days. Leave the bin out unless the council says otherwise. Our missed bin guide explains what to expect.

Does East Lothian collect food waste?

Most councils in Scotland collect food waste in a small kitchen caddy and a larger outdoor caddy, though some rural and island areas do not. Check the East Lothian website for your address.

Where is the tip for East Lothian?

East Lothian or its waste partnership runs the local household waste recycling centres. Many tips now need a booking, and vans and trailers may need a permit, so check before you go.

Which postcodes does East Lothian cover?

East Lothian collects bins in all or part of these postcode districts: EH21, EH22, EH31, EH32, EH33, EH34, EH35, EH36, EH39, EH40, EH41, EH42, TD13. Districts on the edge of the council area can be shared with a neighbouring council, so enter your full postcode to be sure.

Bin Collection Day is independent and not run by East Lothian Council. Collection dates and services can change at short notice; the council's website is always the final word.