Bin Collection Day

Non-metropolitan district · East of England, England

Harlow bin collection day

Check your Harlow bin day, plan around bank holidays and set up free reminders for every collection. Harlow District Council empties bins in 5 postcode districts, including CM17, CM18, CM19 and CM20, covering places such as Church Langley, Churchgate Street and Foster Street.

Check your Harlow bin day

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

GOV.UK bin day finder Harlow website

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

Check a postcode in Harlow

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

Harlow at a glance

Map showing where Harlow is in the UK
87,280residents (2020)
31 km²area
5postcode districts
11places listed

About 87,280 people live in Harlow (mid-2020 estimate) across 31 square kilometres. That makes it a mostly urban and suburban area.

Council: Harlow District Council
Type: Non-metropolitan district
County council: Essex County Council
Region: East of England

Who collects what in Harlow

Harlow District Council collects household bins, recycling, garden waste and bulky items. Essex County Council is the waste disposal authority, so it runs the household waste recycling centres (the tips) and decides where the waste goes after collection. If you have a question about your bin day, missed bins or new bins, contact Harlow. For tip opening hours, van permits or booking a tip slot, contact Essex County Council.

Bank holidays and Harlow bin days

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

DateBank holiday
Friday, 25 December 2026Christmas Day
Monday, 28 December 2026Boxing Day (substitute day)
Friday, 1 January 2027New Year's Day
Friday, 26 March 2027Good Friday
Monday, 29 March 2027Easter Monday

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

Recycling rules in England

Under Simpler Recycling, councils in England must collect the same core recycling from every home: paper and card, glass, metal, plastic (including cartons), food waste every week, and garden waste for households that ask and pay any charge. The rules applied from 31 March 2026, with plastic film and bags joining the plastic stream from 31 March 2027. Councils still choose their own bins, colours and rotas.

GOV.UK: Simpler Recycling household guidance

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. Harlow has the final say, so check its website if your bin label disagrees.

Postcode districts in Harlow

Harlow 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 Harlow

Bins in these places are collected by Harlow.

  • Church Langley (CM17)
  • Churchgate Street (CM17)
  • Foster Street (CM17)
  • Gilston Park (CM20)
  • Great Parndon (CM19)
  • Harlow (CM17, CM18, CM92)
  • Little Parndon (CM20)
  • Matching Green (CM17)
  • Matching Tye (CM17)
  • Potter Street (CM17)
  • Threshers Bush (CM17)

Councils near Harlow

Harlow bin questions

How do I find my bin collection day in Harlow?
Enter your postcode on this page to confirm that Harlow collects your bins, then use the Harlow website. Pick your address and it shows the next date for each bin. Copy those dates into our bin calendar to get reminders.
Do Harlow 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. Harlow publishes any changes on its website before each holiday. Our bank holiday page lists the dates for England and Wales.
What should I do if Harlow 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 Harlow 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 Harlow collect food waste?
Under Simpler Recycling, councils in England must collect food waste every week from all households, free of charge, from 31 March 2026. A few councils were given a later start date, so check the Harlow website if you have not received a food caddy yet.
Where is the tip for Harlow?
Household waste recycling centres in Harlow are run by Essex County Council, not by Harlow. Many now ask you to book a slot, and vans and trailers may need a permit.
Which postcodes does Harlow cover?
Harlow collects bins in all or part of these postcode districts: CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20, CM92. 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 Harlow District Council. Collection dates and services can change at short notice; the council's website is always the final word.