Scottish unitary authority · Scotland

West Lothian bin collection day

Everything you need for bin day in West Lothian: the official bin day checker, bank holiday changes and which bin is which. West Lothian Council empties bins in 9 postcode districts, including EH27, EH47, EH48 and EH49, covering places such as Addiewell, Armadale and Bathgate.

Check your West Lothian bin day

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

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

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

Check a postcode in West Lothian

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

West Lothian at a glance

Map showing where West Lothian is in the UK

183,820residents (2020)

428 km²area

9postcode districts

49places listed

About 183,820 people live in West Lothian (mid-2020 estimate) across 428 square kilometres. That makes it a mix of towns and countryside, where rural rounds can be long and run early.

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

Who collects what in West Lothian

West 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 West Lothian bin days

When a bank holiday lands on or before your collection day, West 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. West Lothian has the final say, so check its website if your bin label disagrees.

Postcode districts in West Lothian

West 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 West Lothian

Bins in these places are collected by West Lothian.

Addiewell (EH55)
Armadale (EH48)
Bathgate (EH48)
Bellsquarry (EH54)
Belsyde (EH49)
Blackburn (EH47)
Blackness (EH49)
Blackridge (EH48)
Breich (EH55)
Bridgend (EH49)
Broxburn (EH52)
Burnside (EH52)
Champany (EH49)
Dechmont (EH52)
East Calder (EH53)
East Whitburn (EH47)
Ecclesmachan (EH52)
Fauldhouse (EH47)
Harburn (EH55)
Harthill (ML7)
Kingscavil (EH49)
Kirknewton (EH27)
Linlithgow (EH49)
Linlithgow Bridge (EH49)
Livingston (EH54)
Livingston Village (EH54)
Loganlea (EH55)
Longridge (EH47)
Mid Calder (EH53)
Newton (EH52)
Oakbank (EH53)
Old Philpstoun (EH49)
Philpstoun (EH49)
Polbeth (EH55)
Pumpherston (EH53)
Seafield (EH47)
Stoneyburn (EH47)
Torphichen (EH48)
Uphall (EH52)
Uphall Station (EH54)
West Calder (EH55)
Wester Dechmont (EH52)
Westfield (EH48)
Westrigg (EH48)
Whitburn (EH47)
Whiteside (EH48)
Wilkieston (EH27)
Winchburgh (EH52)
Woolfords Cottages (EH55)

Councils near West Lothian

West Lothian bin questions

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

Enter your postcode on this page to confirm that West Lothian collects your bins, then use the West 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 West 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. West Lothian publishes any changes on its website before each holiday. Our bank holiday page lists the dates for Scotland.

What should I do if West 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 West 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 West 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 West Lothian website for your address.

Where is the tip for West Lothian?

West 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 West Lothian cover?

West Lothian collects bins in all or part of these postcode districts: EH27, EH47, EH48, EH49, EH52, EH53, EH54, EH55, ML7. 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 West Lothian Council. Collection dates and services can change at short notice; the council's website is always the final word.