Refuse & Recycling
Waste Collections
03.07.26
Waste Collection Service Update
We are currently experiencing delays to some waste and recycling collections across West Lancashire.
This is due to a number of factors including vehicle breakdowns, staff availability, changing weather conditions and a national shortage of drivers which are affecting collection rounds.
Crews are working hard to get to everyone and if your bin is missed on your usual day, we’ll aim to collect it the next working day. However, dry recycling in the areas of Rural South, Upholland, Rural West and Aughton & Holborn, will resume on their normal schedule from Tuesday 7 July
To help us minimise delays, we would be grateful if you can:
- Continue to present your bins at your usual collection point
- Put your bins out the night before collection day, as crews may start earlier
- Leave your bins out if they have not been collected, where possible
To support with reducing smells and pests try to keep your bin lids closed/ locked and in a shaded area. You can also clean your bins with strong disinfectant or boiling water.
Reporting a missed bin
You can report a missed bin by logging into your self-serve account.
Please note, missed food waste bins will not be collected until the next scheduled collection day so try to leave your external caddy locked and in a shaded area.
We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience while we bring the service back up to date.
Waste Collection Days 03.07.26
Please see below the waste collection delays for Friday 3rd July 2026.
General Waste Bins (Grey)
Delays due to recovering the previous day's delays.
- Upholland.
- Rural Northeast.
- Skelmersdale South.
- Old Skelmersdale.
- Rural South.
Garden Waste Bins (Brown)
Delays due to recovering other collections and vehicle breakdowns.
- Rural Northeast.
- Aughton & Holborn.
- Upholland.
- Ormskirk East.
Recycling Bins ( Blue & Green)
Delays due to recovering other collections and vehicle breakdowns.
- Skelmersdale South
- Skelmersdale North.
- Tanhouse & Skelmersdale Town Centre
- Rural North East
- Skelmersdale North
- Rural South
- Aughton & Holborn
- Old Skelmersdale
- Upholland
- Rural West
- Rural South
Farm Recycling (Blue & Green)
- Rural West
- Rural south
- Rural North East
Food Waste
Delays due to learning new routes
- Tanhouse & Skelmersdale Town Centre
Collections will resume from 7.00am 04/07/2026.
To find out more information about the area you live, insert your postcode into the Your West Lancs box on screen
What goes in your bins?
To find out what items you can recycle in your bins, please click here.
Garden waste collections
Our garden waste collection service is open to all households across the borough. We offer fortnightly collections of garden waste such as leaves and grass cuttings which is then recycled.
For more information on garden waste collections and how to sign up, please click here.
Find your collection dates
Find your collection dates by typing your postcode, street or house name into the 'Your West Lancashire' panel on the right-hand side of this page (on a computer) or at the bottom of this page (on a mobile phone).
Please leave your bins at your normal collection point by 7.00am, with the lid closed and handles facing outwards, and take them back to your property promptly after they have been emptied.
Safe disposal of gas bottles & batteries
We have seen an increase in gas bottles in recycling collected from households, including nitrous oxide bottles, helium bottles, small carbon dioxide bottles and fire extinguishers. Please do not place these in your recycling bins as they cannot be processed through the recycling system and may explode if crushed. Please take empty gas bottles to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre where they can be disposed of safely, find your nearest one here.
Batteries placed in bins can cause fires in the collection vehicles and recycling facilities. Please do not place batteries in any waste or recycling bins. Collect your used batteries and drop them off at your local recycling centre, or at a collection point in a supermarket, DIY centre or local shop.
Missed bin collection
We keep our website and social media updated with major interruptions or delays to collection services. If we are already aware of the missed collection we will make arrangements to return and you will not have to raise a specific enquiry for your address.
If you wish to report a missed collection, please note that this can only be done from 6pm on the day your collection should have taken place. Before reporting a missed bin, please check your bin collection day, you can do this by putting your address into the ‘Your West Lancashire' panel on this page.
To report a missed collection or spillage problem, please click here.
Request a new bin
If one or more of your wheelie bins has been stolen, lost or damaged, or if you have moved into a property that does not have any bins, a charge of £25 will be made for each replacement bin.
Households may also qualify for second grey bins if they have a large family or have approved medical waste. Additional bins for medical waste may be issued following assessment of customer need.
Assisted Collections
Assisted collections are available to eligible residents that meet specific criteria such as being physically unable to present bins for collection and living alone. Applications will be assessed and where residents meet the criteria for assisted collections, a Waste Management Officer will make contact to arrange access to the bins.
If your application is approved, all waste receptacles must be left visible and accessible for collection in the agreed location by 7am on collection day.
To submit an application for assisted collection please click here.
Food Waste
Food Waste collections are coming to West Lancs in March 2026. This national scheme means all local authorities have to provide residents with a weekly food waste recycling collection service. Find out everything you need to know here.
