Landlords and managing agents
What you and your tenants should know
As a landlord or managing agent you have a legal duty Under the Simpler Recycling legislation to provide all tenants with:
- the correct number of bins
- bins in good condition
- clean bin areas that are secure and easy to access.
You also need to provide your tenants with information about their recycling and rubbish collections.
In Derby we have a four system-bin:
- Blue bins are for household dry recycling.
- Brown bins are for garden waste.
- Green containers are for food waste only (this service will be available for flats later in 2026/27)
- Black bins are for any other waste that cannot be recycled in the other bins.
Tenants can use our look up tools to learn about:
- Their bin day.
- What goes in each bin.
- What to do if a bin is missed on collection day.
- How to present your bins.
Tenants should be reminded that:
- They are responsible for putting bins out correctly and removing them from the street after collection. Leaving bins permanently on the pavement is not allowed and may result in enforcement action and considerable financial penalties.
- They should never leave waste beside bins, at the kerbside or in public spaces. If an item doesn’t fit in the bin, choose another disposal option. Any waste left outside the bin is classed as fly-tipping and fly-tipping is a crime.
If you own or manage a HMO, you can find more information under The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Regulations.
Specialist bins for flats and HMOs
If you have tenants that live in flats, apartments, or HMOs, they will likely share their bins.
The Council provides bins for communal properties on a case-by-case basis. Bins will vary from large containers to wheelie bins or a combination of both. If you think a property has insufficient bin capacity, needs replacement bins or the tenants would like additional blue, brown or green recycling bins, you can request these online.
To help reduce contaminated bins at flats and HMOS, we offer specialist blue bins for recycling. These have a small opening in the lid, called an aperture, and are lockable (gravity locks) to prevent tenants using them for large or bulky items.
You can order and pay online for new or replacement bins for those lost or damaged.
Prices for specialist bins for flats and HMOs:
| Size and guide | Price |
|---|---|
| 1100 litre and 660 litre - black and blue | £450 |
| 1100 litre and 660 litre with aperture - blue | £450 |
| 360 litre - black | £90 |
| 360 litre with gravity lock - blue | £90 |
| 240 litre with gravity lock - blue | £60 |
| 240 litre - blue, black and brown | £60 |
| 180 litre - black | £45 |
| 140 litre - brown | £45 |
| 23 litre caddy (food waste) - green | £10.50 |
To help bins from being lost or damaged, we recommend to clearly mark bins with the property number or name, and keep bins off the street except on collection days.
Waste issues
It is your legal responsibility to ensure tenants receive the correct information about managing their waste and follow it. You also need to ensure they use their bins correctly and arrange suitable disposal for excess or bulky items.
Bins containing the wrong items, also known as contamination, filled beyond their capacity, or blocked due to excess waste will not be emptied and a warning notice will be left. Any excess waste must be removed at your own expense. You may also be charged for having contaminated bins emptied.
To help you manage waste-related issues we offer a range of resources. If you require any of the below, please contact us.
- Reusable recycling bags to help tenants in communal properties transport dry recyclables to their recycling bins.
- Educational leaflets, stickers and signage for bins and storage areas to help your tenants get it right.
At the end of a tenancy, you should make sure your tenants take responsibility for managing their waste appropriately.
If your tenants have additional waste, they can book a visit to Raynesway HWRC or book a bulky waste collection depending on the item. Landlords or managing agents cannot dispose of leftover waste at Raynesway HWRC, as this is classed as trade waste. You can request a quote for a one-off commercial waste collection.
If the unwanted items are good quality, they could be sold, given to the Reuse Raynesway shop, or donated to charities.
Tenants should never leave waste beside bins, at the kerbside or in public spaces. If an item doesn’t fit in the bin, choose another disposal option. Any waste left outside the bin is classed as fly-tipping and fly-tipping is a crime.
Holiday lets and self-catering accommodation
By law, holiday lets and self-catering accommodation are not allowed to use our household bin collection service.
The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 set out how councils must deal with waste from holiday lets and self-catering accommodation. Under this legislation, these premises are classed as businesses and should pay for a business waste service, including collection and disposal charges. This definition applies regardless of whether the premises are liable for business rates or Council Tax.
If you are unsure of your legal obligations, contact us to ensure you have the appropriate arrangements in place.
New properties or change of use
If your property is new or has a change of use, you will need to contact us in advance to arrange collection services and bins.
You will be unable to order bins if the property is listed as commercial. If the property is no longer commercial, you want to request a change use, or you need further information, see development control.
Developers should contact the Council at least one month before a new development is occupied to enable the council to arrange collection services.
You will be responsible for the disposal of waste in the meantime if you don’t meet these requirements.
As a developer you will need to incorporate waste container provision into your build schedule. It is expected that bins will be stored securely in either a storage area or within individual plots.