Students

Overview

If you're a university student living in Derby, here is some information that explains what you need to know about waste and recycling while living off campus.

As a tenant, you have a legal duty under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Regulations, which includes storing and disposing of waste correctly.

Breaches can result in formal action and considerable financial penalties, so it’s important for everyone to play their part, as all occupants are equally responsible. Working together is key.

Together, let's keep Derby tidy, one street at the time.

If you’ve just moved in, here’s a quick start

• Know your bin collection dates using our bin day lookup tool and know how to present your bins.
• Understand what goes in each of your bins. In Derby, we have a three-bin system:
  • blue bins are for household dry recycling
  • brown bins are for garden and food waste
  • black bins are for any residual waste that cannot be recycled in the blue or brown bin. 

From 31 March 2026 we’ll have a new container for food waste only, and the brown bin will be for garden waste only. Check what bins you have available in your house and learn more about each one of them on our what goes in each bin pages.

• If you put the wrong items in your recycling bins, they will not be collected. This is called 'contamination'. If your bin is contaminated, we will leave a tag on it. Make sure you know what goes in each bin to ensure your collection goes ahead as normal.
• Missed bins: there are several reasons why bins may not have been collected including restricted access to your road, contamination or a genuine mistake. All information about this can be found in our missed bins page.
• If you need any assistance, contact your landlord or managing agent. They should be able to provide all that you need: bins in good condition and information.
• The University of Derby also has information about waste and recycling that you can check on their website.

Replacement or extra bins

If you need to replace a broken bin, or want an extra recycling bin, visit our bin requests page. If you need assistance, talk to your landlord or managing agent.

What to do with your waste at the end of the year 

Sell it - Money can be tight during your studies. You could consider selling your preloved items on sites such as eBay, Depop, Gumtree or Vinted. Whether you have old clothes you don’t wear or books that you won’t need next semester, there are many ways to gain that extra bit of cash.

Donate it - If you’re struggling for time to sell your preloved items, you could consider donating to a charity shop in the city or to the Reuse Raynesway shop.

You can also give items a new home with Derby Freegle, an online service that allows you to give and get items for free that are too good to be thrown away.

If you have old crockery or glassware, or a pair of jeans you don’t wear any more, Anglo Doorstep Collections is a free service which collects a wide range of unwanted household items. You can select a charity of your choice to support. 

Recycle it – after selling and donating good quality items, it’s time to recycle! 

If your item has a plug, battery or cable, visit the recycle your electricals website to find out where your nearest drop off point is or arrange a visit to Raynesway Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC).  

Many supermarkets also offer recycling points for items ranging from batteries to bread bags and other soft plastics that we cannot accept in the blue bin. Check out what your local shop can take the next time you visit. 

As a resident of Derby, you can make use of Raynesway HWRC up to 12 times per year. You’ll need to book a slot before you visit.

Bin it - If you can’t sell or find a suitable place to donate your items, help us get it right for Derby and make sure you use the correct bin it to avoid unwanted deposit issues at the end of your tenancy. If you’re unsure about which bin to use, use our Recycling Helper. 

Large items - We offer a bulky waste collection service which can be arranged for a fee, where we will collect waste and any bulky items from the kerbside.