Everything you need to know about doorstep collection from your wheelie bins, including what goes in each bin and when they will be collected, can be found here on the city council website:
Household recycling and waste
Note that the city is divided into two collection zones, and the whole of Headington and Marston is in the north (BLUE) zone, with recycling and landfill collection on alternate weeks.
Confusingly, your green wheelie bin (right) is for landfill items, and your blue bin for recycling. If you want your garden waste recycled, you can pay for a brown bin or bags.
Note that bins and sacks should not be placed on the pavement any earlier than 6pm on the evening before or any later than 7am on the morning of your collection.
There is a household waste recycling centre at Redbridge.
Note that all communal bins (bin banks) on Oxford city property were removed in 2023 (explanation)
NEW FROM 31 JANUARY 2025: You can arrange a free kerbside collection of unwanted textiles (including towels, duvets, and curtains) as well as other items such as Wellington boots and handbags. Details here
How to recycle items in Headington that the city council will not collect
Please email if you can add to this list. Also bins get removed, so check that they are still there
Batteries
These can be left on top of blue bins, BUT people in flats who have large communal bins are not able to put out batteries for recycling. Collection points in Headington include:
- Boots the Chemist
- The Co-op
- Sainsbury's
- Waitrose (on Help Desk)
Brita cartridges
Collection points in Headington include:
- Homebase
- Waitrose
Blister packs from pills
Boots in Headington is one of the branches where you can recycle blister packs that contained pills, with extra points for so doing for Advantage card holders. (Always closed now from 1.30 to 2.30pm). Details here To collect Advantage points for recycling, sign up here
Books, CDs, and DVDs
Bring-bank in Demesne Furze, near Roosevelt Drive
Charity shops
Headington has seven charity shops that will accept many items to sell on, but they have to be in good condition
Clothes, shoes, belts, and handbags
Bring-bank outside the fire station in Horspath Driftway, in aid of injured firefighters (shown right in August 2025). Will accept underwear.
In aid of The Firefighters' CharityFurniture
The Helen & Douglas House charity shop in Windmill Road will take large items of furniture in good condition
Light bulbs
These can be deposited at Homebase on Horspath Driftway.
Mobile phones
These can be donated to the Oxfam charity shop
Plastic bags
The type not accepted by the doorstep collection (e.g. crisp packets, sweet wrappers, plastic film, any plastic bags, and food pouches) can be put in the large container in Waitrose.
Spectacles
Unwanted pairs of glasses can be donated to the Oxfam shop
Vapes
There is a collection container on the Waitrose helpdesk
Oxford Freegle (formerly known as Freecycle) is a wonderful way of getting rid of unwanted items that have some life left in them but are unsuitable for charity shops Also on Twitter
The British Heart Foundation will collect furniture and electrical items
suitable for resale in their furniture shops: details here
Nuisances
See the City Council Do it online page where you can report on just about everything, e.g. fly-tipping; defects in roads, pavements, traffic lights, street lights, street signs; flooding; dead animals; missed bin collection.
Dog fouling
If there is dog’s mess (or anything dangerous such as glass) in your road, telephone City Works on the number at the top of this page.
There are red bins in Bury Knowle Park for dog waste.
Removal of dead animals
Request the removal of dead animals
Abandoned vehicles
If an abandoned car has a valid tax disc it should be reported to the police; if not, the city council is responsible.
Graffiti and vandalism
Pest control
The City Council Pest Control Service, which deals with pests ranging in size from ants to rats, now makes a charge.
