FAQ
Everything you might want to know about Fan's Yer Bin? — from first search to sharing your collection day.
Getting started
What is Fan's Yer Bin?
Fan's Yer Bin? is a free, independent web app that shows Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire residents their upcoming bin collection dates — without the faff of navigating council websites. Type your postcode, pick your address, and you're done.
Which areas does it cover?
Both Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. If your postcode starts withAB, you're almost certainly covered. A handful of AB postcodes fall outside both council areas — if yours does, you'll see a clear message.
How do I look up my collection dates?
- Type your postcode into the search box on the homepage.
- Pick your address from the list that appears.
- Your upcoming bin collection days are shown instantly.
You can save your address and it will load automatically next time.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There are no accounts, no sign-up, no email address required. Ever.
Is it free?
Yes, and it will stay that way. If you'd like to say thanks, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi.
Understanding your results
What does the top section show?
The top of your results shows your next collection — the very next bin due at your address, regardless of bin type. Below that, you'll see all upcoming dates grouped by bin type so you can plan ahead.
Why do some addresses show no schedule?
Some properties — communal bin stores, on-demand collections, privately-managed developments — don't have a fixed kerbside collection day registered in the council's scheduling system. If your address has no schedule, the app will tell you clearly rather than showing incorrect dates.
How far ahead does the schedule go?
The app shows whatever the council's system returns — typically several weeks to a few months ahead. The exact horizon varies by council and time of year.
How up to date is the data?
Collection dates come directly from the council's systems and are cached for up to 6 hours. If there's been a recent change (e.g. a bank holiday adjustment), the updated dates will appear within 6 hours of the council updating their system.
Can I trust these dates?
The data comes from the same systems the councils use themselves — we don't manufacture or guess dates. That said, councils occasionally adjust collections without much notice (bank holidays, severe weather, operational changes). For anything critical, the official council websites are the authoritative source.
Aberdeen City bins
Aberdeen City Council uses a three-bin system on a fortnightly two-week cycle:
- Week 1: General Waste Bin only
- Week 2: Mixed Recycling Bin + Food and Garden Bin together
| Bin | What goes in | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| General Waste Bin (black lid) | Non-recyclable household waste — anything that can't go in the other bins. Not accepted: batteries, vapes, small electricals, gas canisters, paint, liquids, hot ashes. | Week 1 |
| Mixed Recycling Bin (blue lid) | Paper and card, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and containers, metal tins, cans, foil and aerosols. Put items in loose — not in bags. Rinse and flatten where possible. | Week 2 |
| Food and Garden Bin (brown lid) | All food scraps (cooked and uncooked, including meat and fish), and garden waste (grass clippings, leaves, plants, small branches). | Week 2 |
For the full list of what's accepted, check the Aberdeen City Council website.
Aberdeenshire bins
Aberdeenshire Council collects on a three-week rotation — each bin comes round every three weeks.
| Bin | What goes in | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Black Lid Bin (refuse) | General household waste that cannot be recycled. | Every 3 weeks |
| Blue Lid Bin (paper & card) | Paper, card, and cardboard only — nothing else. | Every 3 weeks |
| Orange Lid Bin (mixed recycling) | Metal tins, cans, aerosols, foil, food and drink cartons, plastic bottles, pots, tubs, and trays. | Every 3 weeks |
For the full list of what's accepted, check the Aberdeenshire Council website.
Tips
How do I look up a different address?
Tap or click the Fan's Yer Bin? title at the top of the page to clear your current results and start a fresh search.
Does it remember my address?
Yes. After your first search, your address is saved locally in your browser. On your next visit, the app loads your schedule automatically — no typing needed. To switch address, tap the title to reset, then search again.
Share vs Copy Link — what's the difference?
Share (on mobile) opens your phone's native share sheet. It includes a pre-written message — e.g. “Fan's Yer Bin? Next lift: Mixed Recycling on Tuesday 8 April.” — along with the link. Great for sending straight to WhatsApp, Messages, or email.
Copy Link silently copies the bare URL to your clipboard, with no extra text. Use this if you want to paste the link somewhere yourself.
Shared links include your address's UPRN (a public property reference number) in the URL, so whoever opens the link sees the same schedule — no postcode required.
What does Save Image do?
Tap Save Image to download a shareable card showing your next bin collection dates. Handy for setting as a wallpaper, printing, or sharing on social media.
Can I switch between light and dark mode?
Yes. The app defaults to dark mode but respects your device's system preference on first load. Tap the sun/moon icon in the corner to switch. Your preference is remembered.
Can I install it on my phone?
Fan's Yer Bin? works as a Progressive Web App. You can install it to your home screen for instant access — no App Store required.
- iPhone / iPad: open the site in Safari, tap the Share button (square with arrow), then tap Add to Home Screen.
- Android: open in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, then tap Add to Home Screen or Install App.
- Desktop Chrome / Edge: look for the install icon in the address bar.
Once installed, the app opens in its own window without browser chrome — fast and focused.
Sharing your collection day
Can I share my bin schedule with a family member?
Yes. Tap Share or Copy Link on the results page and send the link to anyone. When they open it, they'll see the same schedule for your address — they don't need to know the postcode or enter anything.
Is it safe to share the link?
The link contains your property's UPRN — a publicly available reference number assigned by Ordnance Survey to every addressable property in the UK. It's linked to an address, not a person. Anyone with the link can see the bin collection dates for that address, nothing more.
Can I share a schedule for a different address?
Yes — look up the address you want to share, then use Share or Copy Link from those results. The link is always for whichever address is currently showing.
Privacy
Does the app track me?
No. No tracking cookies, no device fingerprinting, no user-level data collected. Your address is saved locally on your device so the app can load your schedule automatically next time — it never leaves your browser.
For the full detail on what's stored, how caching works, and third-party services, see the Transparency Statement.
Accuracy and edge cases
The dates shown don't match my council letter — why?
The most common cause is a bank holiday: councils often shift collections by a day or two around bank holidays and not all systems update at the same time. Check the official council website for bank holiday collection changes.
If the dates are consistently wrong, the council may have updated their scheduling system and it's filtering through. Wait a few hours and try again.
What if my postcode isn't found?
Double-check the postcode. If it's correct but the app can't find it, there are a few possibilities:
- The postcode is in a different council area (not Aberdeen City or Aberdeenshire).
- It's a very new postcode not yet in the lookup data.
- Temporary issue with the postcode lookup service — try again in a few minutes.
What if my address isn't in the list?
Address lookups come from the council's systems. If your address is missing, it may not yet be registered in their scheduling system — this can happen with new-builds. Contact your council directly to register for collections.
I moved house — can I look up my new address?
Yes. Tap the title to reset, search your new postcode, and pick your new address. If you want to save it, the app will update automatically.
What about bank holiday collections?
Both councils adjust collections around Scottish bank holidays. The app reflects whatever the council's system currently shows — but for confirmed bank holiday changes, always check the official council website.
Devices and accessibility
Does it work on a phone?
Yes — the app is designed mobile-first. It works on any modern smartphone browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Samsung Internet) and on tablets and desktops too.
Does it work offline?
Partially. If you've loaded your schedule within the last 6 hours, the cached dates will show without an internet connection. Looking up new addresses or refreshing past the cache window requires a connection.
Does it support screen readers?
Yes. The app uses semantic HTML and proper ARIA labels. If you encounter an accessibility issue, email fitlike@fansyerbin.scot.
Is there an Android or iOS app?
No separate app — but you can add Fan's Yer Bin? to your home screen for an app-like experience. See the Installing the app section above.
Support and contact
Something's broken — how do I report it?
Email fitlike@fansyerbin.scot with your postcode area (e.g. AB15) and what you expected to see.
Is this an official council service?
No. Fan's Yer Bin? is an independent project — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Aberdeen City Council or Aberdeenshire Council. For official information, contact your council directly.
Who made it?
A developer in Aberdeen who got fed up clicking through council websites every fortnight. If it saves you time too, consider buying me a coffee.