Madaffald (food waste)
Green container and green compostable bags
Food scraps, peelings and coffee filters, turned into biogas and fertiliser. Often collected fortnightly.
Denmark
🇩🇰 Never miss bin day again
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How it works
Three simple steps to never miss bin day again
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Check your address
Enter your address and we'll find your council's collection schedule.
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Never miss bin day
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Never forget collection day – your municipality's collection calendar
BinMinder keeps track of when to put your bin at the kerb, whatever waste scheme your municipality uses.
In Denmark, municipalities collect household waste through their municipal waste and recycling schemes. Since the 2021 waste reform, every household has had to separate waste into several streams, and many municipalities have moved from two bins to ten or more containers. Remembering which container is collected in which week can be difficult, especially when each municipality has its own timetable and collection calendar.
The most common streams are food waste, which is turned into biogas and fertiliser, and residual waste, which is typically incinerated with energy recovery. Other streams include paper, plastic, metal and drinks cartons, glass, and textile waste in a number of municipalities. Bin colours vary considerably between municipalities, but food waste is often collected in a green bin or green bags, while residual waste goes in a grey or black container.
Some municipalities collect glass and paper less frequently than the other streams, and bulky and hazardous waste usually has to be taken to the local genbrugsstation recycling centre. Frequency depends on the municipality and type of home. Many places collect food and residual waste fortnightly, often in alternating weeks. A reminder on your phone means you will not be left with a full bin for another two weeks.
Restaffald (residual waste)
Grey or black container
Waste that cannot be separated, typically sent for incineration with energy recovery. Often collected fortnightly, alternating with food waste.
Papir (paper)
Blue or white container
Newspapers, magazines and clean cardboard without a plastic coating. Often collected every four weeks.
Plast og drikkekartoner (plastic and drinks cartons)
Yellow container or clear sack
Plastic packaging and milk and juice cartons. Rinse them lightly. Usually collected every two or four weeks.
Metal
Compartment in a combined container or small grey container
Tins, lids and empty aluminium packaging. Some municipalities collect these with plastic and glass.
Glas (glass)
White or green container
Bottles and jars without lids. Some municipalities require you to take these to a local glass container.
- Your municipality's collection calendar is on its website. Search by address, or use BinMinder to receive an alert on the evening before collection day.
- Put the bin at the kerb with its handle facing the road, often by 6 or 7 am depending on the municipality.
- Deposit-bearing bottles and cans do not belong in the bin. Return them through a supermarket deposit machine to receive the deposit back.
- Take bulky waste, electronics and hazardous waste such as paint and batteries to a genbrugsstation recycling centre. Many municipalities also offer paid collection.
How often is my bin emptied?
This depends on your municipality and type of home. Many places collect food and residual waste fortnightly, often in alternating weeks, while paper, plastic and glass are collected every four weeks. Check the municipality's collection calendar for your exact schedule.
What should I do if my bin was not emptied?
Contact the municipality's waste company or technical department that day or the next. You can often report a missed collection through the municipal website, and they will collect the bin within a few days.
Where should I take bulky and hazardous waste?
Take both to your local genbrugsstation recycling centre. You can also leave garden waste, scrap metal and electronics there. Some municipalities offer bulky-waste collection; check your municipality's website.
Do I need special bags for food waste?
Yes. Most municipalities require green biodegradable bags for food waste. They are often available free of charge from libraries, municipal service centres or the municipality's ordering website. Ordinary plastic bags must not be used for food waste.
Everything you need for bin day
Free reminders
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The evening before
Plenty of time to put the right bins out.
All your bins
General waste, recycling and garden or food waste.
Works on any device
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Find your council
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Local bin guides
Browse all bin guides →Frequently asked questions
How does BinMinder work?
Enter your address and we'll look up your council's collection schedule. Sign up once to get an email reminder the evening before every collection.
Is BinMinder free?
Yes — checking your collection days is free, and so are email reminders. No app, no account, no fuss.
Which bins are covered?
General waste, recycling and garden or food waste — whatever your council collects kerbside. Check your address to see every upcoming collection.
What if my area isn't covered yet?
We're adding councils all the time. Find yours in the directory above and join the waitlist — we'll email you the moment your area goes live.