Check Your Higgins Bin Day, Plan and Account Before Collection Morning
Higgins Waste & Recycling provides household waste, recycling and food-waste collections in Kerry. Its current household service says all three bins are collected on the same day, once every fortnight.
This guide explains how to confirm your collection day, compare the PAYG and six-month plans, sort the three bins correctly, deal with a missed or contaminated bin and contact Higgins when your account needs a live answer.
Independent information guide — not Higgins Waste & Recycling and not a Kerry County Council service.
Quick answer: when does Higgins collect?
Higgins states that household waste, recycling and food-waste bins are collected on the same day once every fortnight.
Your exact weekday depends on your own route. Higgins says household customers receive a text reminder two days before collection showing the collection day and account balance.
Do not use a copied county calendar
A single public Kerry-wide Higgins route calendar was not available during this research. Use your Higgins reminder, domestic account or customer service for your actual address.
Public holidays, weather and route changes can alter normal collections, so check current messages before leaving bins out.
Higgins Waste & Recycling Bin Collection Schedule 2026
The useful part of the Higgins schedule is the cycle: household bins are normally collected together on the same assigned day every two weeks. The exact weekday is route-specific, so a generic “Kerry collection calendar” should not be used as proof of your next collection.
1. Watch for the reminder
Higgins says PAYG customers receive a text message two days in advance showing the collection day and account balance.
2. Check your account
Use the Higgins domestic Web Access portal for account information. New users can register using an account number and the surname attached to the account.
3. Confirm unusual weeks
Check Higgins communications around public holidays, Christmas, severe weather or other temporary service changes.
Simple household routine: once Higgins confirms your day, mark every second week on a calendar. Keep the text reminder enabled because temporary changes can override that normal pattern.
What happens around public holidays?
Higgins’ Customer Charter says domestic customers should be told at least 10 days in advance about predictable alternative collection arrangements such as public-holiday changes. It also says customers will receive relevant information about temporary changes caused by adverse weather.
Do not assume Monday moves to Tuesday. Holiday arrangements can vary. Use the operator’s actual notice for that week rather than shifting the schedule yourself.
Higgins Waste Prices: PAYG and Six-Month Household Plans
Higgins currently publishes two household charging structures: Pay As You Go and a six-month package. Its household page also states that mixed-waste and recycling rates increased from February 2026 and that the monthly service charge increased by €1.
| Plan / charge | Current published detail | What the customer should check |
|---|---|---|
| PAYG service charge | €16 per month, automatically deducted from the bin account on the first of the month. | Keep enough account credit available before collection. |
| PAYG 240L bin set | €60 for 240L waste, 240L recycling and 25L food-waste bins. | These bins are purchased under the PAYG option. |
| PAYG 140L bin set | €50 for 140L waste, 140L recycling and 25L food-waste bins. | Useful for lower-volume households where available. |
| 240L six-month plan | €194 every six months with a stated 300kg waste-bin allowance. | Ask how excess weight is billed before signing up. |
| 140L six-month plan | €155 every six months with a stated 300kg waste-bin allowance. | Confirm the current contract period and excess-weight rate. |
Published per-kilogram wording needs confirmation: Higgins’ live household page displays waste as “0.285 cent per kg”, recycling as “0.13 cent per kg” and food as “0.15 cent per kg”. Because that unit presentation is ambiguous, this independent guide does not silently convert those figures. Confirm the exact euro/cent billing rate with Higgins before comparing costs or switching provider.
Higgins lists online payment, Payzone payment in a local shop and telephone payment for PAYG customers.
PAYG or Half-Yearly: Which Higgins Plan Fits the Household?
The better plan depends on household size, how much residual waste you produce, whether you prefer predictable six-month billing and how carefully you separate recycling and food waste. The lowest headline fee is not automatically the lowest final cost.
PAYG may suit you when
- You want charges to follow the amount of waste presented.
- You are comfortable maintaining account credit.
- You understand the monthly service charge and weight-based elements.
- You are willing to purchase the initial bin set.
Six-month billing may suit you when
- You prefer a larger scheduled payment rather than monthly service charging.
- You can stay within the included residual-waste allowance.
- You want the listed bins provided as part of the package.
- You have confirmed how excess weight will be charged.
Before switching: give Higgins your Eircode/address, household size and typical waste volume and ask for the full current price structure. Exact address coverage and account terms matter more than a generic Kerry comparison.
How to Use the Higgins Waste Domestic Account Portal
The Higgins Web Access page supports existing account login and new-user registration. Registration asks for the Higgins account number and the surname held on the account.
Find your account number
Use a Higgins bill, statement or customer communication. Do not create a second account if you are unsure which account number belongs to your address.
Open Web Access
Use the official Higgins domestic account portal rather than a third-party payment page.
Register if needed
Enter the account number and surname exactly as Higgins has them recorded.
Use support if the details fail
If registration or login still fails, contact Higgins with your address, account number if known, phone number and account-holder name.
What Goes in Higgins Waste, Recycling and Food-Waste Bins?
Higgins provides separate residual/mixed-waste, dry-recycling and food-waste containers. For everyday sorting, use Ireland’s three-bin rules together with any Higgins label supplied on your own bins.
Recycling bin
Use it for mixed dry recyclables such as clean, dry and loose paper, cardboard, plastic packaging, tins and cans.
Food / brown bin
Use it for accepted food waste such as raw and cooked food, peelings, leftovers, meat, fish, dairy, coffee grounds and suitable organic material.
Higgins also tells customers that an additional food caddy can be requested by email.
Residual waste bin
Use it for ordinary household material that cannot be recycled or composted. Do not treat it as a route for hazardous, electrical or liquid waste.
Cost-control tip: Higgins specifically encourages customers to use the food-waste caddy. Keeping food out of the residual bin also makes the three-bin system work as intended.
What if the recycling bin is contaminated?
Higgins’ Customer Charter states that when incorrect waste is found in a bin — its example is food waste in the recycling bin — a sticker can be placed on the bin. The contaminated material must be removed, and the bin is then collected on the next collection run.
This can mean waiting another fortnight. Check the sticker and remove the specific problem material instead of simply putting the same bin back out unchanged.
Items Higgins Says Must Not Go in Household Wheelie Bins
The Higgins wheelie-bin agreement specifically excludes several waste types from normal household bins. These need an appropriate recycling, specialist or hazardous-waste route instead.
| Do not place in wheelie bins | Examples | Better next step |
|---|---|---|
| Hazardous waste | Chemicals, paints, solvents and asbestos. | Ask Higgins or the relevant local-authority route before moving the material. |
| Batteries and electronics | Batteries, computers, monitors, vapes and other e-waste. | Use authorised WEEE/battery or recycling-centre routes. |
| Medical / biohazard waste | Sharps, infectious waste and medical waste. | Use the specialist disposal route appropriate to the item. |
| Liquids and dangerous substances | Oils, liquids, flammables and explosives. | Do not pour them into a normal bin; verify a specialist route first. |
Do not hide restricted waste inside black bags. Apart from contamination and service problems, batteries, chemicals and flammable materials can create serious collection and processing risks.
Higgins Bin Not Collected? Check These Before Calling
A missed collection does not always mean the truck skipped the address. Use this short check first, then contact Higgins if nothing explains the problem.
Confirm the actual collection day
Check the Higgins text reminder and any holiday or weather notice. Do not rely only on a fortnightly date you calculated months ago.
Look for a contamination sticker
If the bin contains the wrong material, Higgins may leave it until the incorrect items are removed.
Check access
The wheelie-bin agreement requires clear and safe access for collection. Make sure a parked vehicle, locked gate or unsafe placement did not block the bin.
Check account and payment status
If you use PAYG, confirm that the account is active and adequately funded. The Customer Charter says service can be suspended for unpaid outstanding bills.
Report the problem
Call Higgins on 066 7123059 or use the relevant contact route. Keep your account number, address, collection date and bin type ready.
Useful call script: “My Higgins account number is ____. My address is ____. My ____ bin was due on ____. There is no contamination sticker and access was clear. Can you check the route and tell me the next action?”
The Higgins complaints procedure says genuine complaints are logged against the customer’s account with a tracking facility so the issue can be followed through to resolution.
Where Does Higgins Waste & Recycling Operate?
Higgins describes its domestic and commercial waste services as operating in Kerry, with its headquarters at The Kerries in Tralee. That county-level statement should not be treated as proof that every rural road, apartment development or new address is automatically on an active household route.
Existing customer
Use your account and reminder to confirm your route. Your active Higgins account is more reliable than a general service-area description.
New customer
Give Higgins the exact address or Eircode and ask them to confirm household coverage, first collection date, bin sizes and current plan before paying.
If you are comparing Kerry providers, you can also read the independent KWD Recycling collection and price guide. Compare verified address coverage and full charging structures rather than company names alone.
Higgins Recycling Centres in Tralee and Listowel
Some items that should never be placed in household wheelie bins can instead use an appropriate drop-off route. Higgins operates recycling facilities in Tralee and Listowel, but acceptance and charges still depend on the item.
| Location | Address | Published hours | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tralee Recycling Centre | The Kerries, Tralee, V92 Y519 | Mon–Fri 8:00–17:30; Sat 8:00–16:30 | 066 7123059 |
| Listowel Recycling Centre | Unit 16, Listowel Business Park, Clieveragh Industrial Estate, Listowel, V31 KN34 | Tue–Fri 8:00–17:00; Sat 8:00–16:00 | 068 37077 |
Higgins lists clean, dry and segregated household cardboard, electrical items, fluorescent tubes/bulbs, glass jars and bottles, aluminium and steel food cans, used clothing and metal among its free recycling categories.
Drop-off and kerbside rules are different. An item accepted at a Higgins recycling centre is not automatically allowed in a Higgins household wheelie bin.
Higgins Waste Contact Number, Email and Tralee Address
| Need | Verified route | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Main customer service | 066 7123059 | Account number, address/Eircode and reason for calling. |
| General email | info@higginswaste.ie | Account holder, address and clear request. |
| Complaint / account issue | info@higginsenvironmental.ie | Dates, bin type, account number and what happened. |
| Headquarters | The Kerries, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 Y519 | Do not travel for an account issue unless Higgins asks you to. |
| Published office hours | Mon–Fri 8:00–17:30; Sat 8:00–16:30 | Check holiday changes before travelling. |
Waste collection permit
The Higgins Customer Charter identifies its National Waste Collection Permit Office permit as NWCPO-12-05687-07. Permit information is useful when verifying a waste collector, but it does not tell you your personal collection day or account status.
Cancelling Higgins or Changing Waste Provider
The current Higgins Customer Charter says customers wishing to terminate service should give 30 days’ notice by email, in writing or by phone. It says company-owned bins are removed by arrangement and that any remaining balance, after any applicable cancellation charge, is refunded within 30 days of the termination notice.
The separate wheelie-bin agreement also refers to one month’s notice. If you purchased your PAYG bin set, ownership and return arrangements can differ from rented/provided equipment, so ask Higgins what applies to your account before switching.
Before changing provider: ask for your final balance, cancellation charge if applicable, bin-collection arrangement and written confirmation that the account is settled. The Customer Charter says confirmation of full payment can be provided for a new provider when requested.
Higgins Waste & Recycling FAQ 2026
How often does Higgins Waste collect household bins?
Higgins’ current household service states that its household bins are collected on the same day once every fortnight. Your exact weekday depends on your route.
How do I find my Higgins bin collection day?
Check the Higgins text reminder sent before collection, your domestic account information and any temporary service notices. If the date is still unclear, call Higgins on 066 7123059 with your account number and address.
Does Higgins collect all three bins on the same day?
Yes. Higgins currently says its waste, recycling and food-waste household bins are collected on the same day as part of the normal fortnightly service.
What is the Higgins PAYG monthly service charge in 2026?
The current household page lists a €16 monthly service charge for PAYG customers. Weight-related charges also apply, so check Higgins’ live pricing before calculating the total cost.
How much are Higgins’ six-month household plans?
Higgins currently lists €194 every six months for the 240L option and €155 every six months for the 140L option, each with a stated 300kg waste-bin allowance. Confirm current excess-weight billing before signing up.
What should I do if my Higgins bin was not collected?
Confirm the collection day, look for a contamination sticker, check safe access and your account/payment status, then contact Higgins if nothing explains the missed collection. Keep your account number, address, date and bin type ready.
What happens if the wrong waste is in my Higgins recycling bin?
Higgins’ Customer Charter says a contaminated bin can be stickered and left. Remove the incorrect material and the bin can then be collected on the next collection run.
Can batteries and electrical items go in Higgins household bins?
No. Higgins’ wheelie-bin terms list batteries and electronic waste among prohibited household-bin materials. Use an authorised battery, WEEE or suitable recycling-centre route instead.
What is the Higgins Waste contact number?
The main published customer contact number is 066 7123059. Higgins’ headquarters is at The Kerries, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 Y519.
Is RecyclingCentreIreland.org the official Higgins Waste website?
No. RecyclingCentreIreland.org is an independent information guide. Use higginswaste.ie and the Higgins domestic account portal for live prices, account balances, collection changes and service decisions.
Official Sources Checked for This Higgins Waste Guide
- Higgins Waste — Household Collection for current plans, collection frequency, payment methods and text reminders.
- Higgins Domestic Web Access for customer account access.
- Higgins Contact Page for the main phone number, address, email and published hours.
- Higgins Recycling Centres for Tralee/Listowel locations and free recycling categories.
- Higgins Customer Charter for service standards, contamination procedure, communication, complaints and termination.
- Wheelie Bin and Regular Collection Agreement for equipment use, prohibited waste and safe-access rules.
- MyWaste Three-Bin System for national household sorting guidance.
Prices, routes, collection dates and operating arrangements can change. Use Higgins directly for live account-specific decisions.
Best Next Step for a Higgins Customer
If you already have a Higgins account, check the text reminder or domestic portal before bin night. If you are considering signing up, confirm your exact Kerry address, current plan pricing, bin sizes, first collection date and the precise per-kilogram billing units before paying.
Independent information guide: RecyclingCentreIreland.org is not Higgins Waste & Recycling, Kerry County Council or the National Waste Collection Permit Office.