Common Questions
Bins, the tip, bus fares, the tram, renting and who to ring — straight answers with verified numbers.
Straight answers to the things people in Leeds actually ask — bins, the tip, buses, renting, and who to ring when something goes wrong.
Which day are my bins collected?
Look up your address at leeds.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/check-your-bin-day — collection days vary street by street, so the postcode lookup is the only reliable answer.
Leeds uses three bins: black for general waste, green for recycling (glass goes in there too), and brown for garden waste. If your bin gets missed, report it on the council site — but wait until after 5pm on collection day, because crews run until then.
Is the council adding a fourth bin, or fining people for bin mistakes?
No to both — the council said so publicly in January 2026 after rumours spread. The three-bin system stays, and no new fines are being introduced.
What is happening: a food-waste trial started in Wetherby and Collingham in early 2026. Food scraps go in the brown bin (with a free kitchen caddy), and brown bins in the trial area are collected year-round. If it works, it will be rolled out across the city.
Do I need to book a slot to use the tip?
No. Some out-of-date websites still claim Leeds tips need a booked appointment — they don't. If you arrive in a car (or on a bike), you just turn up at any of the eight household waste recycling centres: Kirkstall, Meanwood, Middleton, Otley (Ellar Ghyll), Pudsey, Seacroft, Wetherby (Thorp Arch) or Yeadon.
Two real rules to know: vans, pickups and trailers need a permit (free, from leeds.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/waste-permit-scheme), and there are limits and charges on some DIY waste like rubble, plasterboard and tyres. Hours vary by site — check the council page before a special trip.
How much is the bus — and who do I complain to when it doesn't turn up?
Single fares across West Yorkshire are capped under the Mayor's Fares scheme — £2.50 a single, £6 for a day ticket (set 30 March 2025 and since extended through the franchising transition; the £6 DaySaver is the listed price on wymetro.com as of June 2026).
Until franchising arrives, buses are run by private companies — mostly First Bus in Leeds — so complaints about a specific service go to the operator. From May 2027 the first routes move under public control as the Weaver Network (one of the two Leeds zones is in the first wave), and by late 2028 every bus in West Yorkshire should be franchised. At that point service complaints finally land with the Combined Authority.
Is Leeds actually getting a tram this time?
Honest answer: it's planned, it's funded in stages, and the dates slipped again in December 2025. The current proposal is two lines — St James's Hospital through the city centre to White Rose, and Leeds to Bradford. The mayor's pledge to get 'spades in the ground' on early works by 2028 still stands, but after a government review said the business case must be finished before planning work, the official opening moved from the mid-2030s to the late 2030s.
Leeds has watched Supertram (cancelled 2005) and the trolleybus (cancelled 2016) get this far before, so scepticism is reasonable. Another route consultation is due in 2026 — wymetro.com and the council's mass transit page carry the official updates, and the Transport Changes tool on this site tracks the dates.
I rent. What did the Renters' Rights Act change for me?
Since 1 May 2026, 'no-fault' Section 21 evictions are abolished and fixed-term tenancies have become rolling (periodic) ones — your landlord now needs a legal ground to end your tenancy, and rent rises follow a set process you can challenge.
If you get an eviction notice or a sudden rent increase, get advice before doing anything: Citizens Advice Leeds (0808 278 7878, weekdays 9–5) or the council's private-tenant pages at leeds.gov.uk/housing/help-for-private-tenants.
I'm about to lose my home. Who do I call?
Leeds Housing Options: 0113 222 4412, Monday to Friday 9am–4pm (from 10am on Tuesdays). Call as early as you can — the council can do far more before you lose your home than after.
Outside office hours, the emergency line is 0113 378 8366. If you're worried about someone sleeping rough, ring the street outreach team on 0113 245 9445.
How do I find an NHS dentist taking new patients?
Use the NHS 'Find a dentist' search (nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist) and phone practices marked as taking new NHS patients — availability changes weekly, and in a city the size of Leeds places do open up, so it's worth ringing several.
For urgent dental problems when you don't have a dentist, call NHS 111 — they can book urgent dental slots directly.
How do I get flood warnings for my street?
Sign up free at gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings — warnings come by phone, text or email for your specific area. The Flood Watch tool on this site shows what's in force around Leeds right now, plus live river levels on the Aire and the becks.
During a flood, Floodline is 0345 988 1188. If water threatens life, call 999.
Money is short. Where can I get real help?
Citizens Advice Leeds is free and confidential: 0808 278 7878, Monday to Friday 9–5, for benefits, debt, housing and work problems. For energy bills specifically, their Energy Affordability line covers West Yorkshire on 0800 448 0721.
For food, Leeds has two Trussell foodbank networks — Leeds South & East and Leeds North & West. Both work on referrals; their websites explain how to get a voucher quickly, and Citizens Advice can refer you too.