Household Refuse Collections
What can I put in my bin or rubbish bags?
We only collect normal household rubbish. This includes things like food scraps, some plastic packaging and items that can't be collected for recycling.
Your household rubbish should be put in your bin or black bag. If your bin is full, we will collect excess bin bags. Please make sure these bin bags are securely tied and put next to your bin, ready for collection. Please only place any bin bags out on your day of collection, or the night before.
If you find that your communal bin store is full and you are unable to deposit your rubbish within it, please contact us on 020 7525 2000, or email environment@southwark.gov.uk.
What about the things I can't put in my rubbish bins?
If you need to throw away bulky items like fridges, furniture and mattresses, we will collect them for free with the bulky waste collection service.
Reduce your refuse
You can help us cut down the amount of waste we put in landfill sites by reducing the amount of rubbish you produce and by recycling. Southwark provides a range of services that make recycling easy. Find out how to recycle.
Household refuse collection service
What you can expect?
- Your collection will be done on the same day each week
- The contents of your bin and any extra household refuse will be collected
- Collectors will put your bin back within the boundary of your property after emptying it
- Every effort will be made to avoid dropping refuse. Any spillage will be cleared up
- Collectors will be polite and helpful
- Every effort will be made to empty your bin without damaging it, but if it is damaged, we'll replace it for free
Check household refuse collection days
Find out your refuse collection day using the street service search.
Please note that there may be more than one collection day for your street or block. In which case the street will come up more than once on the street service search. Different sections of some roads may be collected on different days, especially longer roads in the borough such as Old Kent Road. Please be sure to read the information carefully.
If you have problems using the street service search, please call 020 7525 2000, or email environment@southwark.gov.uk.
Missed collections
We collect household refuse from Monday to Saturday, between 6am and 7pm. If you think your bin has been missed out, please  report your missed collection online or call us on 020 7525 2000.
You can make sure your refuse is collected by
- Putting your rubbish in your bin the night before your collection
- Putting your bin where the collectors will see it and be able to get to it
Assisted refuse collections
If you are required to move your refuse bin or bags out for collection but a physical problem prevents you from doing this, please contact us on 020 7525 2000 or email environment@southwark.gov.uk.
An officer will contact you to arrange a meeting at your home to set up a system so that you won't be required to move your refuse.
Bin bags
Residents living in certain housing estates do not have wheelie bins because there is not enough space for them. Those area housing offices have arranged for some estates to have a bin bag collection. We will collect the bin bags of residents living on estates where this service is available. If bags are not delivered, you can contact us on 020 7525 2000 or email environment@southwark.gov.uk.
If you don't live on one of these estates and you don't have a wheelie bin, we may still collect your bin bags. In this case, we do not provide bin bags. To find out if we can collect bin bags from you, please call your area housing office. If you have arranged with your area housing office to receive bin bags, we will deliver them to you.
How often are the bin bags delivered and how many do we get?
Depending on how it is set up with your area housing office, we will deliver bin bags weekly, monthly or quarterly, which is equivalent of each property receiving two bags per week.
Who should I call if a delivery is missed?
Please call us on 020 7525 2000, or email environment@southwark.gov.uk.
Identity fraud
Please be aware that to protect yourself from identity fraud you should not throw away or recycle entire bills, receipts, credit or debit card slips, bank statements or even unwanted post in your name. Destroy unwanted documents, preferably by using a shredder or deleting your name, before placing them out for recycling. Here you can find more information about identity fraud.
Contact us
To find out more about household refuse collections, or to make a complaint, please contact us.
Waste management team
Tel: 020 7525 2000
environment@southwark.gov.uk
Manor Place Depot
30-34 Penrose Street
London
SE17 3DW
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