Lewisham Bin Help Without Guesswork
Use this guide to check your Lewisham collection day, sort green recycling, black rubbish, grey food waste and brown garden bins, report missed collections correctly, and choose the right bulky, assisted, clinical or recycling-centre route.
No long reading needed. Pick your problem, follow the exact action, then use the official link only when it is the correct next step.
Quick answer: Lewisham kerbside properties normally receive weekly recycling and food waste collections. General waste is every other week, or weekly if the property does not have a food waste service.
Current important alert: Lewisham is asking residents to put bins out by 5.30am instead of 6am until further notice due to hot weather. Collections can happen at any time of day.
Choose your Lewisham waste problem
Tap the option that matches your situation. This gives the correct first action before you open a form.
Collection day and set-out time
Lewisham’s collection day is address-specific. Use the official checker first, then follow the set-out rule for your property type.
| User question | Lewisham answer | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| How do I check my bin day? | Use the official collection day checker. Search by full street name without abbreviations, or by postcode. | Do not enter house or flat number until the tool asks you to select an address. |
| Where are flats listed? | Lewisham says addresses with flats are at the bottom of the list. | Scroll before assuming your address is missing. |
| What is the current put-out time? | Current Lewisham hot-weather notice says put bins out by 5.30am instead of 6am until further notice. | Use 5.30am while the alert is live; otherwise follow the standard before-6am rule. |
| How often is recycling collected? | Weekly for kerbside properties. | Put green recycling bin out every week if scheduled for your address. |
| How often is food waste collected? | Weekly for kerbside properties with the service. | Use the grey outdoor food bin and kitchen caddy correctly. |
| How often is general waste collected? | Every other week, or weekly if there is no food waste service. | Check the address result before assuming your frequency. |
Bins in Lewisham by property type
The right answer depends on whether you live in a house, converted flat, flat above a shop, estate or managed block.
| Property type | What Lewisham provides | Practical rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or flat in a converted property | 180L black wheelie bin for rubbish, 240L green wheelie bin for recycling, 23L silver/grey food waste bin and 5L kitchen caddy. | Label bins with your household number so crews return them correctly. |
| Flat above a shop | Orange sacks for general household waste and clear sacks for recycling, delivered quarterly, usually in March, June, September and December. | Request extra sacks if your quarterly supply is not enough. |
| Blocks of flats and estates | Large blue rubbish bins and green recycling bins in communal bin areas. Bigger estates may have more than one bin area. | Use the correct communal bin and keep the floor clear. |
| Privately managed block | Managing agents or landlords should contact Lewisham about communal missed collections. | Use recycle@lewisham.gov.uk for communal bin missed-collection issues. |
| Property with no food waste listed | Food waste may not be available at that address yet. | Check your address result; Lewisham says food waste will be introduced to more properties. |
What goes in each Lewisham bin
Use this table to avoid contamination, red tags and missed collections. The “do not put in” column is the most important part.
| Container | Put in | Do not put in | Exact habit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green recycling bin or clear sacks |
Paper, magazines, newspapers, envelopes, catalogues, glass bottles and jars with lids on, clean cans, flattened cardboard, egg cartons, cardboard rolls, plastic drinks bottles with lids on, shampoo/cleaning bottles and cleaned plastic food containers. | Black bag rubbish, nappies, pet waste, food waste, garden waste, furniture, tissues, plastic bags, cling film, bubble wrap, crisp packets, textiles, window glass, Pyrex, masks, gloves, batteries or small electricals. | Keep recycling clean. Do not use plastic bags inside the recycling bin. |
| Black rubbish bin or blue communal rubbish bin |
Household rubbish and items that cannot be recycled. | Batteries, car/cooking oil, gas canisters, DIY waste, rubble, liquids, metal, recyclable items, food waste, textiles, small electricals, garden waste, furniture, paint, chemicals and car batteries. | Use this only for non-recyclable household waste. |
| Grey food waste bin and 5L kitchen caddy |
Fruit/vegetable waste, food scraps cooked or uncooked, bread, cheese, egg shells, tea bags and coffee grounds. | Nappies, garden waste, soil, household waste, packaging, cartons, liquids, milk, oil, liquid fat, plastics, bin liners, stones, rubble, tissue, kitchen towel, cat litter and dog poo. | Line the caddy with a clear bag or newspaper; do not use normal plastic bin liners. |
| Brown garden waste bin paid subscription |
Grass cuttings, weeds, small branches and twigs, fallen fruit, flowers, hedge trimmings, leaves and plants. Branches must be up to 10cm thick and 50cm long. | Japanese knotweed and other harmful weeds, soil, rubble, food waste, general waste, plastic bags or heavy overfilled loads. | Show the valid purple sticker and keep the bin under 20kg. |
| Orange sacks for some flats above shops |
General household waste where there is no wheelie-bin space. | Recycling, food waste, garden waste, large items, electricals, hazardous waste and clinical waste. | Use orange sacks for rubbish and clear sacks for recycling. |
Missed collection decision tree
Lewisham has a strict reporting window. Use this before you submit a missed collection report.
Red tag or contaminated recycling
A red tag is not the same as a missed collection. It means the bin contains incorrect items.
Remove wrong items
Check for food waste, nappies, plastic bags, tissues, textiles, batteries, small electricals, garden waste or dirty cardboard.
Clean and separate
Rinse containers, flatten clean cardboard, and keep plastic bags or cling film out of the recycling bin.
Wait for next date
Put the corrected bin out on your next scheduled collection date. Lewisham will not treat a red-tagged bin as missed.
Garden waste subscription in Lewisham
Garden waste is a paid annual service. It is useful if you regularly produce grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings and small branches.
| Garden waste point | Lewisham 2026/27 detail | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription year | Weekly garden waste collections run between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. | Renew or sign up for the current subscription year. |
| Annual cost | £100.63 per year for 52 weekly collections of a 240L green waste bin. | Confirm the final cost at checkout before paying. |
| Sticker colour | The 2026/2027 permit sticker is purple and must be visible from the road. | Affix the sticker to the back of the bin on a clean surface. |
| New customers | New customers receive a 240L brown bin within 10 working days, though high demand can affect this. | Do not expect immediate collection before the bin/sticker arrives. |
| Sticker delay | Stickers can take up to 10 working days to arrive. | Email gardenwaste@lewisham.gov.uk if you paid but did not receive the sticker. |
| Collection rules | Put the bin out by the correct collection time, keep it at the edge of your property, do not overfill it, and keep it under 20kg. | Keep extra garden waste until the next collection. |
| Accepted garden waste | Grass, weeds, leaves, flowers, plants, fallen fruit, hedge trimmings, twigs and branches up to 10cm thick and 50cm long. | Keep branches within the size limit. |
| Not accepted | Japanese knotweed and other harmful weeds are not accepted. | Use official invasive weed disposal guidance. |
Bulky waste collection: cost, days and rules
Use bulky waste for household large items that cannot go out with regular waste. Reuse or donation may be better if the item is still usable.
Mattresses
Any size mattress is listed at £5 each.
Other large items
Items such as carpets, chairs, beds or sofas are listed at £5 each.
Fridge/freezer
Fridges or freezers are listed at £25. American-style or double-door units are not collected.
No refund
The collection fee is non-refundable, even if you cancel before collection.
| Bulky rule | What Lewisham says | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Before booking | Try donation, reuse, Freecycle, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, Anglo Doorstep Collection or Landmann Way if suitable. | Do not pay for collection if a reusable route is available. |
| Where to leave items | Stack items neatly at the edge of your property, next to the pavement but within your boundary, the night before collection. | Keep items visible, safe and accessible. |
| Inside properties | Lewisham does not collect from inside properties and cannot help carry items outside. | Move items out yourself before the collection date. |
| Flats and blocks | Leave items at the front of the building, or in an unlocked bin chamber if your block does not allow items outside. Tell Lewisham the location when booking. | If crews cannot see or reach the items, you will not get a refund. |
| Extra items | Lewisham only removes items you told them about. | Submit a new request for additional items. |
| Carpet | One carpet must be rolled, tied and manageable by two people. Underlay counts separately. | Prepare carpets before collection day. |
| Business waste | Large item collections are for household waste only. | Businesses must use licensed waste carriers. |
New bins, bigger bins, damage and repairs
Use this when the problem is a missing, lost, damaged, removed or unsuitable container.
| Need | Lewisham detail | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement rubbish bin | 180L black wheelie bin, £30 administration cost. | Order if you live in a house or flat in a converted house. |
| Replacement recycling bin | 240L green wheelie bin, £30 administration cost, but new recycling bin orders are temporarily paused due to high demand. | Check the live page before placing or chasing an order. |
| Food waste bin | 23L grey outdoor food bin and 5L kitchen caddy, free. | Order if you are a kerbside property and need a food waste container. |
| Garden waste bin | 240L brown wheelie bin with annual subscription. Replacement bin is listed at £30. | Use the garden waste subscription route. |
| Bigger rubbish bin | Lewisham can provide a larger rubbish bin in exceptional circumstances if criteria are met. | Explain the need clearly and show recycling/food waste is being used correctly. |
| Bin damaged by collection | For kerbside properties, if Lewisham damages a bin during collection they leave a postcard and automatically schedule repair/replacement. | No need to report if a postcard has been left. |
| Lost or self-damaged bin | If you damaged or lost your bin, you need to order a new bin. | Use the official order page. |
| Flats and estates | For flats and estates, contact recycle@lewisham.gov.uk. | Include block name, bin area, container type and photo if possible. |
Flats, estates and communal bin areas
Communal bins fail when the floor is blocked, wrong items are dumped, or bulky items are left without a booking.
Use the correct communal bin
Blocks and estates normally have large blue rubbish bins and green recycling bins. Bigger estates may have more than one bin area.
Keep floors clear
Lewisham says rubbish left on the floor or on top of bins can attract vermin, cause collection problems and stop other residents using the bins.
Do not dump bulky items
Estate bulky points are for estate residents only. Non-residents leaving items may be treated as fly-tipping and fined.
Landmann Way Reuse and Recycling Centre
Use Landmann Way when an item cannot go in household bins or when you need a reuse/recycling route for large or awkward items.
| Centre detail | Lewisham information | Useful action |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Civic Amenities Site, Landmann Way, London, SE14 5RS. | Check route and loading before you leave. |
| Callback phone | 020 8314 7171. | Use if you need a callback about the reuse and recycling centre. |
| Cars | Sunday–Friday 8am–3.30pm; Saturday 8am–11.30am. | Arrive with enough unloading time. |
| Vans, pedestrians and bikes | Sunday–Friday 8am–3pm, last entry 3pm; Saturday 8am–11am, last entry 11am. | Check vehicle rules before using a van. |
| Hired vans | Hired vans can be accepted if evidence of hire, ID and proof of address are provided. | Bring documents before you queue. |
| Vehicles not accepted | Commercial-signage vans, pickup trucks, minibuses and trailers are not accepted. | Use the correct vehicle or disposal route. |
Clinical, hazardous and awkward waste
Do not guess with clinical, healthcare, hazardous or oily waste. Some items are unsafe or illegal in normal bins.
| Waste type | Safe route | Do not do this |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical or healthcare waste | Use Lewisham’s clinical and hazardous waste guidance. | Do not put clinical waste or sharps into normal household bins. |
| Cooking oil | Take cooking oil to Landmann Way Reuse and Recycling Centre. | Do not put cooking oil in food waste or pour it down sink, toilet or drain. |
| Gas canisters, cylinders or bottles | Use Landmann Way / official safe route for gas containers. | Do not place gas containers in household bins. |
| Nail polish | Use it up where possible or use hazardous waste guidance because nail varnish is highly flammable. | Do not put hazardous liquids into household rubbish. |
| DIY rubble, oils, chemicals, paint and car batteries | Use hazardous waste or reuse/recycling centre guidance. | Do not put these in black rubbish bins. |
Assisted bin collections
Assisted collection helps residents who cannot place bins at the property boundary because of frailty, disability or physical impairment.
Check eligibility
Lewisham does not provide the service if someone else in your household can place or retrieve the wheelie bin.
Prepare the details
You need your address, why you require help, which containers need help, and where containers are kept.
Make bins easy to access
Crews can only collect bins that are easy to access. Lewisham says they cannot collect bins placed at the rear of a property.
Label your bins
Your house number must be clearly on your bins so crews return them to the correct specified location.
Allow time
Lewisham says it takes 10 working days to arrange assisted waste collections.
Phone script and official links
Use this when you need to speak to the Council or explain the issue clearly in a form.
| Need | Best route | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Collection day callback | 020 8314 7171 | Address, postcode and the container you are asking about. |
| Bulky waste callback | 020 8314 7171 | Item list, ward, collection booking details and whether item is fridge/freezer. |
| Flats, estates and communal bins | recycle@lewisham.gov.uk | Block name, bin area, photos, container type and collection issue. |
| Garden waste subscription issue | gardenwaste@lewisham.gov.uk | Address, subscription status, sticker issue and payment/renewal detail. |
| General council contact | 020 8314 6000 | Use the service route first where possible. |
Simple call or form script
Hello, I’m contacting you about a Lewisham waste collection issue at [full address and postcode]. The container is [black rubbish / green recycling / grey food waste / brown garden waste / communal bin]. It was placed at [edge of property / communal bin area] by [time]. The scheduled collection date was [date]. The issue is [missed / red tag / damaged bin / replacement bin / assisted collection / bulky booking]. Can you confirm the correct next step?
More UK refuse collection guides
Use these related guides only if you manage waste for another London or nearby council area.
Ealing refuse collection
Useful if you need another London borough guide for bin days, missed bins, flats, food waste and bulky waste.
Read Ealing guideBromley borough refuse collection
Helpful for comparing Lewisham rules with a neighbouring south-east London borough.
Read Bromley guideLewisham Refuse Collection FAQs
How do I check my Lewisham bin collection day?
Use Lewisham Council’s official collection day checker. Search by postcode or full street name without abbreviations, then select your address. Flats are usually listed at the bottom of the address list.
What time should I put my bins out in Lewisham?
Lewisham’s standard guidance says bins should be out before 6am, but the current hot-weather notice asks residents to put bins out by 5.30am until further notice.
How do I report a missed bin collection in Lewisham?
Check that it was your scheduled collection day, the bin was at the edge of your property on time, and the bin was not red-tagged. Lewisham says to wait until after 2pm to report a missed collection and to report within 48 hours.
How often does Lewisham collect recycling and food waste?
For kerbside properties, recycling and food waste are collected weekly. General waste is collected every other week, or weekly where there is no food waste service.
What does a red tag on my Lewisham bin mean?
A red tag means the bin contains incorrect items and was not collected. Remove the wrong items and present the bin again on your next scheduled collection date.
What goes in Lewisham green recycling bins?
Green recycling bins can take paper, magazines, newspapers, envelopes, glass bottles and jars, cleaned cans, flattened cardboard, plastic drinks bottles with lids on, plastic shampoo or cleaning bottles, and cleaned plastic food containers.
How much is Lewisham garden waste collection?
Lewisham’s 2026/2027 garden waste subscription costs £100.63 per year for weekly collections of a 240L green waste bin. A valid purple permit sticker must be displayed.
How much is Lewisham bulky waste collection?
Lewisham lists mattresses at £5 each, other large items such as carpets, chairs, beds or sofas at £5 each, and fridges or freezers at £25. American-style or double-door fridges and freezers are not collected.
Where is Lewisham’s reuse and recycling centre?
Lewisham’s Landmann Way Reuse and Recycling Centre is at Civic Amenities Site, Landmann Way, London, SE14 5RS. Opening times differ for cars and vans, pedestrians or bikes.
Can Lewisham help if I cannot move my bins?
Yes. Lewisham can provide assisted collections if frailty, disability or physical impairment means you cannot put bins at the boundary and no one else in your household can do it. It takes about 10 working days to arrange.
Final practical advice
For Lewisham refuse collection, the best routine is simple: check your exact address, put the right bin out on time, keep food waste separate, avoid contaminated recycling, and report missed collections only after the official report window opens.
If the issue is not a normal bin collection, use the correct route: garden waste subscription, bulky item booking, Landmann Way, assisted collection, clinical/hazardous guidance, communal-bin email support or a licensed waste carrier.