Croydon Refuse Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins & Waste

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Croydon bins • missed collections • recycling centres

Croydon Bin Help Without Wrong Reports

Check your Croydon bin day, avoid rejected grey-lid rubbish bins, sort paper/card and container recycling correctly, report missed collections at the right time, and choose the best route for food waste, garden waste, bulky items or recycling centres.

This guide is designed for quick scanning: exact answer first, common mistake next, then the official Croydon link only when it helps you complete the task.

Choose my problem Check bin day Missed collection

Quick answer: Croydon house rubbish is collected once every 2 weeks from the grey-lidded bin. Put black-sacked general rubbish inside the bin, place it at the edge of your property by 6am, and keep the lid closed.

Missed bin rule: report a missed rubbish, recycling, food or garden waste collection within 2 working days, starting at 10pm on the collection day. If the whole street was missed, leave bins out and do not submit a single-property missed report.

Check official bin dates Collection day guide Report rubbish problem

Choose your Croydon waste problem

Tap one option. You will get the correct next step before opening an official form.

Choose one option above to see the best next step.

Bin day and 6am rule

For most Croydon houses, the key rule is simple: correct collection day, correct bin, visible at the property edge, out by 6am, lid closed.

User question Croydon answer Best action
How do I check my collection day? Use Croydon’s official address checker. Check rubbish, recycling, food and garden waste separately.
Can I download a calendar? Yes, Croydon offers latest collection calendar download from the checker. Save it on your phone or print it for the kitchen.
What time should bins go out? By 6am on collection day. Put it out the night before only if it will not block the public highway.
Where should the bin go? At the edge of your property where it meets the public highway, where crews can see it easily. Do not hide it behind cars, walls, locked gates or inside your property.
Can the lid be open? No. Over-filled bins with lids that do not close may not be collected. Remove recycling and food waste first to make space.
What if bad weather disrupts collections? Croydon says to leave bins out and they will be picked up when safe. Check weather/disruption updates before reporting.
Local tip: On Croydon streets with parked cars, flats above shops or narrow front gardens, “visible from the highway” matters. Put the bin at the front edge, not tucked behind a wall or gate.
Open official bin checker Collection day guidance

Which Croydon bin should I use?

Croydon’s system is easiest when you separate four streams: grey-lidded rubbish, paper/card recycling, container recycling and food waste.

Container Use it for Do not use it for Quick rule
Grey-lidded rubbish bin General waste that cannot be recycled, in black sacks inside the bin. Food waste, textiles, batteries, electrical waste, garden waste, DIY waste, recyclables. Collected once every 2 weeks; lid must close.
Blue-lidded bin or paper/card box Paper, card, cardboard, greeting cards, envelopes, junk mail without plastic wrap, newspapers, magazines, directories, shredded paper in paper bag/envelope, wrapping paper without foil. Disposable masks/gloves, foil-backed card, plastic-coated card, soiled food boxes, cartons, till receipts. Keep paper/card dry.
Grey or green-lidded recycling bin/box Cartons, glass bottles/jars, tins, cans, empty aerosols, foil trays, metal lids, plastic bottles, food trays, punnets, yoghurt/margarine/ice-cream tubs. Drinking glasses, Pyrex, mirrors, sheet glass, crisp bags, food film, plastic bags, pouches, toothpaste tubes. Rinse containers, remove lids and squash plastic bottles flat.
Food waste caddy and outdoor container Raw or cooked food, meat, fish, bones, fat, gristle, rice, pasta, beans, dairy, eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds, fruit, veg, bread, cakes and pastries. Plastic bags, packaging, liquids, oil/liquid fat, nappies, pet litter, pet bedding. Put outside container out weekly with recycling before 6am.
Brown garden waste bin Grass, hedge clippings, leaves, plants, small branches no bigger than 30cm long, weeds except Japanese knotweed, twigs, sticks, fallen fruit, flowers and house plants. Bags, sacks, bricks, rubble, soil, plant pots, large branches/logs, wire, string, plastic, metal, liquids, food waste. Paid subscription only; no sacks beside the bin.
Batteries, textiles and shoes Batteries in untied plastic bag; clothes/linens/shoes in tied plastic bag next to or on top of recycling bins/boxes. Car batteries, duvets, pillows, cushions, wet or dirty textiles. Keep separate, not inside rubbish or recycling bins.
Big Croydon mistake: cartons such as Tetrapak do not go with paper/card. Croydon says they go in the grey or green-lidded recycling bin/box.
Official recycling bins guide Official food waste guide Garden waste sorting

Missed collection decision tree

Croydon has different return targets depending on the waste type, so first decide whether it was rubbish, recycling, food waste or garden waste.

Is it before 10pm?
Wait. Croydon’s missed-collection reporting window starts at 10pm on the day of collection.
Was the whole street missed?
Yes → leave waste and recycling out. Croydon says not to report a single missed collection if the whole street was not collected.
Was your bin out by 6am?
No → it may not count as a missed collection.
Was it at the edge of your property?
No → Croydon may not return because the bin must be at the front edge where it meets the public highway.
Was the lid closed and waste correct?
No → Croydon may tag the bin and you may need to wait until the next scheduled collection.
Still genuinely missed?
Report within 2 working days starting at 10pm on collection day. Leave the bin out after reporting.
Return timing: Croydon says missed recycling and food waste are rescheduled for the next working day after reporting if the missed collection was the council’s mistake. Missed rubbish is aimed to be collected by the end of the following weekend.
Report rubbish problem Report recycling problem Report food waste problem

Grey-lidded rubbish bin: what it is really for

Your grey-lidded rubbish bin is collected once every 2 weeks. It is only for waste that cannot be recycled.

Use the grey-lidded bin for

  • General rubbish that cannot go in recycling or food waste.
  • Black-sacked household waste inside the bin.
  • Small non-recyclable household items.
  • Waste left after separating food, paper/card, containers, textiles and batteries.

Do not use it for

  • Food waste.
  • Textiles or shoes.
  • Batteries or electrical waste.
  • Garden waste.
  • DIY waste.
  • Recyclable paper, card, glass, metal, cartons or plastic containers.
Why bins get tagged: Croydon will not collect a rubbish bin if it contains recyclable waste, is not at the front edge of the property, or is over-filled so the lid does not close.
House rubbish collections Report rubbish collection problem

Recycling bins and boxes: paper/card versus containers

Croydon recycling is not “everything recyclable in one bin” for most houses and converted flats. Paper/card has its own route.

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Blue lid / paper box

Paper, card, cardboard, envelopes, newspapers, magazines and shredded paper in a paper bag/envelope.

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Grey or green recycling

Glass bottles/jars, cartons, tins, cans, aerosols, foil, plastic bottles, trays, punnets and tubs.

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Keep out

Food waste, textiles, batteries, electricals, garden waste, DIY waste and non-recyclable rubbish.

Recycling issue Correct Croydon action Common mistake to avoid
Paper/card is wet Keep paper and card dry inside the bin or use a box lid. Do not leave loose paper/card exposed to rain.
Cartons / Tetrapak Put cartons in grey/green recycling, not paper/card. Do not put cartons in the blue-lidded paper/card bin.
Plastic bottles Remove lids and squash bottles flat. Do not leave bottles full-size and full of liquid.
Batteries Place household batteries in an untied plastic bag next to or on top of recycling bins/boxes. Do not put batteries inside the bin.
Textiles and shoes Place clothes, linens and paired shoes in a tied plastic bag next to or on top of recycling bins/boxes. Do not include duvets, pillows or cushions.
Whole street not collected Leave recycling out and wait for crews to try again. Do not file a single-property missed report.
Official recycling bins page Report recycling problem

Food waste caddies: weekly collection and liner rules

Croydon supplies most houses and flats with a kitchen caddy and a larger lockable outside food container.

Food waste accepted

  • Meat and fish.
  • Bones, fat and gristle.
  • Rice, pasta, beans and cereals.
  • Dairy products, eggs and shells.
  • Tea bags and coffee grounds.
  • Fruit, vegetables, salad and peelings.
  • Bread, cakes and pastries.

Food waste not accepted

  • Plastic bags.
  • Food packaging.
  • Liquids.
  • Oil or liquid fat.
  • Nappies.
  • Pet litter or pet bedding.
Food waste task Correct action Helpful detail
Kitchen storage Use the small 7-litre kitchen caddy. You do not have to line it, but lining helps keep it clean.
Allowed liners Use compostable material, old newspaper or kitchen roll. Compostable liners should be certified BS EN 13432:2000.
Outdoor container Empty the kitchen caddy into the larger outside container. Lock the lid to protect food waste from animals.
Collection Put outside food container out every week with recycling before 6am. Do not put food waste in rubbish or recycling bins.
New caddy You can order a small inside caddy, large outside container, or both. Food caddies are supplied free, but Croydon notes there may be delivery delays.
Space tip: If your grey-lidded rubbish bin fills too fast, food waste is often the hidden reason. Use the weekly food caddy before assuming you need a bigger rubbish bin.
Official food waste page How food waste is collected Order food caddy/bin

Garden waste service: cost, rules and missed collections

Croydon garden waste is optional, paid and separate from normal rubbish. It is collected every 2 weeks for subscribers.

Garden waste point Croydon detail Best action
Annual cost £90.10 for one year for one bin. Renew through the email link or sign up again if expired.
Frequency Collected once every 2 weeks. Check garden waste days because they may differ from rubbish/recycling.
Container Only council-provided garden waste bins are collected. No sacks or waste beside the bin.
Presentation Out by 6am, visible, at the border of your property. Do not lock it behind a gate or leave it in the back garden.
Extra capacity Additional garden waste bins cost £90.10 and end with the same subscription date. Order through your garden waste service link.
Missed garden waste Report within 2 working days from 10pm on collection day. If Croydon missed it by mistake, collection is rescheduled within 48 hours after reporting.

Accepted garden waste

  • Grass and hedge clippings.
  • Leaves.
  • Plants.
  • Small branches no bigger than 30cm long.
  • Weeds except Japanese knotweed.
  • Twigs, sticks, fallen fruit, flowers and house plants.

Not accepted

  • Bags or sacks.
  • Bricks, rubble or soil.
  • Plastic plant pots and containers.
  • Large branches or logs.
  • Japanese knotweed.
  • Wire, string, plastic, metal, liquids or food waste.
Bin-lid rule: All garden waste, including branches, must fit inside your brown bin with the lid closed. A heavy, compacted or contaminated garden bin may not be collected.
Pay or renew garden waste What goes in garden bin Report garden waste problem

Bulky waste collection: prices, items and POPs rule

Use bulky waste for large household items that cannot be reused, recycled or transported to a Croydon reuse and recycling centre.

£

1–3 items

£40.40.

£

4–6 items

£65.30.

6

Max per visit

Up to 6 bulky items per visit.

5am

Collection window

Monday to Friday, 5am to 10pm.

Bulky waste point Croydon detail User action
Accepted examples Large appliances, TVs, hi-fi, computers, sofas, armchairs, tables, chairs, bathroom items, bicycles, garden furniture, beds, mattresses, carpets and rugs. List every item exactly when booking.
POPs items Sofas, armchairs, beanbags and cushions may be collected separately from other waste. If mixed with other items, expect a second visit within 10 working days.
Not accepted examples Asbestos, chemicals, gas bottles, glass, mirrors, paints, varnishes, tyres, rubble, earth, soil, plasterboard, broken tiles. Use hazardous waste, retailer return, or reuse/recycling centre route.
Where to place items In front of your home or easily accessible location, not on the public highway, no more than 10m from where the vehicle can stop. If steps lead from the public footpath, place items at the bottom of steps at pavement level.
Amend or cancel Amend up to 2 working days before collection; cancel up to 1 working day before. Use the confirmation email link.
Missed bulky collection Report within 2 working days of expected collection, after 10pm if not collected. Use the email link or call 020 8726 6200 if needed.
Do not add extras: Croydon only collects items booked and paid for. Extra items placed next to bulky waste will not be collected.
Official bulky waste page Bulky waste we collect Bulky waste terms

Bin fees, replacement bins and caddies

Croydon introduced fees for waste and recycling containers on 19 August 2025, but food waste caddies are still supplied free.

Container Listed fee Useful detail
Paper 55L box £8.30 For paper and card where this container is suitable for your property.
Recycling 55L box £8.30 For glass and plastics where a 55L box is supplied.
Refuse 180L bin £40.40 General rubbish bin with grey lid.
Paper 240L bin £34.20 Paper and card wheelie bin.
Recycling 240L bin £34.20 Glass and plastics recycling wheelie bin.
Food waste caddies Free You can order an inside caddy, outside container, or both.
Replacement lids Free Old-style bin parts may not be available because old-style bins are no longer manufactured.
Collection-crew damage/loss May be replaced free after claim. Use the bin or box charge appeal form.
Official bin fees Order food caddy/bin

Flats, estates and flats above shops

Croydon flats do not always use the same system as houses. Check your property type before copying a neighbour’s bin routine.

Property type Croydon detail Best action
Estate or block with more than 5 homes Usually has communal bin sheds. Rubbish is collected weekly. Use communal bins correctly and report bin-store issues through the right route.
Converted flats with fewer than 5 flats Often follow house/converted-flat recycling setup. Use paper/card route and container recycling route correctly.
Flats above shops Night-time waste and recycling collection service runs from 8pm to 5am. Put black-bag rubbish out only for the correct night-time service.
Flats above shops recycling Croydon says it is working on recycling facilities; until then, put recycling with rubbish collection. Check latest building-specific instructions because arrangements may change.
Communal contamination Wrong items in communal recycling can affect everyone in the block. Use clear signs and separate food waste, rubbish and recycling where facilities exist.
Flat-store tip: The most useful sign for communal areas is not a long paragraph. Use three labels: “Paper/card”, “Bottles/cans/plastics/glass”, and “Rubbish only”.
Flats and estates rubbish Flats above shops recycling

Reuse and recycling centres: Factory Lane, Fishers Farm and Purley Oaks

Use Croydon reuse and recycling centres for items that should not go in household bins or that are too large for normal collections.

Site Address Opening pattern Important access note
Factory Lane Factory Lane, West Croydon CR0 3RL. Mon–Sat 7.30am–4.30pm; Sun 8.30am–4pm. Access from the south via Roman Way, A236. No right turn from the other end of Factory Lane.
Fishers Farm North Downs Road, New Addington CR0 0LB. Mon–Fri 8am–4pm; Sat 9am–2pm; Sun 9am–1pm. Pedestrian access is available.
Purley Oaks Brighton Road, South Croydon CR8 2BG. Mon–Sun 8am–3.30pm. Join the queue on Brighton Road A235 north of the site; no access from Purley.
Busy-site tip: Croydon says gates may close earlier at busy times so everyone can leave by closing time. Do not arrive with a full load close to closing.
Official HRRC site list Reuse and recycling centres hub

Assisted bin collections

If no member of your household can move bins to the front of your property for collection, Croydon says you can ask for help.

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Who it helps

Households where nobody can move bins to the front for collection.

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What to explain

Which bins/caddies you need help with and whether the need is temporary or ongoing.

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Collection point

Crews need a safe, accessible place to collect and return containers.

Useful detail: Assisted collection is not for a one-off heavy bin or missed collection. Use it when the household cannot present bins at the front.
Apply for assisted collections

Contact script and useful numbers

Use online forms first where possible. Call when you cannot access the form, need renewal help, or have a problem that the form route does not solve.

Need Official route Have ready
General Croydon waste support / renewal help 020 8726 6200 Full address, postcode, collection type, date and problem.
Missed rubbish Report rubbish collection problem online. Was it out by 6am, at the front edge, lid closed, correct waste?
Missed recycling Report recycling collection problem online. Which recycling bin/box, whether whole street was missed, and whether it was tagged.
Missed food waste Report food waste collection problem online. Whether the outdoor food container was out with recycling before 6am.
Garden waste renewal issue Call 020 8726 6200 or email digitalplatformteam@croydon.gov.uk for renewal/sign-up platform errors. Garden waste account email, address and error message.
Bulky waste problem Use confirmation email link or call 020 8726 6200. Booking reference, expected date, item list and whether POPs items were included.

Simple call/email script

Hello, I’m contacting you about waste collection at [full address and postcode]. The container/service is [grey-lidded rubbish / paper-card recycling / grey-green recycling / food waste / garden waste / bulky item]. It was due on [date]. It was out by [6am / correct bulky waste time], at [front edge / agreed point], with the correct waste inside. Can you confirm the correct next step?

Croydon Refuse Collection FAQs

How do I check my Croydon bin collection day?

Use Croydon Council’s official bin collection checker. Enter your address to see when your rubbish, recycling and food waste are collected and to download your latest collection calendar.

What time should I put my Croydon rubbish bin out?

Put your rubbish bin out by 6am on collection day, where it can be seen easily at the edge of your property where it meets the public highway.

How often is Croydon rubbish collected?

For houses, Croydon collects general rubbish once every 2 weeks from the grey-lidded rubbish bin. General rubbish should be placed in black sacks inside the bin.

When can I report a missed bin in Croydon?

You can report a missed rubbish, recycling or food waste collection within 2 working days, starting at 10pm on the day of collection. If the whole street was missed, leave bins out and do not report a single-property missed collection.

What goes in Croydon’s blue-lidded recycling bin or paper box?

The blue-lidded bin or paper/card box is for paper, card, cardboard, greeting cards, flattened cardboard boxes, envelopes, junk mail, newspapers, magazines, directories, shredded paper in a paper bag or envelope, and wrapping paper without foil.

What goes in Croydon’s grey or green-lidded recycling bin?

The grey or green-lidded recycling bin or box is for cartons, glass bottles and jars, tins, cans, empty aerosols, foil trays, metal lids, plastic bottles, food trays, punnets, yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and ice-cream tubs.

What can I put in Croydon food waste caddies?

You can put raw or cooked food in your food waste caddy, including meat, fish, bones, fat, gristle, rice, pasta, beans, dairy products, eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds, fruit, vegetables, bread, cakes and pastries.

How much is Croydon garden waste collection?

Croydon lists the garden waste service at £90.10 for one year for one bin. It is collected every 2 weeks and only council-provided garden waste bins are collected.

How much is Croydon bulky waste collection?

Croydon lists bulky waste collection at £40.40 for 1 to 3 items and £65.30 for 4 to 6 items. Only items booked and paid for will be collected.

Where are Croydon reuse and recycling centres?

Croydon reuse and recycling centres are Factory Lane in West Croydon, Fishers Farm in New Addington, and Purley Oaks on Brighton Road in South Croydon. Check the official site page before travelling because access routes and opening times differ.

Final practical advice

For Croydon refuse collection, the best routine is simple: check your address, put bins out by 6am, keep the grey-lidded rubbish bin for non-recyclable waste only, separate paper/card from container recycling, use the food caddy weekly, and wait until 10pm before reporting a missed collection.

If the waste does not fit normal kerbside rules, use the right service: garden waste subscription, bulky waste booking, free food caddy order, bin replacement route, assisted collection, or Factory Lane, Fishers Farm or Purley Oaks reuse and recycling centre.

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