Bins and recycling in Lambeth

Your bins in Lambeth

• Green recycling wheelie bin

  Collected weekly Paper and card, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, food and drink cans, cartons and clean foil, all loose and rinsed. If you have no space for a bin you use the council's clear recycling sacks instead.

• Clear recycling sacks

  Collected weekly Same items as the green bin, for homes with no space for a bin. Sent free 6 times a year. Timed collection areas are collected more often.

• Black rubbish wheelie bin

  Collected every 2 weeks Rubbish that can't be recycled, in tied bags. Homes without a bin use strong black bin bags.

• Outdoor food waste bin and kitchen caddy

  Collected weekly Raw and cooked food, bones, tea bags and coffee grounds. Only the large outside bin is put out. Only for homes with a wheelie bin.

• Garden waste reusable sacks (paid subscription)

  Collected weekly Grass, leaves, weeds, plants, hedge trimmings and branches up to 10cm across. Paid yearly service, all year round, 2 sacks a week.

• Carrier bag of small electricals on top of the green bin

  Collected weekly Small electrical items no bigger than a two-slice toaster, in a loosely tied carrier bag. Only for homes with a wheelie bin.

• Carrier bag of used batteries on top of the black bin

  AA, AAA, C, D, 6V, 9V and button batteries in a loosely tied carrier bag. Only for homes with a wheelie bin.

Flat with shared bins: Blocks of 12 or more flats and housing estates use communal recycling and rubbish bins. There is no food waste, small electricals or battery collection for flats, and garden waste is only for homes with food waste collections.

Source: London Borough of Lambeth's website.

Bin days in Lambeth

Check your collection day with London Borough of Lambeth's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection: £99 a year. £99 for 12 months (no year given) for weekly collection of 2 reusable sacks a week; the sacks are £11 each and not included; a £15 admin fee applies to paying by cheque; the page doesn't say whether the service runs all year or whether sign-ups are open. (source)

Paid collection booked online: £36 for up to 3 items, £70 for up to 6, £116 for up to 10. Reusable non-upholstered furniture can be collected free by Emmaus. Lambeth housing estate residents don't book or pay. Book or check prices with London Borough of Lambeth.

Recycling centres for Lambeth

Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.

• Lambeth Reuse and Recycling Centre (Vale Street)

  Vale Street, West Norwood, London SE27 9PA

  Opening hours: Mon, Thu, Fri 7.30am to 4.30pm; Sat, Sun 8am to 5pm; closed Tue and Wed. Closed every day 12 noon to 1pm. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

  Booking: Lambeth residents only. Book a time slot to visit in a vehicle. Bring photo ID and proof of your Lambeth address every time. No vans or commercial vehicles.

  Reuse and recycling only, no rubbish. Garden waste is vegetation only, no logs. Temporarily not taking cooking oil or engine oil, so use Smugglers Way. Upholstered items only go to Smugglers Way. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: lambeth.gov.uk

• Smugglers Way Household Waste and Recycling Centre

  Smugglers Way, Wandsworth, London SW18 1JS

  Opening hours: Mon to Fri 9am to 4pm; Sat 8am to 6pm; Sun 8am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: Lambeth residents must book a slot to visit by car. No booking needed on foot or by bicycle. Bring photo ID and proof of your Lambeth address.

  Lambeth says it takes more items than Vale Street, including rubbish, DIY and building waste, upholstered furniture, oil and paint (up to 5 litres). Check the Western Riverside Waste Authority site for hours and the full list. Map position is the postcode centre. Plasterboard: very small quantities only, check first (WRWA). WRWA says Smugglers Way is not licensed to receive hazardous waste and chemicals (https://wrwa.gov.uk/materials/chemicals/ and https://wrwa.gov.uk/materials/hazardous-waste/, checked 2026-10-12); it does take paint, engine oil, gas bottles and fire extinguishers. Small amounts of bricks and soil only, as DIY waste (WRWA, checked 2026-10-12).

  Source: lambeth.gov.uk

Where common items go in Lambeth

• Pizza boxThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Crisp packetThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Green recycling wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Green recycling wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Green recycling wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Outdoor food waste bin and kitchen caddy. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Outdoor food waste bin and kitchen caddy. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Battery (not sure which type)Yes. Put it in your Carrier bag of used batteries on top of the black bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Disposable vapeYes. Put it in your Carrier bag of small electricals on top of the green bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Small household applianceYes. Put it in your Carrier bag of small electricals on top of the green bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Garden waste reusable sacks (paid subscription). Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Green recycling wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Green recycling wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Green recycling wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish wheelie bin. Source: London Borough of Lambeth

Something else? Search any item and choose Lambeth as your council.

Common questions

What goes in the green recycling wheelie bin in Lambeth?

Paper and card, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, food and drink cans, cartons and clean foil, all loose and rinsed. If you have no space for a bin you use the council's clear recycling sacks instead.

What goes in the clear recycling sacks in Lambeth?

Same items as the green bin, for homes with no space for a bin. Sent free 6 times a year. Timed collection areas are collected more often.

What goes in the black rubbish wheelie bin in Lambeth?

Rubbish that can't be recycled, in tied bags. Homes without a bin use strong black bin bags.

What goes in the outdoor food waste bin and kitchen caddy in Lambeth?

Raw and cooked food, bones, tea bags and coffee grounds. Only the large outside bin is put out. Only for homes with a wheelie bin.

What goes in the garden waste reusable sacks (paid subscription) in Lambeth?

Grass, leaves, weeds, plants, hedge trimmings and branches up to 10cm across. Paid yearly service, all year round, 2 sacks a week.

What goes in the carrier bag of small electricals on top of the green bin in Lambeth?

Small electrical items no bigger than a two-slice toaster, in a loosely tied carrier bag. Only for homes with a wheelie bin.

What goes in the carrier bag of used batteries on top of the black bin in Lambeth?

AA, AAA, C, D, 6V, 9V and button batteries in a loosely tied carrier bag. Only for homes with a wheelie bin.

When is my bin day in Lambeth?

It depends on your street. Enter your address in London Borough of Lambeth's bin day lookup (wasteservice.lambeth.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.