Bins and recycling in Lewisham

Your bins in Lewisham

• Black rubbish bin (180 litre)

  Collected every 2 weeks Rubbish that can't be recycled. No food waste, batteries, liquids, DIY waste, garden waste or recyclables.

• Green recycling bin (240 litre)

  Collected weekly Paper, card, cartons, glass, cans, foil, aerosols, plastic bottles and clean plastic pots, tubs and trays. No plastic bags, black plastic or food waste.

• Grey food waste bin (23 litre) with kitchen caddy

  Collected weekly Raw and cooked food, peelings, meat, fish and bones, bread, dairy, tea bags and coffee grounds. No packaging, liquids or plastic bags.

• Brown garden waste bin (240 litre, paid subscription)

  Collected weekly Grass, leaves, weeds, prunings, hedge trimmings, fallen fruit and small branches. No soil, rubble, plastic pots or Japanese knotweed.

Flat with shared bins: Blocks and estates use large shared bins in the communal bin area: blue for rubbish, green for recycling, and a shared food waste bin once your building has been added. There is no garden waste bin.

Source: London Borough of Lewisham's website.

Bin days in Lewisham

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

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection: £100.63 a year. £100.63 a year, weekly from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 (first collections 3 April 2026); no Christmas break is stated. (source)

Paid collection, book online: GBP 5 per mattress or other large item, GBP 25 per fridge or freezer. Fees are non-refundable. Items go outside on your collection day; they can't be collected from inside your home. Book or check prices with London Borough of Lewisham.

Recycling centres for Lewisham

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

• Landmann Way Reuse and Recycling Centre

  Civic Amenities Site, Landmann Way, London, SE14 5RS

  Opening hours: Vans, pedestrians and bikes: Sunday to Friday 8am-3pm, Saturday 8am-11am (last entry at closing). Cars: Sunday to Friday 8am-3.30pm, Saturday 8am-11.30am. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day; open as normal on other bank holidays.

  Booking: No booking needed and use is free. Lewisham residents only: bring photo ID and proof of address. Vans are limited to four visits a year; commercial vehicles are not allowed.

  DIY waste is limited to four visits in four weeks and one large item or about 100 litres per visit. Does not take hazardous waste, paint, solvents, car batteries, pallets, plasterboard, turf or car tyres. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: lewisham.gov.uk

Where common items go in Lewisham

• Pizza boxThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish bin (180 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Crisp packetThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish bin (180 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish bin (180 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Paper coffee cupNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin (240 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin (240 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin (240 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Grey food waste bin (23 litre) with kitchen caddy. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Grey food waste bin (23 litre) with kitchen caddy. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Battery (not sure which type)Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Disposable vapeNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Small household applianceNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Paint tinYour council can collect this from home. Arrange it first. Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Brown garden waste bin (240 litre, paid subscription). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin (240 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin (240 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin (240 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black rubbish bin (180 litre). Source: London Borough of Lewisham

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

Common questions

What goes in the black rubbish bin (180 litre) in Lewisham?

Rubbish that can't be recycled. No food waste, batteries, liquids, DIY waste, garden waste or recyclables.

What goes in the green recycling bin (240 litre) in Lewisham?

Paper, card, cartons, glass, cans, foil, aerosols, plastic bottles and clean plastic pots, tubs and trays. No plastic bags, black plastic or food waste.

What goes in the grey food waste bin (23 litre) with kitchen caddy in Lewisham?

Raw and cooked food, peelings, meat, fish and bones, bread, dairy, tea bags and coffee grounds. No packaging, liquids or plastic bags.

What goes in the brown garden waste bin (240 litre, paid subscription) in Lewisham?

Grass, leaves, weeds, prunings, hedge trimmings, fallen fruit and small branches. No soil, rubble, plastic pots or Japanese knotweed.

When is my bin day in Lewisham?

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