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Collection service for large items and fridges

If you can't take large items to the reuse and recycle centre yourself, you can ask us to pick up the items for a small charge.
Bank Holiday waste collections

All collections will take place one day later due to the Spring Bank Holiday.

Make sure the bins are out for collection on your revised collection day.

Usual service will resume week commencing Monday 5 June.

Large item collections are for household waste only. Businesses must arrange large item collections through licensed waste carriers.

If your item is in good condition you could recycle or donate it. Find out more about how to donate or recycle items in your area.

If you have a mattress you no longer need, we can collect and recycle it for a fee of £14: Book a mattress collection.

Costs

  • We can collect up to four household items such as carpets, chairs, beds or sofas for £41.
  • Fridge and freezer collections are £60 each (we cannot collect American-style fridges or freezers, and we can only make collections from the ground floor).

Please note: If you book a collection, the fee is non-refundable. You will still be charged even if you cancel the booking before your items are collected. This is due to the administrative and operational costs involved in arranging a collection.

If you have any questions about your collection, get in touch with the Cleansing Team using the email address at the bottom of this page no more than five days after the collection takes place.

What we can and cannot collect

As a general rule, we can collect anything you might take with you when you move house.

A double wardrobe counts as two items, and a triple wardrobe as three items.

Items we cannot collect:

❌ American-style fridges or freezers
❌ Domestic waste, either loose or bagged
❌ Gas bottles or fluid containers (for example, oil drums)
❌ Sheds or greenhouses
❌ Bags of rubble
❌ Fence panels or fence posts
❌ Concrete posts
❌ Car/motorbike parts
❌ Garage doors or large gates
❌ Window frames or doors
❌ Asbestos
❌ Wire fencing and large fire surrounds
❌ General builder's waste
❌ DIY waste including baths, toilets, kitchen sinks, etc
❌ Pianos
❌ Ride-on lawnmowers
❌ Wooden pallets.

Preparing items for collection

  • Please stack items neatly at the boundary of your property (e.g. next to the pavement but within your boundary) the night before your collection day. If you live in a flat, make sure you leave the items at the front of the building.

  • We can only collect items from a house or ground floor flat. If you live in an upper-floor flat, you will need to bring the items to the ground floor.

  • You don't have to be at home when we collect.
  • One carpet must be rolled, tied and manageable by two people. If you need to dispose of underlay, this counts as a separate item.
  • One wardrobe does not mean a full bedroom suite!
  • Don't fill items with other rubbish.
  • We will only remove items you have told us about. If you have any additional items, please submit a new request.

If you live in a communal block of flats

Make sure the items are visible and accessible on the day we’re collecting them.

If you live in a block where items are not allowed to be left outside

  • Speak to your building manager and arrange to leave them outside in an unlocked bin chamber.
  • When you book the collection, tell us this is where the item/s will be.

If we come to collect the item and we can’t see it or get to it, you won’t get a refund.

Collection days

All large items apart from fridges and freezers collection days:

Collection day

Ward

Monday Catford South, Grove Park, Whitefoot and Downham
Tuesday Blackheath, Lewisham Central and Lee Green
Wednesday Forest Hill, Perry Vale, Sydenham and Bellingham
Thursday Brockley, Ladywell, Crofton Park and Rushey Green
Friday Evelyn, New Cross and Telegraph Hill

Fridge and freezers collection days:

Collection day

Ward

Tuesday Catford South, Grove Park, Whitefoot, Downham, Blackheath, Lewisham Central, Lee Green, Rushey Green, Bellingham
Friday Forest Hill, Perry Vale, Sydenham, Brockley, Ladywell, Crofton Park, Evelyn, New Cross, Telegraph Hill

Lewisham Homes residents

The collection of large household items on Lewisham Homes estates is the responsibility of Lewisham Homes, not the Council.

To log a complaint about fly-tipping, please call 0800 028 2028 and select option 5.

Collection day

Ward-

Tuesday Catford South, Grove Park, Whitefoot, Downham, Blackheath, Lewisham Central, Lee Green, Rushey Green, Bellingham
Friday Forest Hill, Perry Vale, Sydenham, Brockley, Ladywell, Crofton Park, Evelyn, New Cross, Telegraph Hill