Report a missed collection or bin problem
Let us know your rubbish wasn’t collected or your bin's damaged (for example, the lid's broken).
Bank Holiday bins
Rubbish, recycling and food waste collections over the May Day Bank Holiday week will be a day later than normal:
- Monday 4 May - Tuesday 5 May
- Tuesday 5 May - Wednesday 6 May
- Wednesday 6 May - Thursday 7 May
- Thursday 7 May - Friday 8 May
- Friday 8 May - Saturday 9 May
Please make sure your bins are out for collection on your revised collection day.
Normal service will resume the week beginning Monday 11 May.
Missed collections
Collection schedule for kerbside properties
- recycling and food waste is weekly
- general waste is every other week (or weekly if no food waste service)
Important
- put your bins out before 6am on collection day on the edge of your property - crews are unable to enter the property boundary unless on an assisted collection
- collections can happen any time of day - please wait until 2pm to report a missed collection and do so within 48 hours
- DIY waste, garden and food waste can’t go in a general waste bin and is collected separately if you live in a kerbside property - for flats and estates, food waste cannot go in general waste
- if multiple bins were missed, report each one separately
- if you can’t wait for the next collection, you can take your recycling to the New Cross Reuse and Recycling Centre
Using your bins correctly
If your bin has a red tag, it contains incorrect items and wasn’t collected. You'll need to remove them so we can collect the bin on your scheduled collection date.
Bin repairs and replacements
If your bin's damaged during collection, we’ll leave a postcard (for kerbside properties) and automatically schedule a repair or replacement. No need to report it.
If you've damaged or lost your bin, you’ll need to order a new bin.
For flats and estates contact recycle@lewisham.gov.uk.
Service standards
Recycling and rubbish
Published on: 17/03/2026