Merton Waste Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins, Bulky & Recycling
Check your exact Merton collection day, understand weekly food-waste and fortnightly rubbish and recycling services, report a genuine missed bin, use the new annual free bulky-waste collection, compare garden-waste costs and book Garth Road Recycling Centre.
How to check Merton bin collection days
Enter your address in Merton Council’s waste-services checker. It shows property-specific dates and lets you download a printable calendar or add dates to an online calendar.
Use the exact property result. Flats, houses, properties above shops and time-banded streets can have different container and collection arrangements.
Which Merton bins, boxes or bags should your home use?
Your waste service depends on property type and storage space. Use the quick selector, then confirm the result for your address.
Select your property type
Result: Select your property type.
Why the address checker matters
- Communal flats may not have a printable collection calendar.
- Flats above shops may use purple and black bags.
- Some busy streets have strict time-banded presentation windows.
- Properties without outside space may use striped or clear bags.
- Managing agents supply communal bins.
Black rubbish bin, blue-topped paper bin, green recycling box and brown food caddies.
Communal rubbish, recycling and food-waste bins where provided.
Recycling bags are supplied every six months; residents buy black rubbish sacks.
Blue-striped or clear recycling bags and red-striped rubbish bags may be supplied.
Set up your Merton waste collection routine
Check your exact address
Use the official search to confirm the weekday, property type and collection dates.
Open Merton waste-services searchIdentify weekly and fortnightly services
Food waste is normally weekly. Rubbish, paper and card, and mixed container recycling are normally fortnightly.
Check collection-day guidanceUse the correct containers
Paper and card must stay separate from plastic, metal, glass and cartons at standard houses.
Review what goes in each binPresent everything by 6am
Keep bins visible, within arm’s reach of the pavement and inside the property boundary.
Read presentation rulesWait before reporting a missed bin
Report only after the round has finished or after 11.59pm, whichever is sooner.
Check missed-collection rulesWeekly food waste and fortnightly rubbish and recycling
The exact weekday comes from your address record. This table explains the normal service frequency and container for standard houses and converted flats.
| Waste stream | Standard container | Normal frequency | Key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food waste | 7-litre kitchen caddy and 23-litre outdoor brown food bin | Weekly | Use compostable liners or newspaper; no plastic bags or packaging. |
| Non-recyclable rubbish | 180-litre black-lidded wheelie bin | Fortnightly | Lid must close; extra rubbish beside the bin is not collected. |
| Paper and cardboard | 180-litre blue-topped wheelie bin | Fortnightly | Keep it clean and dry; no food-soiled cardboard or cartons. |
| Plastic, metal, glass and cartons | 55-litre green recycling box | Fortnightly | Empty and rinse containers; paper and card go elsewhere. |
| Garden waste | Brown 140L or 240L bin, or subscribed sacks | Fortnightly | Paid subscription; Christmas and New Year dates may change. |
Bank holidays: normal household collections continue on most bank holidays. Changes usually apply around Christmas and New Year.
Save your next Merton collection date
Check the live address result first. This reminder stays only in your browser and is not sent to Merton Council.
My next collection
Collection-night checklist
No reminder saved. Check your address and enter the next date.
What goes in each bin, box or bag?
Black-lidded rubbish bin
Non-recyclable household waste only. No garden, DIY, clinical, electrical or hazardous waste.
Blue-topped paper bin
Magazines, newspapers, envelopes, catalogues, egg boxes, cardboard packaging and cardboard tubes.
Green recycling box
Aerosols, foil, cans, tins, food and drink cartons, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
Brown food-waste bin
Bread, dairy, fruit, vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds, bones, rice, pasta, fish and meat.
| Common item | Correct Merton route | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Food or drink carton | Green recycling box, purple bag or communal recycling. | Putting it in the blue paper-and-card bin. |
| Food-soiled pizza box | Black rubbish bin. | Putting greasy cardboard in paper recycling. |
| Shredded paper | Seal inside a paper envelope or paper bag before blue-bin recycling. | Adding loose shreds that can clog sorting machinery. |
| Plastic film or carrier bag | Supermarket collection where available, otherwise black rubbish. | Putting soft plastic in the green box. |
| Glass bottle or jar | Green recycling box or communal recycling. | Mixing it with paper and cardboard. |
| Battery, vape or electrical item | Garth Road, recycling point or appropriate take-back service. | Merton no longer collects these with household kerbside waste. |
Food caddy liners: Merton libraries sell rolls of 25 compostable 7-litre liners for £2.75. Newspaper can also be used.
Which bin or service should I use?
Select an item
Result: Select an item above.
Fast sorting rule
- Food: brown food-waste container.
- Paper and card: blue-topped bin.
- Containers: green box.
- Non-recyclable waste: black-lidded bin.
- Bulky, electrical, DIY or hazardous waste: separate service.
When to report and when to wait
A report is accepted only after collections have finished in your area, or after 11.59pm on the scheduled day, whichever happens first.
| Check first | What it means | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Was it outside by 6am? | Late presentation normally prevents a return collection. | Use the next scheduled date. |
| Was it visible and accessible? | Hidden or blocked containers can be left. | Correct the access issue. |
| Was the lid closed? | Overfilled bins can be rejected. | Remove excess rubbish. |
| Were the contents correct? | Contaminated recycling may not be collected. | Remove the wrong items. |
| Has the round finished? | Crews may still be working in the area. | Wait until the round is complete or 11.59pm. |
| Is it within two working days? | Older misses cannot normally be recovered. | Report immediately if it is genuine. |
Missed-bin diagnosis
Result: Select the closest situation.
After a successful report
- Leave the container at the front edge of the property.
- Do not move it back into storage.
- The council aims to return within two working days.
- Use a separate report for garden or bulky waste.
- Batteries, textiles and shoes are no longer kerbside services.
One free collection of up to three items each year
From 1 June 2026, every eligible Merton household can book one free bulky-waste collection of up to three items per year.
| Bulky-waste rule | Current Merton detail | Resident action |
|---|---|---|
| Annual free collection | One collection of up to three items. | Use it carefully because a second free booking is not completed. |
| Booking window | Up to 60 days in advance. | Book early because slots are limited. |
| Collection days | Weekdays only, excluding public holidays. | The council confirms only the day, not an arrival time. |
| Council Tax | Payments must be up to date. | Resolve account issues before booking. |
| Mixed item types | Upholstered and non-upholstered items may be collected separately. | Allow up to two working days between the two stages. |
| Further collections | Up to three items: £39.75; four to six items: £66. | Paid bookings are scheduled to open in October 2026. |
Accepted bulky items
Fridges, freezers, ovens, dishwashers, TVs, monitors, small electrical bags, beds, sofas, armchairs, freestanding wardrobes, carpet and underlay.
Not accepted
Garden waste, soil, rubble, plasterboard, bathrooms, doors, windows, kitchen units, timber, paint, tyres, gas canisters, asbestos and demolition waste.
Collection-day preparation
Cover soft furnishings, place items inside the property boundary and make them visible and accessible by 6am.
Free booking is final
The free bulky booking cannot be changed. Check the item list and collection date before submitting.
Fortnightly collections, prices and container options
The annual service runs for one year from the date your container is delivered. Collections continue fortnightly throughout the year, with revised Christmas dates.
| Option | Annual charge | Delivery charge | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140-litre bin | £99 | £19 for a new bin | Smaller gardens or limited storage. |
| 240-litre bin | £99 | £19 for a new bin | Regular mowing and pruning. |
| Pack of 25 sacks | £99 | No new-bin delivery fee | Properties where wheelie bins are unsuitable. |
Garden-waste cost planner
Estimate: Choose the container arrangement.
Accepted garden waste
- Grass cuttings and leaves
- Hedge trimmings and prunings
- Weeds and plants
- Small branches and bark
- Fallen fruit and cut flowers
Keep out: soil, rubble, pots, plastic, metal, animal bedding, food waste and branches over 22cm diameter.
Sign Up for Garden WasteOpening times, vehicle rules and accepted waste
Merton residents must book car visits. Bring a driving licence or recent Council Tax statement as proof of address.
Garth Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre
Address:
63–69 Amenity Way
off Garth Road
Morden
SM4 4AX
- Cars: 8am–4pm every day
- Last entry: 30 minutes before closing
- Christmas Eve: 8am–midday
- Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
- Car booking required
- Pedestrians and cyclists do not need a booking
| Visitor type | Booking rule | Opening hours | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car without trailer | Required | 8am–4pm daily | Book one hour to 13 days in advance. |
| On foot or bicycle | Not required | 8am–4pm daily | Staff take items at the gate; proof of address is required. |
| Van, pickup or trailer | Essential | Mon–Fri 8:30am–1:30pm; Sat 9am–midday | Sunday and bank-holiday access is closed. |
| Large vehicle | Not allowed | Not applicable | No vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, 5 metres or high-sided Luton vehicles. |
Accepted
Batteries, cardboard, carpets, electricals, oils, glass, garden waste, mattresses, plasterboard, hard plastics, textiles, vapes, white goods and wood.
DIY limit
Up to six 80-litre bags of hardcore, rubble and soil per vehicle during a six-month period.
Free compost
Visitors can take up to three bags of compost when available. Bring your own bags.
Not accepted
Asbestos, commercial waste, clinical waste, chemicals, liquid paint, tyres, diesel and petrol.
Special Merton collection services
Assisted collection
Residents who cannot move containers and have no household help can apply by calling 020 8274 4902.
Free clinical-waste service
Residents treating themselves at home may qualify. A GP must apply on the patient’s behalf.
Sharps collection
Once registered, call 020 8274 4902. Needles must be placed in an approved sharps container.
Hazardous waste
The City of London service can collect limited asbestos, chemicals, diesel, liquid paint, mercury thermometers and petrol.
Assisted-service limits: containers must normally be stored at the front, not behind gates, at the side or rear, or beyond more than two steps. The service is not available for communal-bin or time-banded properties.
A day in the life of Merton’s recycling crews
See how Merton recycling is collected
The video follows Merton recycling crews and helps explain why correct sorting and accessible presentation matter.
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Practical advice for Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden and nearby areas
Wimbledon town-centre properties
Check whether your address has a time-banded collection before placing purple or black bags outside.
Morden households
Book Garth Road before loading the car. Keep proof of address ready at the gate.
Mitcham bulky items
Compare the annual free collection, a local pop-up tip and charity reuse before paying for disposal.
Raynes Park recycling
Local recycling banks can take selected materials when a household container is full.
Flats above shops
Follow the exact time band. Bags left outside too early can cause obstruction and enforcement problems.
Fox-prone streets
Lock the food-waste-bin handle, store it securely and consider placing a suitable weight on the lid.
New tenants
Ask the landlord for the collection calendar, container locations and any communal-bin instructions.
Pop-up tips
Each neighbourhood is intended to receive a nearby pop-up tip at least four times a year. Check by postcode before travelling.
Merton waste links for final actions
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Collection dates, booking availability, charges and seasonal arrangements can change. Use the linked Merton service for the final live result or transaction.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my Merton bin collection day?
Enter your exact address in Merton Council’s waste-services search. You can view collection dates, download a printable calendar or add dates to your online calendar.
What time should Merton bins be put out?
Unless you have a time-banded collection, place the correct containers at the front edge of your property by 6am on collection day.
How often are Merton bins collected?
Food waste is normally weekly. Standard rubbish, paper and card, and mixed container recycling services are normally fortnightly.
When can I report a missed collection in Merton?
Report after collections in your area have finished, or after 11.59pm on the scheduled collection day, whichever is sooner. The report must be made within two working days.
How much is Merton garden-waste collection?
The annual charge is £99 for each hired bin or pack of 25 sacks. A new wheelie bin also has a £19 delivery charge.
Is Merton bulky-waste collection free?
From 1 June 2026, each eligible Merton household can book one free annual collection of up to three bulky items.
Do I need to book Garth Road Recycling Centre?
Yes, car visits must be booked. Slots are available from one hour to 13 days in advance. Pedestrians and cyclists do not need a booking.
What proof do I need at Garth Road?
Bring a recent Council Tax statement or driving licence showing that you live in the London Borough of Merton.
Can I order a replacement Merton bin?
Yes. You can request a standard bin, recycling box, bags or food-waste caddy. Delivery normally takes up to 10 working days, and some wheelie bins have a £19 charge.
Does Merton collect batteries, textiles and shoes at the kerbside?
No. These are no longer collected with household waste. Use Garth Road, a recycling bank, retailer take-back service, charity or specialist collection.