Croydon Waste Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins, Bulky & Recycling
Check Croydon bin collection dates, understand grey-lid rubbish, blue-lid paper recycling, grey or green-lid mixed recycling, weekly food waste, missed-bin reporting times, replacement-bin fees, bulky-waste prices and the three local reuse and recycling centres.
How to check Croydon bin collection days
Open Croydon Council’s address checker, enter your postcode and select the exact property. You can view rubbish, recycling and food-waste dates and download the property calendar.
Use the exact address even when nearby homes appear to use the same weekday. Flats, estates and boundary roads can have different arrangements.
Set up your Croydon bin routine step by step
Complete these actions once for the exact property. They prevent most wrong-day, contamination, access and missed-collection problems.
Search the full address
Use the Croydon bin-day service and select the correct house or flat. Download the property calendar if you prefer a printable version.
Check the exact Croydon propertyRecord rubbish, recycling and food dates separately
The grey-lid rubbish bin is collected every two weeks. Recycling and the outdoor food container follow the dates shown for your address.
Review all Croydon bin servicesSort paper separately from containers
Blue-lid bins or boxes are for paper and card. Grey or green-lid recycling containers are for glass, cans, cartons and accepted rigid plastics.
Check the official recycling listPresent everything before 6am
Place containers at the front edge of the property, visible to the crew, with lids closed and no obstruction.
Read Croydon presentation rulesKnow the missed-bin clock
Wait until 10pm on collection day. Report within two working days unless the entire street has been missed.
Open missed rubbish guidanceRubbish, recycling, food and garden-waste frequency
The address checker is the final source for your dates. This table explains the normal service pattern and container rules.
| Service | Normal frequency | Presentation | Main refusal reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grey-lid rubbish bin | Once every two weeks | Tied black sacks inside the bin, out by 6am. | Recyclable material, open lid or inaccessible location. |
| Blue-lid paper and card | Check the weekly property calendar | Dry paper and flattened card inside the correct container. | Food-soiled card, foil-lined paper or cartons. |
| Grey or green-lid recycling | Check the weekly property calendar | Rinsed bottles, jars, cans, cartons and rigid plastics. | Food, textiles, batteries, electricals, DIY or garden waste. |
| Food-waste container | Every week with recycling | Locked outside container at the property edge by 6am. | Non-food contamination or an overfilled container. |
| Brown-lid garden bin | Once every two weeks | Loose garden waste, under 25kg, lid closed. | Sacks inside, side waste, contamination or excess weight. |
Bank holidays and operational changes: always reopen the address checker rather than assuming the normal weekday still applies.
Save your next Croydon collection date
Check the council calendar first. This tool stores a reminder only in your browser and does not send information to Croydon Council.
My next collection
Preparation checklist
No collection saved. Confirm the date through Croydon’s address checker.
What goes in each Croydon bin or recycling box?
Blue lid: paper and card
Paper, card, cardboard, greeting cards, flattened boxes, envelopes, junk mail, newspapers, magazines and shredded paper contained in a paper bag.
Grey lid: general rubbish
Non-recyclable waste, cold bagged ash, food-soiled cardboard, plastic film, polystyrene and disposable nappies.
Grey or green lid: mixed recycling
Cartons, bottles, jars, tins, cans, aerosols, foil, plastic bottles, trays, punnets, tubs and yoghurt pots.
Brown lid: garden waste
Subscribed households can use it for accepted loose garden material. It is not the food-waste container.
| Common item | Correct Croydon route | Do not do this |
|---|---|---|
| Tetra Pak or drinks carton | Grey or green-lid mixed recycling. | Do not put it with blue-lid paper and card. |
| Pizza box with grease | Grey-lid general rubbish. | Do not contaminate paper recycling. |
| Shredded paper | Blue-lid bin inside a paper bag or envelope. | Do not leave it loose. |
| Plastic film or carrier bag | Supermarket soft-plastic point or general rubbish. | Do not put it in mixed recycling. |
| Pyrex, mirror or drinking glass | Reuse and recycling centre or specialist route. | Do not put it with bottles and jars. |
| Battery, textile or small electrical | Use Croydon’s separate collection or recycling-centre route. | Do not hide it in a recycling or rubbish bin. |
Which bin, collection or recycling centre should I use?
Select a common household item for a quick route. For unusual or hazardous material, verify the final instruction on the council site.
Choose an item
Result: Select an item above.
Fast sorting rule
- Paper and card: blue-lid container.
- Bottles, jars, cans, cartons and rigid plastic: grey or green-lid recycling.
- Food: locked outside food container.
- Non-recyclable waste: tied black sacks in the grey-lid bin.
- Electrical, bulky, DIY or hazardous waste: separate collection or centre.
When to report, wait or fix the problem
Croydon missed rubbish, recycling and food-waste reports open at 10pm on collection day and must be submitted within two working days.
| Check first | What it means | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Is it before 10pm? | The collection day has not finished. | Leave containers out and wait. |
| Was the correct date used? | Rubbish and recycling may have different dates. | Check the exact address again. |
| Was it out by 6am? | Late presentation normally prevents a return visit. | Prepare earlier next time. |
| Was the lid open or bin contaminated? | The crew may have attached a rejection tag. | Correct the problem for the next collection. |
| Was the whole street missed? | The route may be delayed rather than individually missed. | Leave bins out and do not submit a separate report. |
| Were neighbouring bins emptied? | This may be a genuine property-level miss. | Report after 10pm within two working days. |
Missed-bin diagnosis
Result: Select the closest situation.
Choose the correct report
Expected recovery: recycling and food waste are normally rescheduled for the next working day after a valid report. Missed rubbish is aimed to be collected by the end of the following weekend.
Current rubbish, recycling and food-caddy charges
Croydon introduced container charges in August 2025. Food-waste caddies and replacement lids remain free.
Food-waste caddies
Inside and outside food-waste containers remain free. The council currently warns that low stock may delay delivery.
Crew-damaged container
A replacement may be free if the collection crew damaged or lost it. Submit a bin-charge appeal with the relevant details.
Free lid or wheel repair
Replacement lids and repairs to bin wheels are free where parts are available.
Larger rubbish bin
Households with five or more residents or a medical waste need can call 020 8726 6000 to request an assessment.
Food caddies, liners, smells and animal protection
The outside lockable food container is collected every week with recycling. Keep the small kitchen caddy indoors.
| Food-waste task | Practical answer | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Line the kitchen caddy | Use a compostable liner, old newspaper or kitchen roll. | Do not use ordinary plastic carrier bags. |
| Accepted food | Meat, fish, bones, rice, pasta, dairy, eggs, tea bags, coffee, fruit and vegetables. | Do not add packaging, garden waste or non-food material. |
| Prevent animals | Lock the outside container lid after emptying the kitchen caddy. | Do not leave loose food bags outside. |
| Collection morning | Put the outside container at the front with recycling before 6am. | Do not present the small kitchen caddy. |
| Control smells | Empty the indoor caddy often and rinse both containers regularly. | Do not leave liquid food waste exposed. |
| Waiting for a replacement | Food waste can temporarily go in tied general-rubbish bags. | Do not put loose food inside a paper or mixed-recycling bin. |
Purpose-built flats, estates and flats above shops
Purpose-built flats and estates
Use the labels on communal recycling containers. Keep paper separate where the bin store provides different streams.
Flats above shops
Croydon currently says recycling facilities are still being introduced. Until then, recycling goes with the rubbish collection.
Night-time collection
Flats above shops can use a night-time waste service operating from 8pm to 5am. Follow the exact street instructions.
Assisted collections in shared blocks
Croydon does not provide assisted bin collections inside shared blocks. Contact the managing agent, caretaker or cleaner.
Managing-agent tip: repeated contamination usually needs clearer labels, enough capacity and better access rather than another missed-bin report.
Annual price, collection frequency and eligibility
The paid service is for eligible domestic properties with individual bins. It is not normally available where rubbish is collected from shared communal bins.
| Garden-waste detail | Current rule | Resident action |
|---|---|---|
| Annual charge | £90.10 per year. | Check the live fee before paying or renewing. |
| Frequency | Once every two weeks. | Check the separate garden-waste calendar. |
| Container | Council-provided 240-litre grey bin with a brown lid. | Do not use another wheelie bin or sacks. |
| Presentation | At the property boundary by 6am with the lid closed. | Remove it from the highway after collection. |
| Weight | The bin must not exceed 25kg. | Do not compact heavy or wet garden material. |
| Side waste | No extra bags or waste beside the bin. | Keep all accepted material loose inside. |
Suitable garden material
Grass, leaves, weeds, flowers, hedge cuttings, small twigs and similar compostable garden waste.
Keep out
Soil, stones, food, plastic bags, plant pots, treated wood, rubble and general rubbish.
Communal properties
The service is generally unavailable to blocks using shared or communal rubbish bins.
Alternative
Home composting or a Croydon reuse and recycling centre may be better for occasional garden waste.
Current price, item limits and POPs rules
Donate or use retailer take-back first where possible. Croydon collects only the bulky items listed and paid for in the booking.
Bulky-waste cost calculator
Estimate: Select an item count and calculate.
Before paying
- Check whether a charity or retailer can take the item.
- List every item accurately.
- Do not add unbooked items beside the collection.
- Keep collection access clear.
- Expect upholstered POPs items to be collected separately.
- Leave any council sticker on items awaiting the second visit.
| Bulky-waste point | Current rule | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 items | £40.40 | The same charge applies whether one, two or three eligible items are booked. |
| 4 to 6 items | £65.30 | Six items is the current maximum within one standard booking band. |
| POPs furniture | Sofas, armchairs, beanbags and cushions may need a separate vehicle. | A second collection can take place within 10 working days. |
| Unbooked extras | They are not collected. | Review the item list before paying. |
Factory Lane, Purley Oaks and Fishers Farm opening hours
Croydon operates three household reuse and recycling centres. Bring a vehicle permit or proof of identity and address, and check traffic or temporary-closure information before travelling.
Factory Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre
Address: Factory Lane, West Croydon, CR0 3RL
- Monday–Saturday: 7:30am–4:30pm
- Sunday: 8:30am–4pm
- Access from the south via Roman Way, A236
- Pedestrian access available
- Bring a permit or Croydon address identification
| Site | Opening hours | Important access note |
|---|---|---|
| Factory Lane, CR0 3RL | Mon–Sat 7:30am–4:30pm; Sun 8:30am–4pm. | Approach from Roman Way. Gates may close early when queues are heavy. |
| Fishers Farm, CR0 0LB | Mon–Fri 8am–4pm; Sat 9am–2pm; Sun 9am–1pm. | Pedestrian access is available. |
| Purley Oaks, CR8 2BG | Monday–Sunday 8am–3:30pm. | Join the queue from Brighton Road north of the site; no access from Purley. |
Croydon residents only
Bring a vehicle permit or documents proving your identity and Croydon address.
No trailers
Cars with trailers are not accepted at Croydon’s reuse and recycling centres.
Rubble limit
Cars can bring a maximum of six bags of rubble, subject to current site rules.
No trade waste
Business, landlord and contractor waste must use an authorised commercial facility.
Safety rule: mobile-phone use is not permitted on site. Follow staff directions and unload only in the correct bays.
Extra help for residents with health or mobility needs
Assisted bin collection
If nobody in the household can move bins to the front, apply for help. Bins must remain visible at the front or side of the property.
No gate codes or keys
Crews cannot accept keys, gate codes or fobs. The assisted collection point must remain accessible.
Hygiene waste
Nappies, sanitary products, incontinence pads and non-hazardous stoma waste can go in tied black sacks in the general rubbish bin.
Sharps and infectious waste
Croydon collects full sharps boxes. Other hazardous clinical waste must be arranged through the GP or healthcare provider.
Practical advice for different borough areas and property types
West Croydon and Factory Lane
Approach Factory Lane from Roman Way and allow extra time at peak periods because the gates may close early when queues are long.
Purley and South Croydon
For Purley Oaks, join the queue from Brighton Road north of the site. There is no vehicle access from the Purley side.
New Addington and Fishers Farm
Fishers Farm has shorter weekend hours than Factory Lane, so check the day before travelling.
Thornton Heath and Norbury
Busy streets and parked vehicles can hide bins from crews. Keep containers visible at the property boundary.
Coulsdon, Selsdon and Sanderstead
Garden-waste dates can differ from rubbish and recycling. Save the garden calendar separately.
Flats and estates
Report blocked access or full communal bins to the managing agent as well as using the correct council service.
Moving into Croydon
Bins should remain at the property. If they are missing, order replacements and use the temporary bag rules while waiting.
Repeated collection problems
Save report references and dates. Use the follow-up route only after the expected recovery period has passed.
Croydon waste links for final actions
Information checked: 26 June 2026. Collection dates, delivery delays, fees, opening hours and operational notices can change. Use the linked council service for the final live date, payment, order or report.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my Croydon bin collection day?
Use Croydon Council’s address checker, enter your postcode and select the exact property. It shows rubbish, recycling and food-waste dates and lets you download a calendar.
What time should Croydon bins be put out?
Place bins and containers at the visible front edge of the property by 6am on collection day, with lids closed and access clear.
How often is the grey-lid rubbish bin collected?
For standard houses, the grey-lid general rubbish bin is collected once every two weeks.
How often is Croydon food waste collected?
The outside lockable food-waste container is collected every week with recycling. Check the exact day for your address.
When can I report a missed Croydon bin?
Reports open at 10pm on the scheduled collection day and must be submitted within two working days.
What should I do if my entire street is missed?
Leave the bins outside and do not submit an individual missed-bin report. Crews will try to return to the delayed street.
How much does Croydon bulky-waste collection cost?
The current charge is £40.40 for one to three items and £65.30 for four to six items.
How much is Croydon garden-waste collection?
The current service costs £90.10 per year and provides a collection every two weeks for eligible domestic properties.
Do Croydon recycling centres require a booking?
Croydon’s main site information does not list a general booking requirement, but residents must bring a permit or accepted proof of identity and address and follow the vehicle rules.
What are Croydon recycling-centre opening hours?
Factory Lane opens Monday to Saturday from 7:30am to 4:30pm and Sunday from 8:30am to 4pm. Purley Oaks opens daily from 8am to 3:30pm. Fishers Farm has shorter weekend hours.