Bexley Council Bin Collection Schedule, Dates and Calendar Guide
Use this practical Bexley guide to check your collection day, download your rubbish and recycling calendar, understand blue-lidded and white-lidded recycling weeks, food waste, general rubbish, garden waste subscription, missed-bin reporting, bulky waste collections and reuse and recycling centre rules.
What do you need today?
Choose the exact job first. This page is written for Bexley residents searching bin day, blue week, white week, missed bin, garden waste, bulky waste or recycling centre help.
Find Your Bexley Bin Collection Calendar
Enter your postcode here to keep it handy, then open Bexley’s official WasteWorks lookup. The official tool can show your collection day, missed-bin reporting route, bin requests, bulky waste booking and garden waste subscription options.
How do I check Bexley Council bin collection dates?
Use the official Bexley WasteWorks lookup, enter your postcode, select your address and check your next collection dates. Bexley collects general rubbish every two weeks. Food waste and recycling boxes or bags are collected weekly. If your property has recycling wheeled bins, one recycling bin is emptied each week, alternating between blue-lidded paper/card and white-lidded plastics/cans/glass/cartons.
Official Bexley Bin Collection Sources Used for This 2026 Guide
This page is built around London Borough of Bexley’s official WasteWorks service and Bexley rubbish and recycling pages, not guessed calendars or other London borough colour rules.
WasteWorks lookup
Bexley’s WasteWorks page lets residents find bin collection days, report missed collections, request bin delivery or removal, subscribe to garden waste and book bulky waste.
Collection frequency
General rubbish is collected every two weeks. Food waste and recycling boxes or bags are collected weekly.
Recycling wheelie bins
Homes with recycling wheeled bins have one recycling bin emptied each week, alternating blue-lidded and white-lidded bins.
Garden waste price
The garden waste service is £87 for the year, with a £5 discount if you pay by Direct Debit.
Bexley Council Bin Collection Dates 2026: Schedule, Calendar and Postcode Lookup
Your exact Bexley bin date depends on where you live, so the official WasteWorks lookup is the safest starting point.
Bexley covers Bexleyheath, Sidcup, Welling, Erith, Crayford, Belvedere, Thamesmead, Abbey Wood, Blackfen, Barnehurst, Foots Cray and many smaller neighbourhoods. Collection arrangements can differ by street, block, communal store and property type. That is why it is better to use the official address lookup than to copy a neighbour’s bin, especially where recycling wheeled bins alternate between blue and white lids.
Open the official WasteWorks lookup
Use Bexley WasteWorks to search your address and confirm your collection day.
Select your exact property
Choose the correct flat, house number, block or building. Do not use a nearby property if yours does not appear.
Check rubbish, food and recycling separately
General rubbish is every two weeks, while food waste and recycling are usually weekly. Recycling wheelie bins alternate colours.
Download or add your schedule
Bexley’s online tools can provide a collection schedule and allow residents to add waste collection days to a smartphone or computer calendar.
Resident tip: if your street uses blue-lidded and white-lidded recycling bins, label your calendar as “blue week” and “white week.” This prevents the most common mistake: putting the wrong recycling bin out on the correct day.
Bexley Blue and White Recycling Schedule 2026: What “Blue Collection” and “White Collection” Mean
Bexley’s 2026 rubbish and recycling calendar uses blue and white recycling collection weeks for homes with recycling wheeled bins.
The blue-lidded recycling bin is for paper and cardboard. The white-lidded recycling bin is for plastic packaging, glass, cans and cartons. Bexley’s calendar labels weeks as “Blue collection” or “White collection,” and your property may be on Schedule 1 or Schedule 2. Always confirm your own schedule through the official lookup before printing or relying on a generic calendar.
| Collection stream | What it means | How often | Resident action |
|---|---|---|---|
| General rubbish | Non-recyclable household waste | Every 2 weeks | Use the standard rubbish bin and keep extra side waste out unless your property has another approved arrangement. |
| Food waste | Food waste box and kitchen caddy | Weekly | Use the brown food waste box and caddy to keep food out of general rubbish. |
| Blue-lidded bin | Paper and cardboard | Alternating recycling weeks | Put out on blue collection weeks only, unless your property uses boxes or bags instead. |
| White-lidded bin | Plastic packaging, glass, cans and cartons | Alternating recycling weeks | Put out on white collection weeks only, unless your property uses boxes or bags instead. |
Important: if your property uses recycling boxes, bags or communal recycling instead of wheeled recycling bins, your setup may not match the blue/white wheeled-bin system. Use the address lookup and your property guidance.
Bexley Bin Colours Explained: General Rubbish, Blue-Lidded Bin, White-Lidded Bin and Food Waste Box
Most homes in Bexley have one general rubbish bin, two recycling wheeled bins, a food waste box and a kitchen caddy.
General rubbish bin
Collected every 2 weeksFor ordinary household waste that cannot be recycled or put in the food waste box.
- Non-recyclable household rubbish
- Items that cannot go in recycling bins
- Waste that does not belong at recycling centres
- One general rubbish wheeled bin per household unless authorised
Blue-lidded recycling bin
Paper and cardboardFor clean paper and card. Put recycling loose in the bin, not inside plastic bags.
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Clean paper packaging
- No plastics, cans, glass or food waste
White-lidded recycling bin
Plastics, cans, glass and cartonsFor plastic packaging, glass bottles and jars, cans and cartons.
- Plastic bottles, tubs and trays
- Food tins and drink cans
- Cartons
- Glass bottles and jars
Food waste box
Food waste and kitchen caddyFor household food waste. Bexley says food waste caddies and boxes are free for residents.
- Food scraps
- Plate waste
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Food waste should not go in recycling bins
Bexley Recycling Bins: Blue-Lidded Paper/Card and White-Lidded Plastics, Cans, Glass and Cartons
Bexley separates recycling into different containers, so the right lid colour matters.
Your blue-lidded recycling bin is for clean paper and card. Your white-lidded recycling bin is for plastic packaging, glass, cans and cartons. Bexley says all recycling should be put in the bin loose and not inside plastic bags, because bagged recycling will not be collected.
Blue-lidded bin
Use for paper and cardboard. Keep plastics, cans, glass, cartons, food waste and general rubbish out.
White-lidded bin
Use for plastic packaging, glass bottles and jars, food tins, drink cans and cartons.
No bagged recycling
Do not put recycling inside plastic bags. Bagged recycling will not be collected.
No side recycling
No additional rubbish or recycling left at the side of your bins will be collected.
Most common Bexley mistake: putting white-lidded items in the blue-lidded bin, or blue-lidded items in the white-lidded bin. Keep paper/card separate from plastics/cans/glass/cartons.
Bexley Food Waste Collection: Free Caddy, Food Waste Box and Weekly Collection
Food waste is collected weekly in Bexley, and the council says food waste caddies and boxes are free for residents.
Using the food waste box keeps food out of your general rubbish bin and helps reduce smells, especially because general rubbish is collected every two weeks. Bexley says food waste is recycled into energy to power homes, so using the caddy is one of the easiest ways to reduce rubbish.
Why use it?
Food waste takes up space and can smell in the general rubbish bin. The weekly food waste collection keeps it separate.
Need a caddy or box?
Use the official bin request route if you need a food waste box or kitchen caddy.
Start small
If you are new to food recycling, start with tea bags, peelings and plate scraps, then add more as it becomes routine.
Bexley Garden Waste Collection 2026: £87 Brown Bin Service, Direct Debit Discount and 25 Collections
Bexley garden waste is an optional paid service using a brown wheelie bin.
The garden waste service costs £87 for the whole year. Bexley provides a brown wheelie bin and empties it every other week, with a break at Christmas, giving 25 collections. If you pay by Direct Debit, the council says it takes £5 off the total price. You can add up to four more bins for £67 each.
Main yearly price
£87 for the whole year for one brown garden waste bin service.
Direct Debit discount
Paying by Direct Debit reduces the total price by £5.
Extra bins
You can add up to four more brown bins for £67 each, with renewal on the same date as the first bin.
Christmas break
The brown bin is emptied every other week with a break at Christmas, giving 25 collections.
Renewal warning: your garden waste service must be renewed each year. Late renewals that lead to bin removal may include bin redelivery costs, so renew before your subscription expires.
Missed Bin Collection Bexley: What to Check Before Reporting
If Bexley has missed your rubbish, recycling, food waste or garden waste collection, use the official report form and keep the container available.
Bexley’s missed collection policy says waste containers that have not been emptied on the scheduled day can be reported using the online form or Contact Centre. Where a report is accepted, the contractor will return to collect missed waste within 48 hours or two working days.
Check the collection date first
Use WasteWorks to make sure the correct bin or box was due for your property.
Check for rejection reasons
Wrong bin, bagged recycling, side waste, blocked access, contamination or an unauthorised extra rubbish bin can stop collection.
Use the official missed-bin route
Report the issue through Bexley’s official missed collection page or WasteWorks service.
Leave the bin accessible
If the report is accepted, leave the missed bin or container at the usual collection point so it can be collected.
Replace Damaged or Missing Bins in Bexley
Use the official request route if your rubbish bin, recycling bins, food waste box or kitchen caddy is missing or damaged.
Bexley’s replacement bin page lists general rubbish wheeled bins, blue-lidded recycling bins for paper and card, white-lidded recycling bins for plastics/cans/glass, food recycling boxes and kitchen caddies. The council states that only one general rubbish wheeled bin is collected per household unless an additional bin has been authorised.
Recycling bin size options
Blue-lidded and white-lidded recycling bins may be available in small, family or large sizes depending on property suitability.
Food box and caddy
Request a fox-resistant food recycling box or a kitchen caddy if missing.
General rubbish limit
Additional general rubbish wheeled bins are not normally delivered unless authorised for the household.
Bexley Bulky Waste Collection: Large Item Booking, Weekday and Saturday Prices
Bexley residents can book a one-off bulky waste collection for large items that should not go in normal bins.
Bexley’s WasteWorks bulky booking page lists prices starting from £50 for weekday bookings and £67.50 for Saturday bookings. The total cost depends on the number and size of items to be collected. The council’s main bulky waste page also notes Saturday slots, with prices starting from £65.50 in that notice, so always confirm the final charge in the live booking tool before paying.
Use bulky waste for
Furniture, large household items and waste that is too large for normal bins.
Book and pay first
Do not leave items outside without a booking. The council collects only booked items from the agreed accessible place.
Check alternative routes
Reusable furniture may be better for donation or reuse. Appliances may also be collected by retailers when delivering replacements.
Bexley Reuse and Recycling Centres: Foots Cray and Thames Road
Bexley operates two reuse and recycling centres that residents can use free of charge for suitable household waste.
The official locations page lists reuse and recycling centres in Foots Cray and Thames Road. If using recycling facilities at Thames Road or Foots Cray, bring proof of address and be prepared to show proof such as a valid driving licence or council tax bill. Thames Road Waste Transfer Station is at Thames Road, Crayford, DA1 5QJ and is open seven days a week from 7.30am to 4pm, with a weekday closure to the public between 11am and 1pm.
Foots Cray and Thames Road
Use official Bexley pages for current opening times, accepted waste and resident access requirements.
Proof of address
Bring proof such as a valid driving licence or council tax bill and be ready to show it if asked.
Fly-tipping warning
Do not leave waste beside recycling banks. Waste left on the ground can be treated as fly-tipping.
Bexley Flats, Communal Bins, Boxes and Bags: Why Your Collection May Look Different
Not every Bexley property uses the standard set of wheeled bins.
Some flats, homes above shops and communal blocks use boxes, bags, shared bins or large communal recycling bins. Bexley has separate guidance for recycling boxes, bags and large communal recycling bins. If you live in a flat, do not rely on a house-based bin colour guide until you check your building’s collection arrangement.
Shared-bin mistakes to avoid
Most communal-bin problems come from wrong containers, blocked stores, bagged recycling or large items dumped beside bins.
Check your building’s container
Some flats use communal recycling bins rather than blue-lidded and white-lidded wheeled bins.
No loose dumping
Furniture, mattresses and appliances need bulky waste, reuse or recycling centre routes.
Keep recycling loose
Bagged recycling can be rejected. Put accepted materials loose into the correct container.
Keep stores accessible
Locked, blocked or overflowing bin stores can prevent crews from collecting even when the right day is shown.
Bexley Bin Collection Tips Residents Learn the Hard Way
These practical checks help avoid missed collections, wrong recycling weeks and extra waste problems.
Know your blue/white week
Homes with wheeled recycling bins usually alternate blue-lidded and white-lidded collections. Save the schedule to your phone.
Use food waste weekly
Weekly food waste helps keep the general rubbish bin cleaner and stops food from filling the fortnightly rubbish bin.
Do not bag recycling
Put recycling loose in the correct recycling bin. Plastic bags inside the bin can stop collection.
Do not leave side waste
No additional rubbish and recycling left at the side of bins will be collected.
Check before bank holidays
Use the WasteWorks calendar and official holiday arrangements instead of assuming every London borough follows the same pattern.
Use proof of address at centres
Take a valid driving licence or council tax bill when using Foots Cray or Thames Road recycling facilities.
Official Bexley Council Bin Collection Links
Use these official links before putting bins out, reporting a problem, ordering bins, subscribing to garden waste or visiting a recycling centre.
Bexley Council Bin Collection FAQ
These answers cover the main Bexley searches: bin collection dates, schedule, calendar, blue/white recycling weeks, food waste, garden waste, missed bins, bulky waste and recycling centres.
Use the official Bexley WasteWorks lookup, enter your postcode, select your address and check your collection dates. The tool can also help with missed bins, bin requests, garden waste and bulky waste.
Bexley collects general rubbish every two weeks. Only one general rubbish wheeled bin is collected per household unless an additional bin has been authorised.
Food waste and recycling boxes or bags are collected weekly. If your property has recycling wheeled bins, one recycling bin is emptied each week, alternating between the blue-lidded and white-lidded bins.
The blue-lidded recycling bin is for clean paper and cardboard. Do not use it for plastic packaging, glass, cans, cartons, food waste or general rubbish.
The white-lidded recycling bin is for plastic packaging, glass bottles and jars, food tins, drink cans and cartons.
No. Bexley says recycling should be put in the bin loose. Items placed inside plastic bags will not be collected.
Bexley garden waste costs £87 for the whole year. A £5 discount is available if you pay by Direct Debit. You can add up to four more bins for £67 each.
Use the official missed collection report route. If the missed collection report is accepted, Bexley’s policy says the contractor will return within 48 hours or two working days.
No. Bexley says no additional rubbish and recycling left at the side of bins will be collected. Use recycling centres, bulky waste or the correct request route instead.
Bexley operates reuse and recycling centres at Foots Cray and Thames Road. Bring proof of address such as a valid driving licence or council tax bill when using the facilities.
Editorial note
This is an independent resident guide for councilbincollection.org. It is not the official London Borough of Bexley website. Always confirm collection dates, blue/white recycling weeks, missed-bin rules, garden waste prices, bulky waste charges, container requests and recycling centre opening times on official Bexley pages before taking action.
Final summary: For Bexley Council bin collection, start with the official WasteWorks postcode lookup. General rubbish is collected every two weeks. Food waste and recycling boxes or bags are collected weekly. Recycling wheeled bins alternate between blue-lidded paper/card and white-lidded plastics/cans/glass/cartons. Garden waste is a paid £87 yearly brown bin service. Report missed collections through the official Bexley route and do not leave extra rubbish or recycling beside bins.