Check Bin Day, Recycling Boxes and Missed Collection Rules
Use this practical Richmond Council bin guide to check your collection day, choose the correct recycling box or sack, and avoid the small errors that cause missed household waste, recycling, food waste or garden waste collections.
It covers the My Richmond collection-day tool, blue and black recycling boxes, weekly food waste, dustbins and refuse sacks, paid garden subscriptions, garden sacks, flats, assisted collections, bulky waste and Townmead Road booking rules.
Quick answer: use the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames collection-day page and the My Richmond tool to check your exact address. It shows your household waste and recycling day, and the next garden recycling date if you are subscribed.
For most houses, the blue box is for clean paper and cardboard, the black box is for mixed containers such as plastics, cans, glass, foil, cartons and clean tubes, and the large green food waste container is collected weekly. Purpose-built flats may use communal mixed paper bins, mixed container bins and communal food waste bins instead.
What This Upgraded Richmond Bin Guide Fixes
The earlier version answered the basics, but search users need more than a date link. This version adds the micro-details that decide whether a box, sack, caddy or garden bin is actually collected.
Presentation window
It now explains the 8pm to 6am presentation rule, front-boundary placement, pavement restrictions and why putting waste out too early can cause problems.
Flat-store detail
It now separates houses, converted flats, purpose-built flats, flats above shops and bin-store access issues so residents do not follow the wrong system.
Garden sack help
It now includes occasional garden sack rules, booking deadlines, ten-sack limit and what causes sack collections to fail.
Small electrical route
It now adds small-electrical kerbside guidance so residents do not hide batteries, vapes, cables or appliances in rubbish.
2026 recycling changes
It now explains cartons, clean aluminium trays and empty squeezy tubes in mixed recycling, while soft plastic film waits until 31 March 2027.
Townmead clarity
It now includes booking, proof, vehicle, DIY waste and no-entry warnings so users know what to check before loading the car.
Official Source Audit: Richmond upon Thames, Not Another Richmond
This article is for London Borough of Richmond upon Thames waste and recycling users. It does not use Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, Richmond city in Virginia, Richmond in British Columbia, or any unrelated Richmond council page.
Collection lookup checked
The official collection-day page uses the My Richmond tool and can show your next garden recycling date if you are subscribed.
Container rules checked
House guidance separates blue paper/card boxes, black mixed-container boxes, green food containers and rubbish sacks or privately purchased dustbins.
Flat guidance checked
Purpose-built flats may use communal mixed paper bins, mixed container bins and communal food waste bins instead of individual boxes.
Garden subscription checked
The 2026/27 garden recycling service runs to 31 March 2027, with listed 12-month charges and no garden bin stickers.
Missed collection rules checked
Before reporting, waste must have been out in the correct location by 6am, with no tag, and reports are only accepted within two working days.
Townmead booking checked
Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre requires advance booking for residents. Arrivals without a booking are not allowed entry.
How to Check Richmond Council Bin Collection Dates and Calendar
The safest way to check Richmond bin collection dates is to use the official address tool. A copied calendar is risky because flats, converted houses, garden subscriptions and bank holiday exceptions can change what applies to you.
Open the official collection-day page
Use the Richmond collection-day page and open the My Richmond tool. Choose the exact address, not just the nearest street.
Check property type
Confirm whether your home uses kerbside boxes, sacks, private dustbins, purpose-built flat communal bins, or a managing-agent arrangement.
Save each stream separately
Write down rubbish, paper/card, mixed containers, food waste and garden recycling separately. Do not save only “bin day”.
Check garden subscription dates
If you pay for garden recycling, My Richmond can show the next garden collection date. If you only use garden sacks, book sack collection separately.
Check Christmas and New Year
Most bank holidays are normal, but Christmas Day and New Year’s Day can shift collections one day later for the rest of that week when they fall on a weekday.
Screenshot placement idea
Add a screenshot of the official Richmond collection-day lookup page here. Do not screenshot a private address result.
Suggested filename: richmond-council-bin-collection-day-lookup-2026.webp
Alt text: Richmond Council bin collection day lookup for waste and recycling dates
Caption: Use the official My Richmond collection-day tool to confirm your next waste, recycling and garden collection dates.
8pm to 6am Presentation Rules: Where to Put Boxes, Sacks and Caddies
This is one of the most important collection details. Richmond tells residents to leave waste and recycling ready between 8pm the night before and 6am on collection day.
| Situation | Correct presentation | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| House with front garden, drive or entrance space | Place dustbins, sacks, boxes and food caddies just inside the front entrance, clearly visible from the road and within arm’s length of the street boundary. | This helps crews collect without entering the property or searching behind walls, gates or parked vehicles. |
| No suitable front storage | Place items immediately beside your own front boundary on the pavement only between 8pm the night before and 6am on collection day. | Items should not block doorways, wheelchair users, pushchairs or the public highway. |
| Rubbish sacks | Tie sacks securely and clear any litter if sacks split or animals scatter waste before collection. | Loose waste can lead to street mess, missed collections and enforcement issues. |
| Unwanted items offered to neighbours | Keep items within your front boundary and label them clearly as available for reuse. | Do not leave giveaway items on the pavement where they can be mistaken for dumped waste. |
House, Converted Flat or Purpose-Built Flat: Which Richmond Bin Rules Apply?
This is the main local detail many generic articles miss. Richmond uses different presentation systems depending on the property layout.
| Property type | Likely collection setup | Important resident note |
|---|---|---|
| House, maisonette or converted-house flat | Blue box for paper/card, black box for mixed containers, large green food waste container and your own rubbish sack/dustbin/wheelie bin. | Richmond provides recycling boxes and food containers, but does not provide dustbins, wheelie bins or refuse sacks. |
| Purpose-built flat | Communal mixed paper bins, mixed container bins, general waste bins and, where rolled out, communal food waste bins. | Managing agents, landlords or residents’ associations are responsible for suitable bin-store arrangements and access. |
| Flat above shop with sack service | Some eligible flats above shops can order blue sacks for paper/card and green sacks for mixed containers. | Eligible properties are limited. If the address is not eligible, the sack order form may not work. |
| Large block or estate | Blocks larger than seven units usually use shared communal bins with recycling bins nearby. | Locked bin stores should use practical access systems such as punch pads where possible. Key-only access can prevent collection. |
Richmond 2026 Collection Pattern: Rubbish, Recycling, Food and Garden Waste
Richmond’s collection system is weekly for core household waste streams, while garden recycling is a paid fortnightly service for subscribed properties.
| Stream | Container | Collection pattern | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and cardboard | Blue box for houses; mixed paper bins for many purpose-built flats. | Check exact address in My Richmond. | Keep dirty paper, used cups, tissues, plastics and cartons out of the blue box. |
| Mixed containers | Black box for houses; mixed container bins for many flats. | Check exact address in My Richmond. | Plastic film and carrier bags are not accepted in Richmond mixed recycling until 31 March 2027. |
| Food waste | Indoor caddy emptied into outdoor green food container or communal food bin. | Weekly collection. | No plastic bags, packaging, oils, milk or liquids. |
| Rubbish | Resident-purchased dustbin, wheelie bin or tied refuse sack. | Weekly general waste collections are planned to continue. | Do not add garden waste, oversized items or recyclable items. |
| Garden recycling | Subscribed green wheelie bin with blue lid, or Richmond garden sacks if used occasionally. | Fortnightly if subscribed or booked for sacks. | No stickers are issued; crews use in-cab technology, so your house number must be clear on the bin side. |
Item Route Helper: Blue Box, Black Box, Food Caddy, Rubbish, Garden or Townmead?
Use this quick helper before collection day. It is designed around Richmond’s 2026 house and flat rules, not a generic UK recycling list.
Blue Box: Paper and Cardboard for Richmond Houses
For houses, maisonettes and flats in converted houses, the blue box is for paper and cardboard. It is not the mixed container box.
Use it for
Clean paper, clean card, cardboard, envelopes and junk mail. Larger cardboard should be broken down until it fits, or flattened and tied in a manageable bundle with non-nylon string.
Keep out
Used paper cups, tissues, dirty paper, food and drink cartons, plastics, batteries or anything that belongs in the black box, food waste container, rubbish or Townmead route.
Black Box: Plastics, Cans, Bottles, Glass, Foil, Cartons and Clean Tubes
The black box is Richmond’s mixed container route for houses. Rinse items with significant food remains and squash plastic bottles where possible.
| Black box item group | Accepted examples | Keep out |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic containers | Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays and empty squeezy plastic tubes such as toothpaste tubes. | Plastic bags, film, cups, toys, non-container plastics, pesticide containers and motor-oil containers. |
| Metal and foil | Food tins, drink cans, clean foil, empty aerosol cans, aluminium food trays and empty squeezy metal tubes such as tomato paste tubes. | Other metal items, batteries, vapes or electricals. |
| Glass and cartons | Unbroken glass bottles and jars, plus food and drink cartons such as Tetra Paks. | Broken crockery, Pyrex, drinking glasses and dirty cartons. |
| Small plant pots | Plant pots smaller than 20cm in diameter, all colours except black. | Black plant pots, large pots, soil, turf or garden waste. |
Food Waste Collection: Weekly Caddies for Houses and Communal Flats
Richmond collects food waste weekly. Houses use an indoor kitchen caddy and larger outdoor green food waste container. Purpose-built flats may use communal food waste bins.
Yes please
Plate scrapings, bread, pastries, fruit and vegetable peelings, meat, fish, bones, eggshells, dairy products, tea bags, coffee grounds and out-of-date food after packaging is removed.
No thanks
Liquid food waste, milk, oils, plastic bags, food packaging, foil, cling film, garden waste, biodegradable plastic coffee pods and compostable packaging except approved caddy liners.
Free liners
After the starter pack runs out, top-up compostable liners are available from Richmond libraries and the Civic Centre reception. Bought liners should meet EN13432 and show the seedling logo.
Rubbish Sacks, Dustbins and Wheelie Bins: What Richmond Does Not Provide
Richmond provides recycling boxes and food waste containers, but not dustbins, wheelie bins or refuse sacks for ordinary household rubbish. Residents use suitable privately purchased containers or tied refuse sacks.
| Rubbish option | Richmond guidance | Resident caution |
|---|---|---|
| Dustbin | Approximately 90 litres with a clip-on lid. | Keep it manageable for crews and do not use it for recyclables, garden waste or oversized items. |
| Wheelie bin | 120 to 240 litres with a hinged lid. | Check your storage and frontage before using one, especially on narrow pavements or shared access. |
| Refuse sack | Tied and unsplit, preferably black. | Avoid blue sacks because these can be confused with garden waste recycling sacks. |
| What can go in | Non-recyclable waste such as polystyrene, nappies, used kitchen towels, sanitary products, pet excrement, cotton wool and broken crockery. | Do not add garden waste, bulky items, recyclables, batteries, vapes or electricals. |
Richmond Garden Recycling 2026/27: Subscription, Fees, Sacks and Bin Tags
Garden recycling is optional and paid. It uses a green wheelie bin with a blue lid if you subscribe, or Richmond garden sacks if you only produce garden waste occasionally.
| Garden recycling point | 2026/27 detail | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription period | 12-month subscription started 1 April 2026 and runs until 31 March 2027. | Use the live subscription page before paying or renewing. |
| 12-month fee | £95 for residents aged under 75, and £71 for residents aged 75 and over. | Check the live form if your age or address affects the payment route. |
| Garden bin | Green wheelie bin with blue lid, 240 litres. A bin can be bought for £40 when signing up if you do not already have one. | Allow delivery time and write your house name or number clearly on the side, not the lid. |
| No stickers | Richmond no longer issues garden waste bin stickers. | Crews use in-cab technology, so clear house numbering on the side of the bin is important. |
| Collection frequency | Fortnightly on your scheduled collection day, except for the two-week suspension from 4 to 15 January 2027. | Check My Richmond for your exact garden collection date. |
| Moving home | If moving within the borough, update your details to continue the subscription. If moving out of borough, refunds are not issued for early cancellation. | Tell Richmond before relying on collection at a new address. |
Garden Sacks: Occasional Garden Waste Without a Bin Subscription
If you only produce garden waste occasionally, Richmond garden sacks can be used without subscribing to the garden bin service. This is useful after a small pruning job or seasonal clear-up.
Book before collection
Garden sack collections must be booked. Book by 12 noon on the working day before your garden waste collection day.
Set out before 6am
Sacks must be out before 6am, clearly visible from the street and not causing an obstruction.
Maximum ten sacks
Richmond collects a maximum of ten sacks per booked collection. Use only Richmond Council garden waste sacks.
Missed Collection Diagnosis: Report, Wait, Fix the Container or Check the Tag?
A missed collection report should only be made after checking the collection day, set-out time, container type, location and any tag explaining why the waste was not collected.
- Correct collection day checked in My Richmond.
- Waste was out in the correct location by 6am.
- Correct box, sack, caddy or garden bin was used.
- No tag was left by the crew explaining the problem.
- The rest of the street has been collected or it is after 4pm.
- The report is within two working days of the collection date.
Bulky Waste, Fridges, Freezers and Small Electrical Items
Bulky waste is for large household items that do not belong with normal waste. Richmond also gives separate routes for fridges, freezers and small electricals.
Standard bulky booking
The standard bulky service covers a single collection of up to five bulky items. Additional items can involve extra charges, so list everything accurately before paying.
Fridges and freezers
Fridges and freezers have a separate booking route. They should be empty, clean, outside at the front of the property and not on the public highway.
Small electricals
Kerbside recycling households can present small electrical items next to the weekly black-box mixed container collection in a standard-size open carrier bag.
Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre: Booking, Opening Times and Rules
Townmead Road is the main recycling centre for Richmond upon Thames. It is in Kew and requires a booked slot before you visit.
Address and contact
Townmead Road, off Mortlake Road, Kew, TW9 4EL. Site phone during opening hours: 020 8876 3281. Email: recycling@richmond.gov.uk.
Booking rule
Residents need to book a slot in advance. Residents arriving without a booking will not be allowed entry.
Resident opening hours
Monday to Saturday, 8am to 4pm. Sundays and bank holidays, 9am to 4pm. Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Vehicle limits
Cars, motorcycles, bicycles and small vans are permitted. Pedestrians are not permitted. Small vans must meet the council’s load-space size limit.
Proof and charges
Proof of residence is requested if arriving in a van or bringing DIY waste. Most residential waste is free, but charges can apply to construction and demolition waste.
Do not bring
Townmead does not accept items such as car tyres, asbestos, unidentified gas bottles, fireworks, food waste for recycling, medicines or syringes.
Order Recycling Boxes, Food Caddies, Covers and Flat Sacks
Richmond residents can order free recycling boxes and food caddies where the property is eligible. Check your property type before ordering because not all flats can use the standard kerbside boxes.
| Container | Size / rule | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Blue box | 55 litres; 585mm wide, 390mm deep, 350mm high. | For paper and cardboard at eligible houses and converted-house flats. |
| Black box | 55 litres; 585mm wide, 390mm deep, 350mm high. | For mixed containers at eligible houses and converted-house flats. |
| Large food waste caddy | 23 litres; 320mm wide, 410mm deep, 420mm high with handle down. | Put it out by 6am on your collection day. |
| Small food waste caddy | 5 litres; 290mm wide, 220mm deep, 210mm high with handle down. | Use compostable EN13432 liners, old newspaper or no liner. |
| Flat recycling sacks | Blue sacks for paper/card and green sacks for mixed containers. | Only for eligible flats above shops already provided with that service. |
Assisted Collections: Help If You Cannot Put Waste at the Front Edge
If disability, a medical condition or mobility problem means your household cannot use the standard service, Richmond may provide assisted collections.
Who may qualify
Households where no one living there can use the standard service because of disability, medical condition or mobility problem.
Where crews collect
If accepted, crews can collect from your front doorstep or another front entrance. They cannot come inside the property.
How to request
Call 020 8891 1411. The contractor assesses the outside of the property within two weeks, and approved addresses are added to the list within two weeks.
Short-term support
Short-term assisted collections can run for 12 months. You need to contact Richmond again if you still need the service afterwards.
Long-term support
Long-term assisted collections run for 36 months. Richmond sends a reminder to check whether the service is still needed.
Communal flats
If your block has large communal wheeled bins, contact your managing agent, landlord or housing management to understand support at the block.
Local Tips for Richmond upon Thames Bin Days
These are the practical checks that help in Richmond, Twickenham, Kew, Barnes, Mortlake, Whitton, Teddington, Hampton, Ham, Petersham and shared flat blocks.
Do the blue-black check
Blue box is paper/card. Black box is containers. Cartons now go in the black box, not the blue paper/card box.
Use the 8pm–6am window
Set waste out the night before only within the allowed window. This prevents early-presentation problems and pavement clutter.
Do not use blue rubbish sacks
For ordinary rubbish, Richmond prefers tied, unsplit black refuse sacks because blue can be confused with garden waste sacks.
Write garden numbers on the side
Garden waste crews use in-cab technology. Put the house number on the side of the green bin with blue lid, not on the lid.
Book Townmead before loading
Residents without a booking are not allowed entry. Check item restrictions before driving to Kew.
Flat stores need access
Locked bin stores can cause failures. Managing agents should use practical access systems rather than keys where possible.
Official Richmond Council Bin Collection Links
Use these links for live actions. This guide explains what to do, but Richmond Council controls collection dates, forms, fees, bookings, subscriptions and service updates.
Collection day lookup
Check waste, recycling and garden collection dates by address.
Your weekly collections
Main Richmond weekly waste, recycling, food and issue hub.
Report missed collection
Use after the required checks and within the two-working-day window.
Garden recycling subscription
Sign up, renew, check fees, and understand garden collection rules.
Bulky item collection
Book large household item collection or check reuse alternatives.
Townmead Road
Book the Kew reuse and recycling centre before visiting.
Richmond Council Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my Richmond Council bin collection day?
Use the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames collection-day page and the My Richmond tool. Enter your address to check household waste and recycling dates, plus garden recycling dates if subscribed.
What time should Richmond bins, boxes, sacks and caddies be out?
Waste and recycling should be ready between 8pm the night before and 6am on collection day. For missed collection reporting, Richmond checks that the correct items were in the correct location by 6am.
When can I report a missed Richmond collection?
You can report a missed recycling or household waste collection after 4pm on collection day, or when the rest of the street has been collected. Reports must be made within two working days of the collection date.
What goes in the Richmond blue recycling box?
For houses, the blue box is for clean paper, card, cardboard, envelopes and junk mail. Do not use it for cartons, plastics, dirty paper, used cups, tissues or batteries.
What goes in the Richmond black recycling box?
The black box is for mixed containers such as plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays, glass bottles and jars, food tins, drink cans, foil, empty aerosols, cartons and clean empty squeezy tubes.
Can Richmond residents recycle plastic film in the black box?
Not yet. Plastic film and carrier bags should still go to larger supermarket soft-plastic recycling points until Richmond accepts them in mixed recycling from 31 March 2027.
Does Richmond collect food waste every week?
Yes. Food waste is collected weekly. Houses use an indoor caddy and outdoor green food waste container. Flats may use communal food waste bins where the service is provided.
Does Richmond Council provide rubbish bins or refuse sacks?
No. Richmond provides recycling boxes and food waste containers, but it does not provide dustbins, wheelie bins or refuse sacks for ordinary household rubbish.
How much is Richmond garden waste collection in 2026/27?
The 2026/27 12-month garden recycling subscription is listed at £95 for residents under 75 and £71 for residents aged 75 and over. A green bin with a blue lid can be bought for £40 if needed.
Can I use garden sacks instead of a garden bin subscription?
Yes. If you only produce garden waste occasionally, you can buy Richmond garden sacks and book a collection. Sacks must be booked by 12 noon on the working day before collection and placed out before 6am.
Do I need to book Townmead Road Recycling Centre?
Yes. Richmond residents need to book a slot in advance for Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre. Residents arriving without a booking will not be allowed entry.
Is this website operated by Richmond Council?
No. This is an independent resident guide. The official Richmond Council website remains the final source for live collection dates, reports, garden fees, bulky bookings, container orders and Townmead rules.