Bexley collects general rubbish every two weeks and food waste every week. Recycling is sorted into two streams: plastic packaging, glass, cans and cartons together, and paper and card on its own. Homes with wheelie bins get one of the two recycling bins emptied each week, alternating colours, while homes with boxes or clear sacks have recycling collected weekly.
Last checked against 8 sources (www.bexley.gov.uk).
What goes in each bin
Green wheeled bin for general rubbish (black bags where the council does not supply a bin) · General waste
Bin · Every two weeks
Yes please
Items that are not on the council's recyclable list
Other household plastics such as film, crisp packets, plastic carrier bags and black sacks
Pet food pouches, polystyrene, nappies and labels
Glass cookware such as Pyrex, and drinking glasses
Not in this one
Batteries, electrical items and lightbulbs, which should never go in the general waste bin
Anything left at the side of the bin, which will not be collected
Green wheeled bin for general rubbish (black bags where the council does not supply a bin) · General waste
Every two weeks
White-lidded wheelie bin for plastic packaging, glass, cans and cartons · Mixed recycling
Every two weeks
Blue-lidded wheelie bin for paper and card · Paper and card
Every two weeks
Black and maroon recycling boxes (where wheelie bins do not suit) · Mixed recycling
Every week
Green recycling box for paper and card (where wheelie bins do not suit) · Paper and card
Every week
Clear sacks for recycling (where wheelie bins and boxes do not suit) · Mixed recycling
Every week
Brown food waste box and small kitchen caddy · Food waste
Every week
Brown 240-litre garden waste wheelie bin (paid subscription) · Garden waste
Every two weeks
Food waste and the national recycling rules
Bexley collects food waste every week. Bexley says it collects food waste every week as part of its standard service. Each household gets a large brown food waste box that is collected, and a small kitchen caddy. The council does not supply food waste liners.
Garden waste is a paid-for service. A year of the service costs £87, or £82 if you pay by Direct Debit, valid until 31 March 2027. Up to four extra bins cost £67 each, and the renewal date for all bins is the date of your first subscription. The council does not give partial refunds, except a full refund in the first 14 days of a first subscription. The bin is emptied every two weeks with a break at Christmas, which the council says gives 25 collections a year. The subscription starts 14 days after you sign up and the council sends a 240-litre bin within 10 days.
Report a missed collection on the council's online form, which asks where you live. The council cannot collect if the waste was not out in the right place by 6am, if you put out the wrong colour bin, or if the wrong type of rubbish or recycling was in it. If you put something in the wrong bin, the crew puts a red tag on it and empties it next time if you have sorted the problem.
Which containers you have depends on your home. Wheelie bins are the standard: a green general rubbish bin, a white-lidded recycling bin, a blue-lidded paper and card bin and a brown food waste box. Where wheelie bins do not suit, the council issues black and maroon and green boxes, or clear sacks for recycling.
Put all recycling in the bin loose, never inside plastic bags, because bagged recycling will not be collected. No extra rubbish or recycling left at the side of the bins is collected.
The council asks for a quick rinse of containers. Metal lids from glass jars and bottles can be recycled, but separately from the glass.
Batteries, electrical items and light bulbs should never go in the general waste bin. Take them to one of the reuse and recycling centres. Mirrors, sheet glass, Pyrex and drinking glasses also stay out of the recycling bins.
Homes given clear sacks because wheelie bins or boxes do not suit get the bags delivered every six months, and they need to be out by 6am on collection day. Non-recyclable rubbish goes in black bags that the council does not supply.
The garden waste bin is emptied every two weeks with a four-week gap over Christmas and New Year. Garden waste in bags, plant pots and plastic is not collected, and the council only takes garden waste in its brown wheeled bins.
The two recycling centres are free for residents, who need to show a valid driving licence or a Council Tax bill as proof of address. Since 1 September 2023, old permits are no longer accepted. Vans have a 250kg annual weight allowance at the Thames Road transfer station.
Bin questions in Bexley
How often are bins collected in Bexley?
The council collects general rubbish every two weeks, and food waste and recycling boxes or bags every week. Homes with recycling wheelie bins have one of the two emptied every week, alternating between colours.
How much is garden waste collection in Bexley?
A year costs £87, or £82 by Direct Debit, with extra bins at £67 each. Collections are fortnightly, with 25 a year, and the subscription is valid until 31 March 2027.
What do I need to take to Bexley's recycling centres?
Bring a valid driving licence or a Council Tax bill as proof of address. Both centres are free for residents, and staff record your address, vehicle registration and type of waste when you arrive.
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