Camden asks households to put almost everything recyclable together in one mixed recycling container, collected weekly, with food waste in its own caddy and everything else in the rubbish. Houses, estates and flats above shops are served differently, so your collection day and your containers depend on where you live.
Last checked against 8 sources (www.camden.gov.uk).
What goes in each bin
Rubbish bin or bags (communal rubbish bins on estates) · General waste
Bin · Varies by area, so check your address
Yes please
Items that cannot be recycled, including clingfilm, cellophane, crisp packets and polystyrene
Sanitary products, nappies, dog poo and cat litter
Broken glass, wrapped carefully so it is not dangerous to collect
Single-use face coverings, PPE and rapid lateral flow home test kits (the cardboard packaging and paper booklet can be recycled)
Not in this one
DIY rubbish such as rubble and plasterboard
Vapes, household and lithium batteries, gas canisters and electrical items, which become flammable when crushed
Bulky waste, white goods and furniture, which need a separate collection
Rubbish bin or bags (communal rubbish bins on estates) · General waste
Varies by area, so check your address
Recycling bin, box or clear recycling bags · Mixed recycling
Every week
Food waste caddies (small green kitchen caddy and brown outdoor caddy) or a communal food waste bin · Food waste
Every week
Garden waste: brown bin or three reusable white bags (paid subscription) · Garden waste
Every week
Food waste and the national recycling rules
Camden collects food waste every week. The council says many homes are eligible for its weekly food waste recycling service, using a small kitchen caddy and a larger outdoor caddy, or a communal food bin on an estate. It is currently unable to collect food waste from most flats above shops, though a trial runs on some streets.
Garden waste is a paid-for service. A 12 month subscription costs £75 and a 9 month subscription costs £60. People aged 65 or over, or who receive 100% Council Tax Support, may get a discounted price by calling Veolia on 020 3567 8105. You can request three reusable white bags or one brown garden waste bin. The service is for houses and houses divided into flats, and garden waste is collected weekly. Put it out by 7am on your collection day, within one metre of the front entrance, and anything that does not fit in the bags or bin is not collected. The council says you can subscribe from April 2026.
Use the council's online form to report a missed recycling, rubbish, food waste or garden waste collection. The council warns of delays from temporary driver shortages and says it will try to collect a missed bin the following day. Items may also be left if they were not put out in the right place at the right time, or if recycling is contaminated. You must report a missed collection within 2 working days after your collection day.
Houses, and houses divided into flats, put their bins out before 7am on collection day, as close to the pavement as possible and within one metre of the entrance. The council cannot collect from basements or from up steps. If space is tight, bins can go on the pavement as long as they do not block the path and are back on the property within 24 hours.
Flats above shops put bags out at a set time for their street. Camden delivers clear recycling bags and orange rubbish bags every six months. If your street is not on the council's list of bag collection areas, bags should be out by 7am but no earlier than 9pm the night before, to stop them blocking the pavement or being ripped open by foxes.
On estates and in blocks of flats, recycling and rubbish go into the correct communal bins. Camden asks residents who are unsure to ask a caretaker, on-site supervisor or neighbour.
The council will not collect recycling that contains anything that cannot be recycled. For houses it leaves a note or sticker asking you to take out the wrong items before the next collection, and it says it is strict because wrong items spoil recycling.
Lithium batteries, vapes, gas canisters and electrical items are dangerous in the bin because they become extremely flammable when crushed. Camden points residents to the Regis Road recycling centre and says it collects electricals and household batteries from some homes.
Compostable caddy liners are no longer delivered. They can be collected free from Camden libraries and leisure centres, and Veolia can help if you cannot visit for health reasons.
Garden waste is a separate subscription for houses. Since the 2025 route changes, most subscribers have a different day for garden waste than for their recycling, food waste and rubbish.
Bin questions in Camden
When is my bin collected in Camden?
It depends on your address. Camden's check your collection day service covers houses and flats above shops, and the council says houses may have a different garden waste day from their recycling and rubbish day.
How do flats above shops put their rubbish out in Camden?
Flats above shops use clear recycling bags and orange rubbish bags, delivered every six months, and put them out at a set time for their street. Where no set time is listed, bags should be out by 7am but not before 9pm the night before.
What should I do on collection day in Camden?
Houses put recycling and rubbish bins, bags and boxes outside before 7am, close to the pavement and within one metre of the entrance, at street level. Estate and block residents use the communal bins.
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