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Household waste


Collection times  | Hazardous waste | Domestic bins | Household recycling | Bulky waste - eg furniture
Fridge and freezer removal | Clinical waste | Waste disposal | Garden waste

The City of London collects waste on a daily basis (Monday to Friday) from all households in the City. Approximately three-quarters of households are within large residential developments such as the Barbican, Middlesex Street Estate and Golden Lane Estate. The majority of large developments have waste management facilities within the development from which waste is collected.

Some smaller residential developments and individual premises do not have waste storage facilities. At these locations waste is usually collected from the kerbside. If you are moving into the City or are a resident who would like to know more about the waste collection arrangements where you live please contact us on 020 7606 3110 extension 2241 or alternatively email us with your request for information.

Collection times

The City does not have defined collection times for household waste collections. The service runs Monday to Friday and residents should place their waste out on the streets anytime after 7.30am. Waste will be collected from all premises by 4.00pm on the same day.

Unfortunately, household waste collections do not run on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank or Public Holidays.

Those residents who live in premises with designated storage facilities should only use these facilities for the storage of their waste and should not use the public highway.

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Hazardous waste

The City of London operates a Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal Service (HHWCDS) on behalf of 31 of the 32 London boroughs (the exception being London Borough of Hillingdon) and the City of London. For residents of all  London boroughs (with the exception of Hillingdon) and the City of London, you should follow the information below:

The service is able to arrange for the removal of wrapped asbestos and packaged chemicals from households. If you find that you have either asbestos or chemicals to dispose of you will need to contact us with the details of what needs to be collected.

In the case of asbestos we will need to know::

  • the size of each piece of asbestos and the number of pieces to be collected

In the case of chemicals we will need to know:

  • the name of each chemical to be collected and an estimate of the quantity

We need to know this information so that we can arrange the correct type of collection for you.

In the case of asbestos we are not able to dismantle or wrap the asbestos for you. This must be done prior to collection. Likewise, chemicals need to be packaged prior to collection.

Arrange to have hazardous waste collected online
Download advice for hazardous chemical waste collection and disposal (20kb)
Download advice for hazardous asbestos waste collection and disposal (19kb)
Download guidance notes for asbestos (28kb)

When calling to arrange a collection you will need to tell us:

  • the name of the London borough you live in
  • your full name, address and telephone number
  • details of the items to be collected

You will then be informed of any charges which may apply. You are entitled to one asbestos collection per year and three chemical collections per year (dependent on quantity).

Once you have given details of the collection you require, the HHWCDS Officer will calculate and inform you of the cost of your collection, if there is a charge payable. You can make payment over the telephone by credit or debit card. If a charge is payable a collection cannot be arranged until payment has been received in full.

You will then be sent a form giving details of the collection you have requested and, if applicable, a receipt for your payment. No collection can be arranged until this form has been completed and returned.

On receipt of your completed form we contact our contractor to inform them of the collection you require. You will then be telephoned by the contractor to inform you of the day and time your collection will be made. This service is very busy and it can take up to two weeks for a collection to be arranged once your paperwork has been returned.

This is a very specialist service and all the correct paperwork must be completed and returned before your collection can be arranged. A delay in returning your paperwork will mean that you will have to wait longer for a collection.

The contractor divides the collections into areas of London and so you will receive a collection when the contractor is next working in your area.

If you would like to arrange a collection or would like more information regarding this service please telephone 020 7332 3433. If you reach an answer phone, please leave a message and someone will call you back. Alternatively you can telephone 020 7606 3110 extension 2321 or 2212; if you just require general information regarding this service.

The following organisations also have useful information on a variety of hazardous waste issues.

A further source of information is the leaflet 'Asbestos in Your Home' which has facts about asbestos, where it may be used, and what to do if you find it in your home.

Download the Asbestos in your home PDF (31kb)

Domestic bins

Cleansing Services only provide domestic bins to residents of premises that have approved and designated on-site storage facilities. Bins are usually provided by the landlord of the property and often take the form of large bulk-storage wheeled containers, which are kept in the waste storage chamber.

For the few domestic premises which are not in large residential developments and have no waste storage facilities, on-street, kerbside collections are provided. Domestic bins are not provided where no on-site waste storage facilities exist as the City of London does not allow the storage of waste containers on the highway.

If you have any questions regarding domestic bins please contact Waste Collection Services on 020 7606 3110 extension 2241 or email the team.

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Recycling

All residential premises are able to participate in the City of London’s residential recycling scheme more residential recycling information is available here.

Bulky items

As a City resident, if you have bulky items of waste or furniture to dispose of you can either dispose of this yourself at the local civic amenity site run by London Borough of Tower Hamlets or you can arrange a bulky waste collection.

We are able to arrange the collection of bulky items such as furniture.  This can be arranged either by telephone (020 7606 3110 extension 2241) or by using the online booking form.  This service is only available to residents of the City of London.  Please check the service details first before making a booking . Click here to make a booking online.

We can arrange the collection of unwanted computer equipment from your home.  If you have such items to be collected please call us on 020 7606 3110 extension 2241 or use the online booking form (see above). Alternatively to find organisations that will recycle your old computers please contact the household recycling team on 0207 606 3110 extension 2333.

Please note that collections of bulky items and the removal of computer and electrical equipment are only available to residents of the City of London.

Fridges & freezers

We are able to collect domestic fridges and freezers. Please use the special collection form. Click here to make a booking online or contact us on 020 7606 3110 extension 2241. 

Clinical waste

In the City clinical waste mainly arises when:

  • a resident has a medical condition which it treated in the home, for example diabetes or is receiving post operative care,
  • an employee has a medical condition which requires treatment at work ,
  • a business has a medical centre or first aid room, or
  • a business specialises in healthcare treatments, for example dentistry, beauty treatment or acupuncture.

Cleansing Services offer a specialist service which collects the clinical waste produced in these circumstances.

Click here to find out more about the Clinical waste service.

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Waste disposal

Walbrook Wharf Waste Transfer Station is where waste collected by the City of London, from residents and businesses’ in the 'Square Mile', is taken for disposal.

The transfer station is located in:
Upper Thames Street
near Southwark Bridge

The transfer station is open 24 hours a day and is only closed on Christmas Day.

Waste collected from the City is compacted into ISO containers, taken down river for disposal to landfill. The transfer station is operated by Cory Environmental Ltd under Waste Management Licence Number GTL/COR057.

The City of London has an arrangement with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the use of that authority’s Re-use and Recycling Centre at Northumberland Wharf, on the Isle of Dogs, for use by City residents.

LB Tower Hamlets
Northumberland Wharf
Yabsley Street
London
E14 9RG

Tel 020 7538 4526

Opening times are:

Monday to Saturday - 8.00am to 8.00pm
Sundays - 9.00am to 8.00pm

Visit the Tower Hamlets website for more information

For more details contact Cleanaway Ltd on 020 7538 4526.

What can I do with my garden waste?

Due to the nature of the City and the very small amount of residential properties that have gardens, the City of London Corporation does not offer a garden waste collection service. Those residents that do however produce garden waste can recycle it through the Tower Hamlets recycling centre at Northumberland Wharf. Contact details and opening times can be found below:

Yabsley Street
Isle of Dogs
E14 9RG
Tel 020 7538 4526

Opening hours
Monday -Saturday: 8.00am - 8.00pm
Sunday: 9.00am - 8.00pm

Visit the Tower Hamlets website for more information.


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