Recycling rules for Richmond upon Thames
Based on Richmond upon Thames published guidance · Last verified September 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Richmond upon Thames.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Richmond upon Thames
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Richmond upon Thames's recycling bin
Cannot be recycled. Dustbin, wheelie bin or refuse sack.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue box; break larger pieces down to fit.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Black box; unbroken.
Food waste: Goes in your food waste bin
Kitchen caddy, then the food waste box if provided.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue box; contain it in an envelope or cereal box.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Black box; rinse.
Your bins in Richmond upon Thames, by colour
Container colours as published by Richmond upon Thames. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Blue box
Mixed paper and cardboard
Houses, maisonettes and converted flats; purpose-built flats use mixed paper bins
Black box
Plastics, cans and bottles
Houses, maisonettes and converted flats; purpose-built flats use mixed container bins
Green box
Food waste
Selected purpose-built flats have a communal food waste service
Green bin
Garden waste
Blue lid. Opt-in subscription; communal garden areas can have a 1,100 litre bin
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Paper & Card
- Paper · Clean paper: blue box
- Cardboard · Blue box; break larger pieces down to fit
- Envelopes · Blue box
- Junk mail · Blue box
- Shredded paper · Blue box; contain it in an envelope or cereal box
Plastics
- Plastic bottles · Black box; rinse, squash, replace lids
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays · Black box; rinse
- Squeezy plastic tubes · Black box; empty, e.g. toothpaste; caps can stay on
Other
- Plant pots · Black box; under 20cm, any colour except black
- Cartons · Black box, not the blue box; e.g. Tetra Paks
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars · Black box; unbroken
Metals
- Food tins · Black box; rinse
- Drink cans · Black box; rinse
- Aluminium foil · Black box
- Aerosols · Black box; empty cans only
- Squeezy metal tubes · Black box; empty, e.g. tomato paste tubes
- Metal jar lids · Black box; loose, not attached to the jar
Not accepted
- Used paper cups or tissues · Not accepted in the blue box
- Dirty paper · Not accepted in the blue box
- Plastic bags and films · Not accepted in the black boxInstead: Larger stores of major supermarkets
- Plastic cups · Not accepted in the black box
- Black plant pots · Plant pots must be any colour except black
- Pump action mechanisms · Should be removed and put in your dustbinInstead: Your dustbin
- Batteries · They can cause firesInstead: Selected libraries or Townmead Road
- Blister packs · Cannot be recycled in home recyclingInstead: Boots or Superdrug stores
- Polystyrene · Cannot be recycledInstead: Dustbin, wheelie bin or refuse sack
- Nappies · Cannot be recycledInstead: Dustbin, wheelie bin or refuse sack
- Used kitchen towels · Cannot be recycledInstead: Dustbin, wheelie bin or refuse sack
- Sanitary products · Cannot be recycledInstead: Dustbin, wheelie bin or refuse sack
- Broken crockery · Cannot be recycledInstead: Dustbin, wheelie bin or refuse sack
Common mistakes
- Textiles · Traid textile bank or free doorstep collection
- Disposable vapes · Via the retailer or Townmead Road
- Coffee pods · Townmead Road Recycling Centre
- Light bulbs · Townmead Reuse and Recycling Centre or B&Q
- Cooking oil · Townmead Road Recycling Centre
- Food waste→ goes in Food Waste · Kitchen caddy, then the food waste box if provided
- Garden waste→ goes in Garden Waste · Garden waste bin or sacks
Tips (16)
- • Blue box for paper and card
- • Black box for cans and bottles
- • Rinse items of food remains
- • Squash plastic bottles
- • Replace lids after rinsing
- • Include loose metal jar lids
- • Remove pump action mechanisms
- • Break cardboard down to fit
- • Contain shredded paper
- • Plant pots under 20cm
- • No batteries in recycling
- • No plastic bags or film
- • Cartons go in the black box
- • Don't overfill your boxes
- • Small electricals by black box
- • Out 8pm night before to 6am
Garden Waste
Accepted
- Grass cuttings
- Hedge trimmings
- Garden prunings
- Leaves
- Twigs
- Flowers
- Plants
- Fallen fruit
- Blighted tomatoes
- Weeds · Excluding those in the we don't accept column
Not accepted
- Soil · Not accepted in garden waste
- Rubble · Not accepted in garden wasteInstead: Townmead Road
- Stone · Not accepted in garden waste
- Animal waste · Not accepted in garden waste
- BBQ ash · Not accepted in garden waste
- Food · Not accepted in garden waste
- Glass · Not accepted in garden waste
- Plastic or bio-plastic bags · Not accepted in garden waste
- Other diseased plants · Not accepted in garden waste
- Japanese knotweed · Controlled by law; you could be prosecutedInstead: Quote from an INNSA member or the council
Common mistakes
- Food waste→ goes in Food Waste · Kitchen caddy, then the food waste box if provided
Tips (13)
- • No soil, rubble or stone
- • No plastic bags or films
- • No Japanese knotweed
- • No food in garden waste
- • House number on bin side
- • Don't write number on the lid
- • Bin directly outside property
- • Bin must not be too heavy
- • Contamination can end service
- • Sacks out before 6am
- • Max ten sacks per collection
- • Sacks must not be split
- • Book sacks by noon day before
When are bins collected in Richmond upon Thames?
This page covers what goes in each bin. Collection days are set by the council and vary by street. See how to find your bin collection day, or browse streets by postcode to see schedules your neighbours have added.
Richmond upon Thames doesn't move bin collections for bank holidays, so your usual day stands. Christmas and New Year weeks can still differ, so check the council's site for those. Your neighbours can vote on the actual day on BinBosh if it changes.
No streets in Richmond upon Thames on BinBosh yet — be the first to add yours, and your neighbours can adopt it instead of setting up their own.
Frequently asked questions
What bin does polystyrene go in Richmond upon Thames?
In Richmond upon Thames, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin. Cannot be recycled. Dustbin, wheelie bin or refuse sack.
What bin does cardboard go in Richmond upon Thames?
In Richmond upon Thames, cardboard goes in your recycling bin. Blue box; break larger pieces down to fit.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Richmond upon Thames?
In Richmond upon Thames, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Black box; unbroken.
What bin does food waste go in Richmond upon Thames?
In Richmond upon Thames, food waste goes in your food waste bin. Kitchen caddy, then the food waste box if provided.
What bin does shredded paper go in Richmond upon Thames?
In Richmond upon Thames, shredded paper goes in your recycling bin. Blue box; contain it in an envelope or cereal box.
What goes in the recycling bin in Richmond upon Thames?
Richmond upon Thames's recycling bin accepts paper, cardboard, envelopes, junk mail, shredded paper, plastic bottles, and more. Clean paper: blue box.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Richmond upon Thames?
Richmond upon Thames's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, garden prunings, leaves, twigs, flowers, and more.
What can't be recycled in Richmond upon Thames?
Items not accepted in Richmond upon Thames: used paper cups or tissues, dirty paper, plastic bags and films, plastic cups. Used paper cups or tissues — not accepted in the blue box.
Helpful guides
Source: Richmond upon Thames council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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