Contents

Waste and recycling

Help us stop contamination

In January the Material Recycling Facility, that takes everything collected from Bexley’s white lidded recycling bins, had to reject several loads because of contamination.

The rejected loads contained material that cannot be accepted in the white lidded bins such as nappies, plastic bags, food waste, large plastic or electrical items and textiles.

Only empty plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays from your kitchen and bathroom, aluminium drinks cans, tin food cans and tin foil, glass bottles and jars should go in the white-lidded bin.

Putting the wrong items in recycling bins means that the recycling efforts of everyone who contributed to a load will have been wasted as recyclables that are contaminated have to be sent for incineration as general waste.

Nappies and plastic bags should go in the green general waste bin and food waste should be going into your food recycling box that we collect weekly.

Large plastic, electrical items and textiles should be placed in designated bins across the Borough or taken to the Boroughs two reuse and recycling centres at Thames Road (DA1 5QJ) and Foots Cray (DA14 5HS).

Find out what goes in each bin

stop contamination

Bexley student urges everyone to recycle their food

Bella, a student in Bexley, recently assisted the waste & recycling team with a video to explain to everyone how easy it is to recycle food waste in our borough. She also gave her top tips for reducing how much food waste we create in the Borough and how this can save you money. You can watch the video on our What goes in my food waste box page.

Over 30% of the rubbish in our green non-recyclable household bins is food waste that could have been recycled or reused. Food recycling is collected weekly in our Borough with free food boxes available for all residents. 

Request a food waste bin

female student

Electric waste collection vehicles

We’ve been trialling an electric waste collection vehicle as part of the Council’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions and use of diesel fuel.   

The use of battery-powered refuse collection trucks that require a single overnight charge to complete a daily round is not only more environmentally friendly but with reduced fuel costs would be more cost effective in the long-term.

Topography, weather and driving style all impact on battery range. Collection rounds in Bexley also vary in complexity so more extensive trials will need to take place to determine how best electric vehicles would work.

Waste collection rates in Bexley at an all-time high

Every month we collect over 1 million bins in Bexley with 99.88% of these successfully completed, a figure well above average and a significant improvement on collection levels since 2021 when Countrystyle were first contracted to deliver the service.

Improvements include new processes to enable problems such as missed bins to be tackled more quickly and better contract management arrangements that have improved partnership working between the Council and its contractor and increased efficiency levels.

We’ve also improved the online waste management system and residents can now find out real time information on their services and report missed bin collections more easily. 

Use the new Waste Bexley look-up tool

waste collection rates

Is your business ready?

Local businesses and organisations are reminded of their new responsibilities as changes to waste and recycling legislation come in from 31 March 2025.

‘Simpler Recycling in England’ is the new set of regulations designed to make recycling easier, by standardising recycling and waste collection systems nationwide.

In Bexley there are no immediate changes for residents as we already meet the required waste and recycling collections to households and have been collecting separate food, paper plus glass and plastics recycling for many years.

But businesses and other non-household municipal premises (e.g. schools, hospitals, village halls, churches etc) with 10 or more full-time employees will need to have separate collections for glass (bottles and jars), metal (tins, cans, foil etc.), plastic, paper and cardboard, and for food waste. These items will no longer be accepted when mixed in one general waste bin or bag.

The changes could be a great way for local businesses to save some money, with both recycling and food waste collections available via the Councils business recycling collection services.

Read more on new waste reforms for businesses

recycling
Collection calendar

Easter Bank Holiday

There will be no collections on Monday 21 April (Easter Monday Bank Holiday). 

Check your waste and recycling schedule