Find Your Merton Collection Dates, Correct Set-Out Time and Missed-Bin Route
Start with your exact address rather than a borough-wide timetable. Merton bin collection days can differ for houses, communal-bin blocks, flats above shops and properties using time-banded bags.
Use this guide to check your calendar, understand the 6am and evening rules, report a genuine missed collection, use the correct phone number, read the garden PDF and plan Christmas, bulky waste or Garth Road visits.
Merton Bin Collection: Complete the Right Task First
Most searchers need one of four actions: find today’s date, confirm the correct presentation time, report a genuinely missed bin or contact the council about a service that cannot be completed online.
Use the exact address
Enter the postcode and select the correct house, flat or building before saving a Merton bin collection date.
Check 6am or 6pm–8pm
Most homes use the 6am rule. Time-banded properties have two evening collection days each week.
Do not report too early
Wait until collections in the area finish or until after 11:59pm, whichever happens first.
Use the correct contact route
Online forms are best for routine reports. The waste helpline helps with assisted services, garden accounts and Garth Road access.
Always save the waste stream as well as the date. Paper/card, mixed containers, rubbish, food and garden waste do not all use the same frequency.
Merton Bin Collection Days: Address-by-Address Instructions
Merton bin collection days are property-specific. Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden, Colliers Wood, Raynes Park and surrounding neighbourhoods do not each have one universal day.
Open My Recycling and Waste
Use the official Merton address checker rather than a third-party reminder, old screenshot or neighbour’s routine.
Enter the full postcode
Use the postcode shown on the property’s Council Tax bill, tenancy agreement or utility account.
Select the exact address
Choose the correct flat number, house or building. Shared-bin properties can use different arrangements from nearby houses.
Check every listed waste stream
Write down rubbish, paper/card, mixed containers, food waste and garden waste separately.
Confirm whether the property is time-banded
A flat above a shop or an entrance on a high-footfall street may use evening bags instead of daytime kerbside containers.
Save the current calendar
Download the property PDF or add the dates to an online calendar when those options are available.
Recheck the postcode, street spelling and flat number. For a new development or recently converted property, prepare the full address and container details before contacting Merton.
Merton Bin Collection Dates and Calendar Options
The official Merton bin collection calendar can provide property dates, a printable PDF and an online-calendar option. Flats using communal bins may not receive a household-specific PDF.
Best for tonight or tomorrow
Use the live result when you need the next scheduled collection rather than relying on a saved calendar.
Best for household reminders
Print the address calendar and place it near the bins, kitchen caddy or shared household noticeboard.
Best for notifications
Add the official dates to a digital calendar and set a reminder before the correct presentation time.
A previous-year PDF can contain the correct weekday but the wrong dates, holiday shifts or container sequence.
Official Merton Collection Checker Screenshot and Food-Waste Video
The existing article screenshot is preserved as a visual recognition guide. It should help readers identify the correct checker, but only the live address result can provide a current collection date.
Property and service details
The result should identify the address and provide actions for collection dates, calendars, reports or containers.
Do not use the screenshot as a timetable
A screenshot is a visual aid only. It cannot reflect your own address, new route information or later holiday updates.
How Merton’s weekly food-waste collection works
The embedded council video explains the food-waste service. The written instructions below remain available for readers who cannot or prefer not to play the video.
Merton Bin Collection Times: Standard and Time-Banded Routes
The correct Merton bin collection times depend on the property. Standard kerbside homes and time-banded flats follow different rules.
Containers ready by 6am
- Use the correct bin, box, caddy or approved bag.
- Place it at the front edge of the property.
- Keep it within arm’s reach of the pavement.
- Make it visible from the pavement.
- Do not place it on the road or pavement.
- Close wheelie-bin lids.
- Make sure collection bags are securely tied and not split.
Bags out only from 6pm to 8pm
- There are normally two collection days each week.
- Use purple bags for accepted recycling.
- Use a black bag or remaining Merton-logo blue bag for rubbish.
- Place bags on the pavement immediately against the premises.
- Put out no more than one general-rubbish bag per collection day.
- Suitable purple recycling bags are not limited.
- Collections begin from 8pm.
Merton warns that placing time-banded waste outside the permitted window may result in a penalty charge notice.
Standard containers stay within the property boundary at the front edge. The pavement rule applies specifically to bags on a time-banded service.
Merton Rubbish, Recycling, Food and Garden Collection Pattern
Merton separates paper and cardboard from plastic, glass, metal and cartons at many houses. Use the container shown for your property.
| Waste stream | Typical container | Capacity | Normal frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-recyclable rubbish | Black-lidded wheelie bin | Standard 180 litres | Every two weeks |
| Paper and cardboard | Blue-lidded wheelie bin | 180 litres | Every two weeks |
| Plastic, glass, cans and cartons | Green recycling box | 55 litres | Every two weeks |
| Food waste | Indoor caddy and outdoor food bin | 7 litres and 23 litres | Every week |
| Garden waste | Subscribed brown bin or branded sacks | 140L, 240L or 75L sacks | Every two weeks |
One stream being collected does not mean another has been missed. Food, paper/card, containers and rubbish can be handled by different crews or vehicles.
Merton Bin Collection Missed: Check, Report and Leave It Out
A Merton bin collection missed report should be made only after collections in the area are complete or after 11:59pm on the scheduled day, whichever is sooner.
Check that it qualifies
- The address calendar shows it was due.
- The correct container or bag was presented.
- Standard waste was out by 6am.
- Time-banded bags were out between 6pm and 8pm.
- The container was visible and accessible.
- The lid was closed.
- The bag was tied and not split.
- The contents were accepted for that stream.
Submit within two working days
- Wait until the round finishes or 11:59pm.
- Report no later than two working days after collection day.
- Choose household, garden or bulky waste correctly.
- Keep the report reference.
- Leave the container at the front edge.
- Merton aims to return within two working days for a valid report.
Moving it back to its storage position can prevent recollection and may mean waiting until the next scheduled date.
Merton says it cannot normally return before the next scheduled collection. Correct any presentation problem and consider Garth Road or another suitable disposal route.
These items are no longer collected with ordinary household waste. Use Garth Road, a recycling point, a retailer route or an appropriate charity collection.
Merton Bin Collection Phone Number and Contact Preparation
Use the online waste forms for routine address-based actions. For assisted collections, garden-waste account help or Garth Road booking support, the published waste helpline is 020 8274 4902.
Waste-service support
020 8274 4902Used on official assisted-collection, garden-waste and Garth Road guidance.
Merton Council contact
020 8274 4901General telephone service, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Online form first
The missed-bin form captures the exact address, date and waste stream more accurately than a general call.
Open missed collection reportHave the full address, postcode, expected collection date, waste stream, container type, subscription number where relevant and any previous report reference.
What to say
“I am calling about the [rubbish/recycling/food/garden/bulky] service at [full address and postcode]. It was due on [date]. I have already [checked/reported/booked] it, and my reference is [reference].”
Merton Bin Collection Bank Holiday and Easter Rules
Merton states that collections continue normally on bank holidays, except around Christmas and New Year. This standing rule covers Easter unless a separate operational notice is published.
| Holiday | Normal position | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Normally unchanged | Use the property calendar unless a specific notice says otherwise. |
| Easter Monday | Normally unchanged | Present the correct waste at the normal time. |
| May bank holidays | Normally unchanged | Check the live address result close to the date. |
| Summer bank holiday | Normally unchanged | Use the normal calendar unless Merton publishes an exception. |
| Christmas and New Year | Revised dates | Check the festive timetable before presenting waste. |
Good Friday and Easter Monday do not automatically move the collection. Follow your normal property schedule unless a new Merton notice specifically changes it.
Merton Bin Collection Christmas and New Year Dates
The latest complete festive table available during this refresh covers Christmas 2025 and January 2026. It must not be reused for Christmas 2026 or New Year 2027.
| Usual collection day | Revised collection day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 25 December 2025 | Saturday 27 December | 2 days later |
| Friday 26 December 2025 | Monday 29 December | 3 days later |
| Monday 29 December 2025 | Tuesday 30 December | 1 day later |
| Tuesday 30 December 2025 | Wednesday 31 December | 1 day later |
| Wednesday 31 December 2025 | Friday 2 January 2026 | 2 days later |
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | Saturday 3 January | 2 days later |
| Friday 2 January 2026 | Monday 5 January | 3 days later |
| Monday 5 January 2026 | Tuesday 6 January | 1 day later |
| Tuesday 6 January 2026 | Wednesday 7 January | 1 day later |
| Wednesday 7 January 2026 | Thursday 8 January | 1 day later |
| Thursday 8 January 2026 | Friday 9 January | 1 day later |
| Friday 9 January 2026 | Saturday 10 January | 1 day later |
Flats above shops received separate written arrangements because time-banded collections did not use the general household table.
Do not manufacture or predict festive dates. Check Merton’s address calendar and newsroom when the Christmas 2026/New Year 2027 timetable is published.
January 2026 collection instructions
- Free kerbside tree collections started from 6am on Tuesday 6 January 2026.
- Remove decorations, lights, pots and stands.
- Place the tree at the front boundary without blocking the pavement.
- Communal-bin residents could leave trees outside the bin store without blocking access.
- Garden subscribers could cut the tree up and place it inside the subscribed bin.
What Goes in Merton Bins, Bags and Recycling Boxes?
At many houses, paper and card are kept separate from glass, plastic, cans and cartons. Other property types may use purple, blue-striped, clear or red-striped bags.
Non-recyclable household waste
- No DIY or building waste
- No clinical waste or syringes
- No garden waste
- No vehicle batteries or hazardous chemicals
- No electrical appliances
- No fluorescent tubes or bulbs
- No cooking oil
- No commercial waste
Clean, dry paper and cardboard
- Magazines and newspapers
- Junk mail and catalogues
- Window envelopes
- Cardboard packaging
- Egg boxes
- Cardboard tubes
- No food-soiled pizza boxes
- No food or drink cartons
- No tissue paper
- No plastic bags
Containers recycling
- Aerosols
- Clean aluminium foil
- Cans and tins
- Food and drink cartons
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic and metal lids
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
- Empty and rinse containers.
- Squash plastic bottles.
- Remove film lids.
- Do not add paper or cardboard.
Weekly food waste
- Bread and bakery products
- Dairy products
- Fruit and vegetables
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Peelings and eggshells
- Bones, meat and fish
- Rice and pasta
- No plastic bags
- No packaging
- No liquids or oil
- No kitchen roll
Combined recycling for some properties
These can accept suitable containers plus clean paper and card where the address service specifies purple bags.
Containers but no paper/card
Use for suitable plastic, glass, metal and cartons where supplied to a no-storage property.
General rubbish
Securely tie the correct bag and follow the address-specific presentation instructions.
Place shredded paper inside a paper envelope or paper bag to stop it clogging sorting equipment.
Merton libraries sell rolls of 25 seven-litre compostable liners for £2.75. Newspaper can also be used instead of a liner.
Merton Garden Waste Calendar PDF: Yellow A and White B Weeks
The official two-page PDF covers December 2025 to November 2026. It shows week-commencing dates, not one exact weekday for every subscriber.
The PDF cannot tell you whether the property is yellow A or white B. Confirm the group through the official address service first.
December 2025
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
July 2026
August 2026
September 2026
October 2026
November 2026
Put the subscribed container at the front edge close to the pavement by 6am. Christmas and New Year collections may take place up to three days later than usual.
The garden calendar PDF says a bin cannot be shared, while the general signup page says sharing is allowed when the membership and presentation remain tied to one paying property. Confirm the current rule on 020 8274 4902 before sharing.
Merton Garden Waste Subscription, Containers and Rejection Rules
The paid service runs for one year from delivery of the selected container and provides fortnightly collections.
£99 per option
The charge applies per hired wheelie bin or pack of 25 branded sacks.
£19 per bin
A separate delivery fee applies to each newly supplied garden wheelie bin.
140L, 240L or sacks
The sack option contains 25 single-use paper sacks with an approximate 75-litre capacity each.
Up to three bins
Additional subscribed bins are charged at the normal annual rate.
Suitable garden material
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves
- Hedge trimmings
- Prunings and twigs
- Weeds and plants
- Small branches and bark
- Fallen fruit
- Cut flowers
Keep these out
- Branches over 22cm diameter
- Japanese knotweed
- Plant pots or trays
- Rubble, grit, bricks or stones
- Soil
- Wire, string, plastic or metal
- Animal bedding
- Food waste
- Plastic or compostable bags
Use only a council-supplied bin or branded sacks. Present them by 6am with the handle facing the road. The lid must close, the container must be movable by one person and no side waste is accepted.
The garden terms say a missed subscribed collection should be reported within 48 hours.
New, Missing, Damaged or Larger Merton Bins
New containers and bags are normally delivered within 10 working days. Some wheelie bins have a £19 delivery charge.
| Container | Published charge | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Black-lidded rubbish wheelie bin | Normally £19 delivery | One standard rubbish bin per household unless larger capacity is approved. |
| Brown garden wheelie bin | £19 delivery plus subscription | The garden service must be active. |
| Blue-lidded paper/card bin | Normally free | One blue-lidded bin per ordinary household. |
| Green recycling box | Normally free | For suitable plastic, glass, metal and cartons. |
| Indoor and outdoor food caddies | Normally free | 7-litre indoor and 23-litre outdoor containers. |
Who may qualify?
- A household of five or more people.
- A household producing extra non-recyclable waste because of a medical condition.
- The household must already use recycling and food-waste services properly.
Automatic replacement may apply
Where a crew records that it lost or damaged a bin, Merton normally aims to replace it automatically within three working days. Evidence may be needed if no replacement arrives.
Store waste safely or take suitable material to Garth Road. Unsafe damaged bins may not be emptied.
Assisted Collections for Residents Who Cannot Move Bins
Temporary or longer-term assistance may be available when no one in the household can move containers because of illness, recovery from surgery or a lasting disability.
Call the waste helpline
- Telephone 020 8274 4902.
- Explain whether the need is temporary or ongoing.
- Provide evidence if requested.
- Agree a suitable front-of-property collection point.
- Label containers clearly with the house number.
Crews cannot collect from
- Behind gates
- The side or rear of the property
- A point requiring more than two steps
- A location blocked by a vehicle
- A communal-bin property
- A time-banded collection property
The service can be withdrawn if someone in the household can present the containers or the qualifying need ends.
Merton Collections for Flats, Communal Bins and HMOs
Flats may use communal bins, time-banded purple and black bags, blue-striped recycling bags, red-striped rubbish bags or another building-specific arrangement.
Managing agent responsibility
Merton does not directly provide replacement communal bins to large blocks. The landlord or managing agent must arrange them privately.
Check evening time bands
Use the assigned purple recycling and black rubbish bag system only during the permitted windows.
Different bags may apply
Some properties receive blue-striped or clear recycling bags and red-striped rubbish bags instead of wheelie bins.
This should include the calendar, container guide, collection frequency, set-out point and number of containers at the property.
Once a property is vacant, waste left under the landlord’s control can become commercial waste rather than household waste.
Some HMO licence applications require a waste-management certificate. Merton calculates the required containers, and an approved certificate is valid for five years.
Merton Bulky Waste Collection 2026: Free Booking and Paid Extras
From 1 June 2026, every eligible Merton household can book one free bulky-waste collection of up to three items each year.
One collection yearly
The free booking covers up to three eligible household items.
Up to 60 days ahead
Weekday slots exclude public holidays and are allocated first come, first served.
Payments must be current
The household must be up to date with Merton Council Tax to use the service.
Two visits may be needed
Upholstered and non-upholstered items may be collected separately, up to two working days apart.
- Oven, fridge, freezer or dishwasher
- Television or computer monitor
- Bag of small electrical items
- Bed, sofa, armchair or freestanding wardrobe
- Manageable carpet or underlay rolls
- Suitable tied or bagged household waste
- Garden waste or soil
- Rubble, bricks or paving slabs
- Plasterboard or roofing material
- Kitchen units or fitted wardrobes
- Doors, windows or large glass sheets
- Paint, tyres, gas cylinders or asbestos
Cover soft furnishings to keep them dry. Place all booked items outside but within the property boundary by 6am, visible and accessible to the crew.
Merton also lists future paid bookings of £39.75 for up to three items and £66 for four to six items, scheduled to open in October 2026. Check the live page before paying.
Garth Road Recycling Centre: Booking and Access Rules
Merton’s Household Reuse and Recycling Centre is at 63–69 Amenity Way, off Garth Road, Morden, SM4 4AX.
Book before visiting
Car slots can be booked from one hour to 13 days in advance, subject to availability.
No advance booking
Report at the gate with proof of address. Pedestrians do not enter the main vehicle area.
Merton residents only
Bring a recent Council Tax statement or driving licence showing a Merton address.
30 minutes before close
Cars must also arrive within the booked time slot.
| Visit type | Opening or allowance | Important restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Cars without trailers, cyclists and pedestrians | 8am–4pm, seven days | Check published festive exceptions. |
| Vans and larger vehicles | Mon–Fri 8:30am–1:30pm | Booking essential. |
| Vans on Saturday | 9am–12 noon | Vehicle and residency rules apply. |
| Vans on Sunday or bank holidays | Closed | Car opening arrangements do not apply. |
| Large-vehicle allowance | Up to 12 visits yearly and 250kg over six months | Maximum vehicle dimensions and classification rules apply. |
Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, over five metres long, Luton-style box vehicles, vehicles with more than four wheels and certain long trailer combinations are prohibited.
Residents can take up to three bags when compost is available. Bring your own bags.
Merton Pop-Up Tips: What Residents Can Bring
Merton is expanding mobile pop-up tips so each neighbourhood receives a service at least four times a year. Search the official page by postcode for the next local event.
- Paper and cardboard
- Drinks cans and glass
- Soft plastics
- Small electrical items
- Household batteries
- White goods and furniture
- Garden waste
- Tyres, paint, needles or chemicals
- Gas bottles, asbestos or large mirrors
- Commercial or construction waste
- Textiles
- Black bags of non-recyclable household rubbish
A driving licence, Council Tax bill or utility bill can be used. Hand items to an operative and never leave waste outside the advertised time.
Why Was My Merton Bin Not Collected?
A container can be left for a presentation or contamination problem even when the collection vehicle visited the street.
Lock the food-bin handle, wedge it against a wall or fence and consider a suitable heavy item on top or a humane scent or ultrasound deterrent.
Merton Bin Collection FAQs
How do I check my Merton bin collection days?
Where can I find my Merton bin collection dates?
Can I download a Merton bin collection calendar?
What time should Merton bins be put out?
When can I report a Merton missed bin?
How quickly should Merton return for a valid missed collection?
What is the Merton bin collection phone number?
Do Merton bin collections change on bank holidays?
Does Merton bin collection change at Easter?
What are the Merton Christmas 2026 collection dates?
How often is rubbish collected in Merton?
How often is Merton recycling collected?
How often is food waste collected?
How much is Merton garden waste collection?
How do I know whether my garden collection is A or B?
Can I share a Merton garden waste bin?
Can I get help moving my bins?
Is Merton bulky waste collection free?
Do I need to book Garth Road?
Why was my Merton recycling not collected?
Official Merton Waste Resources by Task
Use the relevant official page after reading the instructions above. Address dates, prices and booking conditions can change.
Check collection dates
Property schedule, printable calendar and service actions.
Open address checkerCollection and holiday rules
Bank holidays, calendar options and time-band signposting.
Open collection guidanceStandard set-out rules
6am, front edge, arm’s reach, closed lids and fox prevention.
Open set-out guidanceWhat goes in each container
Food, paper, containers, rubbish, bags and garden waste.
Open item guideFinal Merton Bin-Day Checklist
- Use the exact address rather than a neighbourhood date.
- Record both the collection date and waste stream.
- Check whether the property is standard or time-banded.
- Present standard containers at the front edge by 6am.
- Use only the 6pm–8pm window for time-banded bags.
- Keep lids closed and collection points visible.
- Separate paper/card from mixed containers where required.
- Wait until the missed-report window opens.
- Report a valid miss within two working days.
- Leave the container out after reporting.
- Check Christmas separately from normal bank holidays.
- Confirm the A/B garden group before using the PDF.
- Book a car, van or trailer before visiting Garth Road.
Independent resident guide. BinCollectionGuide.org is not Merton Council or its collection contractor. Collection dates, charges, accepted materials and temporary arrangements can change, so verify urgent or address-specific information through the official links above.