Camden Bin Collection: Find Your Day, Check Changes & Fix Missed Collections
Need to know which day Camden Council collects your rubbish or recycling? The answer depends on your property. Houses, estate flats and flats above shops do not all follow the same presentation arrangements.
Use the council’s official address lookup for your schedule. This guide explains the collection times, recycling rules, missed-bin reporting deadlines, bank holiday changes and paid services that Camden residents may need.
Camden Bin Collection: Quick Answer
Check your collection day on Camden Council’s website. Houses and converted houses should normally have recycling and rubbish ready by 7am. Flats above shops can have specific street collection times, while residents using communal bins should follow their building’s arrangements.
If a scheduled collection is missed, Camden says to report it within two working days after your collection day. Bank holiday changes should be checked against current council announcements rather than last year’s timetable.
Open the official Camden collection-day service →Find the Camden service you need
How to Check Your Camden Bin Collection Day
There is no reliable single weekday that applies to every Camden household. Your collection depends on your address, the waste service and the type of building. Garden waste can also have a different day from ordinary rubbish and recycling.
- Open Camden Council’s collection-day page. Use the official service rather than a saved timetable for another street.
- Choose the relevant property route. The council separates houses and converted houses from flats above shops.
- Enter or select your address. Follow the online lookup to the service information for your property.
- Check rubbish and recycling separately. Do not assume both collections always follow the same arrangements.
- Note the presentation instructions. Save the correct time and place, particularly if you live above a shop.
- Check again around public holidays or service changes. Current instructions take priority over an old leaflet.
Camden Rubbish, Recycling and Food-Waste Schedules
Camden provides different services depending on the property. The council offers weekly food-waste collection to many eligible homes, while garden waste is a separate weekly subscription. The correct rubbish and recycling dates must be checked through the property lookup.
| Service | Collection information | What residents should do |
|---|---|---|
| Household rubbish | Property-specific collection schedule. | Check the council lookup; follow the approved collection point and time. |
| Dry mixed recycling | Check the property’s recycling service. | Keep materials clean, dry and empty. |
| Food waste | Weekly service for many eligible homes. | Use the correct kitchen/outdoor caddy or communal food bin. |
| Garden waste | Weekly paid service for eligible subscribers. | Check the garden-waste day separately. |
| Flats above shops | Street-specific dates and potentially time-banded collections. | Use the street’s precise presentation window. |
| Estate or communal bins | Building-specific communal arrangements. | Use designated bins and ask the caretaker if uncertain. |
Where and When to Put Out Bins in Camden
Houses and converted houses
Put bins, bags or boxes outside before 7am, as close to the pavement as possible and within one metre of the property’s entrance.
They must be at street level. Camden says crews cannot collect bins from basements or up steps.
Housing estates and blocks
Place rubbish and recycling in the designated communal containers. Do not leave extra bags on the floor beside bins or block access routes.
Ask the caretaker or on-site supervisor if you are unsure which container belongs to your building.
Flats above shops
Some streets have fixed collection windows designed to keep pavements clear. Follow the correct street instructions, not a general house timetable.
Use securely fastened recycling and rubbish bags.
Camden’s one-metre collection rule for houses
The council asks residents to leave their containers within one metre of the entrance and as near to the pavement as practical. If there is no suitable space on the property, bins can be placed on the pavement without obstructing pedestrians.
Where bins have been placed on the pavement, residents must return them to their property within 24 hours after collection.
Flats above shops: check the time band
Camden uses time-banded arrangements on certain shopping streets. The council lists areas including Camden Town, Hampstead High Street, Kentish Town Road, West End Lane and Seven Dials, along with newer time-banded streets such as Tottenham Court Road, Eversholt Street, Leather Lane and Fortess Road.
For flats above shops that are not covered by a more specific arrangement, the council advises putting bags out by 7am but no earlier than 9pm the night before. Always check your street first.
Camden Bin Collection on Bank Holidays in 2026
Bank holidays do not automatically mean every Camden bin collection moves to the next day. Camden’s waste service has historically operated on many public holidays, while Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day can involve revised arrangements.
For example, Camden published special dates for the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 period, but those dates should not be copied for Christmas 2026. The next festive schedule must be checked when the council publishes the applicable arrangements.
| Date | Holiday | Collection guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | New Year’s Day | Past — use the festive timetable applicable to that period. |
| 3 April 2026 | Good Friday | Past — do not assume a change without a council notice. |
| 6 April 2026 | Easter Monday | Past — refer to council service information. |
| 4 May 2026 | Early May bank holiday | Past — follow the applicable council collection arrangements. |
| 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday | Past — follow the applicable council collection arrangements. |
| 31 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday | Past — follow the applicable council collection arrangements. |
| 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day | Check Camden’s Christmas 2026 waste announcement before putting bins out. |
| 28 December 2026 | Boxing Day substitute holiday | Check the council’s published festive collection arrangements. |
Missed Bin Collection in Camden: Report It Within Two Working Days
Camden accepts missed-collection reports for rubbish, recycling, food waste and garden waste. The council says residents must report a missed service within two working days after the scheduled collection day.
Camden currently warns of possible collection delays due to temporary driver shortages and says teams will attempt to collect missed recycling, rubbish or garden waste the following day. This is a service aim rather than a guarantee for every report.
- Check whether the collection was due. Confirm the date and waste stream through your property’s council lookup.
- Make sure the correct presentation time was followed. Check the 7am rule for houses or the applicable time band for a flat above a shop.
- Look for a rejection tag or sticker. Contaminated recycling may not be emptied until incorrect material has been removed.
- Consider access problems. Blocked bin stores, obstructed streets or incorrectly positioned containers can affect collection.
- Use Camden’s missed-collection reporting service. Submit your report within two working days and follow any instructions on the service page.
- Keep the waste available as directed. Check for an update and contact Camden Veolia if further assistance is required.
What Goes in Camden Recycling and Rubbish Bins?
Camden collects a broad range of dry mixed recycling, but contamination can cause an entire container to be rejected. Recyclable containers should be empty, clean and dry. Food waste belongs in its own service where provided.
Recycling bins, boxes and clear bags
- Paper, newspapers, magazines and letters
- Cardboard and cereal boxes
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and cartons
- Empty plastic carrier bags, untied
- Food and drink cans, empty aerosols and foil
- Glass bottles and jars
Flatten cardboard, remove lids from glass containers and put lids back on plastic bottles where suitable.
Common contamination mistakes
- Food waste and nappies
- Electrical items and batteries
- Black rubbish bags
- Clothes and textiles
- Polystyrene
- Dirty tissues or greasy paper
- Mirrors, Pyrex and window glass
Use the appropriate separate recycling or disposal route instead.
General rubbish
Items that Camden lists for residual rubbish include sanitary products, nappies, crisp packets, clingfilm, polystyrene and appropriately wrapped broken glass.
Rubble, plasterboard and other DIY waste are not accepted in ordinary household rubbish collection.
If recycling receives a red tag
Camden may leave a red tag when incorrect materials are found. For houses, remove the unsuitable items and present the corrected recycling on the next collection.
Check the council’s recycling guide if you are unsure what caused the rejection.
Camden Food Waste Collection and Caddies
Many Camden households are eligible for weekly food-waste recycling. The correct arrangement differs between houses and estates, and most flats above shops do not currently have the council’s usual food-waste collection service.
Houses and converted houses
Use a small green kitchen caddy and a brown outdoor food-waste caddy. Transfer your food waste into the outdoor caddy and have it ready by 7am on the relevant collection day.
Estates and blocks
Where communal food-waste bins are available, use the kitchen caddy with a compostable liner and take the tied liner to the communal food container.
Flats above shops
Camden advises that food-waste recycling is currently unavailable for most flats above shops. Check your address for any service change or available alternative.
What can go into a Camden food-waste caddy?
Fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat, fish, bones, rice, pasta, bread, pastries, tea bags, coffee grounds and cooked leftovers are accepted. Do not include liquids, oil, food packaging or garden waste.
Residents of houses can use a compostable liner, newspaper or kitchen roll rather than an ordinary plastic bag. Camden says free compostable caddy liners can be collected from its libraries and leisure centres, subject to availability.
Camden food-waste service and caddy information →Camden Garden Waste Collection: 2026 Charges and Rules
Camden’s garden-waste collection is an optional paid weekly service for houses and houses divided into flats. Subscribers can choose the available subscription period and request collection equipment.
12-month subscription
£75 for 12 months of garden-waste collection, according to Camden’s current service page.
9-month subscription
£60 for nine months of garden-waste collection, according to Camden’s current service page.
Discounted garden-waste subscriptions
Residents aged 65 or older, or receiving 100% Council Tax Support, may qualify for a discounted rate. Contact Camden Veolia on 020 3567 8105 to enquire about the discounted subscription.
Garden-waste presentation
- Choose three reusable white bags or one brown garden-waste bin when subscribing.
- Have garden waste outside by 7am on the collection day.
- Place it within one metre of the front entrance of the registered property.
- Keep material within the supplied bags or bin; extra waste will not be collected.
- Use the service for grass, weeds, leaves, flowers, bark and suitable small prunings.
- Do not include soil, rubble, plant pots, stones, large tree cuttings or food.
Camden Bulky Waste: Furniture, Mattresses and Extra Bags
Sofas, mattresses, furniture and large quantities of rubbish should not be dumped beside ordinary bins. Camden offers a separately arranged bulky-waste collection through Veolia, with charges based on the number of items or rubbish bags.
| Quantity | Published charge |
|---|---|
| 1–5 large items, or up to 20 black bags | £25 |
| 6–10 large items, or up to 40 black bags | £50 |
| 11–15 large items, or up to 60 black bags | £75 |
| Up to 2 large electrical items | £10, separately charged |
Residents over 65, or receiving 100% Council Tax Support, may be eligible for two free collections each year under Camden’s published conditions.
Veolia normally collects bulky items at street level on weekdays, Monday to Friday. You will need to give the collection address and details of the items. Estate residents should ask their caretaker about any designated bulky-waste storage arrangement.
Book through Veolia: 020 3567 8105.
Check current Camden bulky-waste charges and booking rules →Regis Road Reuse and Recycling Centre, Camden
If you have household items that cannot go into normal bins, the Regis Road facility in Kentish Town may be an appropriate disposal or recycling option. The centre is managed by the North London Waste Authority.
Location and opening times
Regis Road Reuse and Recycling Centre
Regis Road, Kentish Town
London NW5 3EW
Open: Monday to Sunday, 9am–4pm.
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Before visiting
- Cars, pedestrians and cyclists generally do not need advance booking.
- Vans and trailers require advance booking.
- Check accepted materials before loading.
- Bring appropriate residency evidence if required for your vehicle or visit type.
- Staff assistance is available for disabled visitors.
Camden identifies household electrical items, scrap metal, furniture, garden waste, oil and light bulbs among materials that may be taken to the site. The accepted-items list can change, so confirm the particular item before travelling.
Common Camden Bin Collection Problems and Solutions
My recycling was not collected
Check the scheduled collection day and look for a contamination tag. Remove incorrect materials and consult the council’s reporting guidance if a genuine collection was missed.
I have moved to a Camden property
Check whether your home uses individual containers, communal bins or bags collected at fixed street times. Do not rely on the previous occupant’s handwritten calendar.
I need a replacement bin or more bags
Use Camden’s order-bin service for eligible containers and supplies. Flats above shops may use clear recycling and orange rubbish bags.
I cannot move my bin
Camden provides a route for residents who need assistance with recycling or rubbish collection. Ask about the current eligibility and available help rather than struggling to move a heavy container.
Someone has dumped rubbish in the street
Fly-tipped waste and street-cleaning complaints are separate from a missed household collection. Camden identifies the Love Clean Streets app for reporting street waste problems.
I have batteries, vapes or chemicals
Do not put lithium batteries, vapes or hazardous chemicals into ordinary rubbish or recycling bins. Use a suitable separate collection, retailer take-back or approved recycling route.
Contact Camden Veolia About Waste Collections
Camden Veolia handles household recycling and rubbish service enquiries. The council recommends using its online services for collection-day checks, missed-collection reporting and ordering containers.
Telephone
Use this number for applicable waste service enquiries, bulky bookings and discounted garden-waste subscription requests.
Online enquiries and feedback
Camden residents can use the council’s contact route for Veolia services, complaints and collection-related feedback.
SignVideo access is also listed for residents who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.
Official Camden Council Links
These official services are the appropriate places to confirm live records or complete collection requests. This article is an independent guide, not a Camden Council service.
Check rubbish and recycling dates for your address.
Report rubbish, recycling, food or garden waste not collected.
Check street-specific collection times.
See current charges and request a service.
Check collection charges and booking arrangements.
Check site hours, access restrictions and materials.
Camden Bin Collection: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my Camden bin collection day?
Use Camden Council’s official collection-day lookup. Choose the correct property and follow the service information for rubbish and recycling. Houses and flats above shops have different arrangements.
What time should Camden bins be put outside?
Houses and converted houses should normally have their bins, bags or boxes outside by 7am. Flats above shops may have street-specific collection windows.
How long do I have to report a missed Camden collection?
Camden says missed rubbish, recycling, food-waste and garden-waste collections must be reported within two working days after the scheduled collection day.
Are Camden bin collections changed on bank holidays?
Not every bank holiday requires a changed collection date. Special arrangements can apply around Christmas and New Year. Check the council’s current timetable instead of relying on previous-year dates.
Is garden waste collected on the same day as rubbish?
Not necessarily. Camden reorganised garden-waste rounds in 2025, and most subscribers may have a different garden-waste collection day.
How much is Camden garden-waste collection in 2026?
Camden currently publishes charges of £75 for 12 months or £60 for nine months. Discounts may be available for residents aged 65 or over or receiving 100% Council Tax Support. Recheck the amount before subscribing.
Can I put electrical items or batteries in recycling?
No. Household batteries, vapes and electrical items should use appropriate separate recycling or take-back services. Regis Road may accept suitable items.
Where can I take large household waste in Camden?
Use Regis Road Reuse and Recycling Centre for accepted household items, or book a bulky-waste collection through Camden Veolia. Van and trailer visits to Regis Road require booking.
Who do I call about Camden rubbish collection?
Contact Camden Veolia on 020 3567 8105 for relevant recycling and rubbish service enquiries. Online council services are usually the most direct route for address lookups and missed-collection reports.
Check Your Camden Address Before Putting the Bins Out
For the correct collection day, start with Camden Council’s address service. Follow your property’s presentation instructions, keep recycling free of contamination and report genuine missed collections within the council’s two-working-day window.
BinCollectionGuide.org is an independent information website and is not affiliated with or operated by the London Borough of Camden. Collection services, bookings, payments and official records are managed by the responsible public authority and its appointed providers.