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Lewisham Rubbish Clearance & Bulky Waste Collection

14 March 2022

Rubbish Clearance & Bulky Waste Collection in Lewisham

The ultimate guide to Lewisham bulky waste collection and rubbish clearance. Whether you live in Brockley, Catford, Deptford, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Manor or Blackheath, we look at how best to dispose of rubbish or bulky junk (e.g. fridge, sofa, builders waste, mattress, rubble). We discuss which solutions are best for different types of junk, including the best value for money and the most eco-friendly options if you live in the Lewisham area.


Key sections are: 

  • Reuse options  
  • Council bulky waste collection service in Lewisham
  • Man & van - with examples and prices 
  • Skip hire providers, skip hire prices and local skip permit fees
  • HWRCs / tips / civic amenity sites for Lewisham residents 
  • Interesting rubbish statistics for Lewisham council

 

Useful overall background: 

 

1. Reuse options in Lewisham

So, let's get started! Unless the item is beyond saving, the most cost-efficient and most eco-friendly way to dispose of something is to donate it for reuse. You can either give your stuff to someone within your network for free. Or, you can find a local reuse charity. These charities will either give the items to someone in need or alternatively sell them and use the proceeds for their charitable cause. Also, it's important to remember that if you want to donate upholstered furniture to a charity, the item will need a fire safety certificate.

Donate to an Individual

Assuming no one wants what you are trying to get rid of, the simplest way to donate the item is to list it on LoveJunk and tick the 'reusable' box. This notifies reusers based in or around your location that you have something to giveaway. This process is free and super easy.

 

Charities and organisations for Reuse in Lewisham

Below is a list of local Lewisham reuse charities within Brockley, Catford, Deptford, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Manor or Blackheath. These organisations collect furniture and large working appliances for free. It's important to note that response times and service levels may vary for these organisations.

Reuse Orgs Address
Lewisham Donation Hub Unit D, Place Ladywell, 261 Lewisham High, SE13 6AY
BHF 209–211 Lewisham High Street, Lewisham SE13 6LY
Emmaus 226 Elmley Street, Plumstead, London, SE18 7NN
DAGE 71 Deptford High Street, London SE8 4AA
TRAID 41-43 Lewis Grove, London SE13 6BG
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice RePurpose Magpie House, 5 Magpie Ln, London SE28 0FP

 

The Lewisham Reuse Community

Catbytes Digital Community is a digital reuse organisation set up to tackle digital exclusion in Lewisham by giving second-hand devices to people who need them. Computer equipment must be in working order and be delivered to them (unless there is no other option). Items they cannot use are recycled in an environmentally friendly way using an organisation called ToRecycle.

Another fantastic community organisation is the Lewisham Donation Hub. While they do not take furniture, they accept and encourage the donation of the following items. White goods, electrical, food, sanitary products, toiletries, nappies, electrical items, footwear, kitchenware, suitcases, toys and musical equipment. For a complete list, please visit their wonderful site here.

 

2. Council bulky item collection service in Lewisham

Ealing council offers residents a collection service for bulky items. However, the service is not available to local businesses or tradespeople. Regarding the full details of Ealing's bulky waste collection service, including how to book, please see below.

Cost of Lewisham council bulky waste collection service 

Charges for Lewisham council bulky waste collection service: 

  • £20.00 to collect 1 - 4 items 
  • £30.00 per fridge/freezer

Additional information:

Response time:  typical wait times are 2 - 3 weeks

Concessions:  no concessions available 

Appliances:  will collect appliances 

DIY/ home improvement waste: DIY waste is not accepted

Garden waste: garden waste collections are not accepted

More details: despite this comprehensive list, for full details of Lewisham's bulky waste collection service, click here

 

3. Use a private licensed man & van waste collectors

If you can't use the council bulky waste collection service or donate your item, you will most likely need a licensed man & van rubbish collector. 

The main differences between man and van waste collectors and the council's bulky collection service are the following three points. Firstly, speed is a significant factor. A private man and van waste collector can respond much faster than the council. Secondly is labour, as collectors will collect from inside or outside the home whereas the council only pick up from inside. Lastly, the types of waste accepted, as private waste collectors can take all kinds of junk, including rubble and garden waste.

Furthermore, the pricing for a private man and van collection depends on the type and amount of waste and when you need it removed. For many more examples of Lewisham bulky waste collections with photos and prices, see the LoveJunk Price Gallery.

 

Cheapest bulky waste collector in Lewisham

When looking for the easiest way to find the nearest and cheapest licensed man & van waste collector for your rubbish in Lewisham, look no further! LoveJunk is the waste removal and junk reuse marketplace. Unlike others, we not only guarantee that all collectors are correctly licensed and insured but, in addition, provide full details of where your waste ends up and how much of it avoids going to landfills. That is why we are recommended so widely by councils. In addition, we make junk removal cheaper, safer and greener. Just tap the green button below! 

 

4. Examples of man & van collections & prices in Lewisham

3 bags of rubble, £20

Strollers and kids bike disposal, £40

Small double sofa, £30

Slimline fridge, £30

Recycling, £30

Household item clearance, £75

5. Skip hire in Lewisham

Another means of Lewisham rubbish clearance is skip hire. Skips are helpful if, for example, you have lots of cumbersome, messy waste and would like to contain it all in one place. But, unlike a man & van collection, you need to load the skip yourself, and the price is fixed regardless of how much you fill it. Skip hire is also significantly more expensive than using a man & van waste collector because of the permits and license fees on top. For a look at skip hire in greater detail, please read our Ultimate Guide to Skip Hire for more information.

Lewisham skip hire companies 

In general, it is good to use a licensed skip hire company that serves your local area. Here are some of the local skip hire companies within the borough of Lewisham.

RMSSkips
Norris Skips
Lawson Skip Hire
Skip Hire Brockley

Skip hire prices in Lewisham

Below you'll find the typical skip hire prices (including VAT) for mixed general waste in Lewisham but to clarify, these figures do not include skip permits or parking bay suspension fees.

Builder skip: 6 – 8 cubic yard skip @ £265 - £300

Maxi skip: 10 - 12 cubic yard skip @ £345 - £370

Skip Permits and Bay Suspensions 

If you want to place a skip on the road, you will definitely need a skip permit license and possibly a CPZ parking suspension. For more information regarding skip permits, take a look at our Guide to Skip Permits and Bay Suspensions.

Skip License Lewisham: £66.00 per month

CPZ Bay Suspension: £50.00 per day

Here is a link to the Lewisham council website for skip permits: https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/parking/carparks/temporary-suspension-of-parking-bays

 

6. Council Tips in the Lewisham area

If you have means of transport (and the muscle!), a cheap way to dispose of your bulky waste is by taking your junk to your local council tip. However, council tips are only available to residents, not businesses. Below, we have provided a map of council tips and civic amenity sites in the Lewisham borough and some additional useful information. 

A map of Lewisham tips

map of lewisham HWRC


List of nearest household waste recycling centres for Lewisham residents: 

  • Lewisham Reuse and Recycling Centre, Landmann Way, London, SE14 5RS
  • Hours for vans, pedestrians & bikes: Sunday–Friday, 8am–3pm. Saturday, 8am–11am.
  • Hours for cars: Sunday–Friday, 8am-3.30pm. Saturday, 8am-11.30am

Useful additional info:

  • Booking: Prior booking must be made to enter the site
  • Photo identification: Visitors must provide a form of photo ID and proof of address like a council tax letter, recent utility bill or bank statement
  • Unloading: Site staff cannot help overall unless you have proof of a disability
  • Cars: Booking times for cars between 10 am and 4 pm each day
  • Vans: Only 4 visits a year allowed
  • Rules: Trailers not allowed

 

7. Rubbish stats for Lewisham

Lewisham has a population of 305,309 people and is made up of the following metropolitan areas: Deptford, New Cross, Blackheath, Brockley, Lewisham, Lee, Ladywell, Rushey Green, Forest Hill, Hither Green, Catford, Grove Park, Upper Sydenham, Bellingham, Southend, and Sydenham. In 2021, there were 4294 reported instances of fly-tipping in Lewisham. This figure equates to 14 fly-tips per 1000 residents and is based on 120,200 households. One of the cleanest boroughs of London, good work Lewisham! To see how Lewisham compares to other regions, read our analysis of Fly-tipping in London and Fly tipping in England.

And finally..

Finally, thanks for reading! Let us know if you have any questions regarding bulky waste collection in Lewisham because we would be happy to help. Likewise, if you would like to chat about anything featured in this blog or have any other questions about rubbish clearance in general, don't hesitate to get in touch. You can email us at [email protected] or connect with us on our social media channels.

 

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