Communal waste and recycling bins
Waste and recycling collection services in flats may be different to the service provided to houses. Communal waste and recycling bins cannot be ordered online; if you would like to order new or replacement bins, please speak with your managing agent, landlord, housing officer or residents' association. The organisation that manages the communal areas of a property are responsible for providing these new and replacement communal waste and recycling bins for residents that live in purpose-built flats. We refer to this as the managing party.
Some flats will have communal (shared) bins similar to those outlined below. Please note that each property will vary depending on the facilities available on site (i.e. bin stores, storage space, number of flats, collection points and access etc):
- large general non-recyclable waste bin (1100L euro bin)
- large dry mixed recycling bin (1100L euro bin)
- large paper & card wheelie bin (360L black wheelie bin with blue lid)
- large food waste wheelie bin (240L brown wheelie bin)
Planning guidance on communal bins
Information on communal bins can be found in Sutton's Waste provision planning guidance for developers, architects, and managing agents.
Bin orders for flats with communal facilities
Managing parties of communal properties are responsible for ordering new or replacement eurobins or wheelie bins. This is because associated costs will need to be paid for in full before containers are delivered.
Please make note of the bin type required at your property and available space for the purpose of obtaining a quote from a supplier. Without this information, the ordering process may be delayed.
Eurobin orders:
Euro bins are provided for communal properties of 6 or more flats.
How can we purchase new or replacement euro bins?
Do we have to use the council’s preferred supplier for euro bins?
No. You may choose to purchase through your own supplier, however euro bins must conform to the correct British Standards of manufacture for Health and Safety (BS EN840:1997). Euro bins provided by our preferred supplier conform to all required standards and are supplied in the correct colours and labels to distinguish what the bin is used for.
If you choose to use your own supplier, check that the type of bin conforms with those that can be collected within the council’s Waste provision planning guidance for developers, architects, and managing agents.My euro bin is damaged, can it be repaired?
Will our old euro bin be taken away if we order a new one?
What colours should new or replacement euro bins be?
The council recommends the following colours for euro bins to identify the type of bin:
Black bin with black lid = general household waste
Green bin with green lid = recycling
We hire euro bins from the council- how do we arrange repairs or replacements?
If you participate in the council’s euro bin hire scheme and require a repair or replacement bin, please email the following to neighbourhoodservices@sutton.gov.uk.
Customer ID
Address of the property in question
The type of bin that requires repair/replacement (i.e. general waste or recycling)
The nature of the issue
Any supporting photographs
Wheelie bin orders:
Wheelie bins are provided for communal properties of 5 or fewer flats, or where properties are restricted due to the design and build predating modern waste and recycling collection methods.
How can we order new or replacement wheelie bins?
If you require a replacement wheelie bin for a communal property of 5 or less flats, please email the following to neighbourhoodservices@sutton.gov.uk.
Address of the property in question
The type of bin that requires replacement (i.e. general waste, mixed recycling, paper/card or food)
The nature of the issue
Any supporting photographs
We have wheelie bins but would like to switch to euro bins. Is this possible?
Yes, provided the property meets the requirements in the Waste provision planning guidance for developers, architects, and managing agents.
The benefits of switching are:
Weekly collections
Fewer bins
Increased waste and recycling containment, with less spillages
Any associated costs will be the responsibility of the managing party. Please email neighbourhoodservices@sutton.gov.uk if you require further information or would like to request this change.
Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO)
Houses of Multiple Occupation vary in size and each property will have different requirements for waste and recycling. Smaller HMOs can manage with communal wheelie bins, but larger HMOs may require euro bins.
All bins should be requested via the managing agent, landlord, housing officer or housing association.
What bins do I need to plan for at my HMO property?
Can I ask for guidance or support in relation to waste and recycling services?
If you require guidance or support in relation to waste and recycling services for an HMO, you can email neighbourhoodservices@sutton.gov.uk.
Please provide the following details:
Full address and number of rooms at the HMO
Current bins at the HMO
A copy of the HMO Licence - we do not accept copies of the licence in principle
Any supporting photographs
How quickly can bins be delivered?
My tenants have moved in but I don’t have enough bins? What can I do?
You should have a waste management plan as part of your property development. It is your responsibility as the managing party to ensure adequate waste and recycling services are in place prior to any tenants moving in. Waste provision planning guidance for developers, architects, and managing agents should be considered before the occupation of the property.
If you have excessive waste and recycling at your property, the managing party is responsible for organising private disposal to accommodate any shortfalls in service that were not planned for in advance of tenants occupying the property.