Household waste - collection
Bank Holiday refuse collections
General information
To ensure an efficient and safe refuse collection service and no build-up of rubbish on the streets we promise to:
- Collect your kitchen and household refuse from your home on the same day each week (including all Bank Holidays except Christmas and New Year's Day). If your refuse is not collected on your regular day please contact the Customer Care Unit and we will deal with your complaint.
- Provide you with a standard 240 litre wheeled bin container for a minimal charge, this includes administration and delivery (or refuse sacks where wheeled bins cannot be used). If you have a wheeled bin, we will return it to within the boundary of your property after your refuse has been collected.
- Provide you with an assisted collection service if you are frail or infirm. Wheeled bins are collected from and returned to a collection point agreed with you. If we need to make an assessment for an assisted collection we will contact you to arrange a visit.
- Collect bulky household waste; light garden waste and items such as furniture from your home for a small charge. This service is at a discounted rate if you are in receipt of a means tested benefit.
Help us to help you
- We collect household rubbish only, which must be put in the wheeled bin with the lid closed. The crew will remove any items preventing the lid from closing and return them to your property.
- Our collection crews will not take any items left outside of the wheeled bin.
- The crews will only empty bins provided by Barnet Council.
- If we are unable to provide you with a wheeled bin we will provide you with black sacks.
- Please do not put heavy items such as bricks or stones in your bin. If your bin is too heavy we may not be able to take it away.
- Place your wheeled bin or bags on the boundary of your home by 6.30am on your collection day. Do not obstruct the pavement. If you wish you can put it out the night before.
- Park your vehicles where they will not obstruct our lorries and tell us in advance of any problems you may have which will prevent us gaining access to refuse collection points.
- Recycle as much of your waste as possible to help us improve the environment and meet our Government targets.
- If a recycling bank is located in a residential area, please consider the people who live there and use the bank only between 8am and 8pm.
- If you have toxic or dangerous items to dispose of (including asbestos), which must not be included in your household rubbish, please contact the Corporation of London.
Resolving problems
If your bin wasn’t collected, check that:
- Your bin was placed on the property boundary, with the lid closed by 6.30am. We are unable to empty bins not correctly presented until the next scheduled collection day for your road. What to do now.
- Refuse was not placed outside of your wheeled bin. All refuse must be placed for collection in the wheeled bin issued by the Barnet Council. Waste placed outside the bin will not be collected, even if bagged. What to do now.
- Your bin wasn’t too heavy. Your bin will not be emptied if it is too heavy. In some cases overly heavy bins can cause injury to our crew or damage to the vehicle. Please remove any heavy items from your bin to enable us to empty it on your next scheduled collection day. What to do with excess waste.
- Refuse isn’t stuck inside the bin. For health and safety reasons, refuse crews are not allowed to manually remove any items which are stuck in the bins. Please remove any items that are wedged in your bin to enable us to empty it on your next scheduled collection day. What to do with excess waste.
If your bin was just ‘missed’ by our refuse crews and none of the above apply, we aim to empty it within 24 hours of being informed by customer care.
Report a missed bin collection online
Dealing with excess rubbish
- Take the waste to the Civic Amenity & Recycling Centre where it will be disposed of free of charge.
- Contact our Customer Care Unit.
- Arrange for a special collection by contacting us on 020 8359 5043 or cleansing.admin@barnet.gov.uk. This is a chargeable service.
- Wait for your next scheduled refuse collection. Please ensure all refuse is contained within your wheeled bin.
Having problems getting all your waste into your wheeled bin with the lid closed?
Are you taking full advantage of our free weekly kerbside recycling service? Over 30% of your waste can be recycled through this service.
Bank Holiday refuse collections
Bank Holiday refuse collections will take place on the normal collection day except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Revised Refuse Collection information will be advertised in the local press towards the end of the year.
