South London Tip Opening Times: Full Guide
After years of helping South London residents with waste management, we’ve put together this practical guide to local recycling centres (or as most of us call them, “the tip”).
We’ve visited these sites countless times with our customers, so we know firsthand which ones get crowded on weekends and which ones are easiest to navigate with bulky items. Whether you’re clearing out the shed or tackling a home renovation, here’s everything you need to know. Let’s explore the Top 5 Recycling Centres in South London.
1. Factory Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre (Croydon)
- Address: 33-56 Factory Ln, Croydon CR0 3RL, United Kingdom
- Booking: Not required
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (daily) Closed on Sunday
Had a customer last week who managed to drop off an entire kitchen’s worth of appliances here without any hassle!
2. Fishers Farm Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (Croydon)
- Address: N Downs Rd, New Addington, Croydon CR0 0LB, United Kingdom
- Accepted Waste: Same as above
- Booking: Not required
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (daily) Closed on Sunday
They take everything Factory Lane does, and the staff are very helpful when you’re not sure which skip to use.
3. Purley Oaks Household Reuse and Recycling Centre (Croydon)
- Address: Brighton Rd, Purley CR8 1DG, United Kingdom
- Accepted Waste: General household and recyclable waste
- Booking: Not required
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (daily) Closed on Sunday
If you’re in South Croydon, this is your best bet. It’s smaller than the others, but we’ve never had problems getting in and out quickly. Perfect if you’ve just got a car boot full rather than a van load.
4. Household Reuse and Recycling Centre - Villiers Road (Kingston)
- Address: 20 Chapel Mill Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT1 3GZ, United Kingdom
- Accepted Waste: General waste, electricals, furniture, and garden waste
- Booking: Required
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (daily) Closed on Sunday
A well-organised site with friendly staff. One of our regular customers in Kingston swears by this place for disposing of electronics.
Important: Booking required! We’ve seen people turned away after queuing. Book through the SLWP website.
5. Garth Road HRRC (Merton)
- Address: 63-69 Amenity Way, Morden SM4 4AX, United Kingdom
- Accepted Waste: Household and bulky waste, wood, electricals
- Booking: Required
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (daily) Closed on Sunday
Excellent for wood waste and building materials. We worked with a carpenter last month who always uses this site for his offcuts.
6. Lambeth Household Waste and Recycling Centre
- Address: Vale Street, West Norwood, London SE27 9PA
- Accepted Waste: General household waste, garden waste, electricals, wood, metals, bulky items
- No booking needed for residents, but you’ll need proof of address
Opening Hours:
- Open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Weekdays
- 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Weekends (April-October)
- 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM weekends (November-March).
Their green waste facility is particularly good – we dropped off several loads of garden clearance waste here last spring and were impressed with how quickly we got in and out, even on a Saturday.
7. Southwark Household Reuse and Recycling Centre
- Address: Veolia Southwark IWMF, 43 Devon St, London SE15 1AL, United Kingdom
- Accepted Waste: Household waste, recyclables, furniture, electrical appliances, garden waste, textiles
- Booking: Required for residents (via Southwark Council website)
- Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Pro tip from our drivers: Avoid lunchtime visits here if possible, as it tends to get busier between 12-2pm.
Please note that most recycling centres in South London close on major public holidays, including:
- Christmas Day (25th December)
- Easter Sunday
- New Year’s Day (1st January)
What You Can (and Can't) Take to the Tip
After countless trips to these centres with our skip hire business, we’ve learned exactly what these sites will and won’t accept. Save yourself a wasted journey!
Yes, They’ll Take:
- Garden waste and tree branches (we took three maple trees’ worth last autumn!)
- Old furniture and mattresses (though consider donating if still usable)
- Electrical appliances and electronics
- Batteries of all types
- Cardboard, plastics, and metals
- Clothes and textiles
- Small amounts of DIY waste (timber, old tiles, etc.)
No, They Won’t Take:
- Asbestos (needs specialist removal – we can arrange this if needed)
- Full gas cylinders (most sites will take empty ones)
- Medical or hazardous waste
- Tyres (though some centres take limited quantities, usually for a fee)
- Business waste (unless you have the proper permits)
We had a customer last week who drove all the way to Factory Lane with some old cans of paint, only to be turned away because they weren’t dried out. Learn from their mistake!
Why Use Recycling Centres?
Most of our customers ask why they should bother going to a recycling centre when they could just bin everything. Well, beyond just being better for our local environment, recycling centres help:
- Keep usable materials out of landfills (which, trust us, are filling up quickly around London)
- Ensure hazardous materials are properly disposed of (we’ve seen what happens when they’re not!)
- Reduce the council’s waste management costs (which ultimately affects your council tax)
- Give items a second life through reuse and recycling
Plus, as we tell our skip hire customers, there’s that satisfaction of knowing you’ve done the right thing by sorting your waste properly!
Before You Head to the Tip
Preparation is key. Here’s our pre-tip checklist:
- Sort your waste beforehand – it makes unloading so much quicker
- Secure loose items in bags or boxes (makes for easier handling)
- Remove batteries from electronics (they go in a separate container)
- Wear appropriate clothing – we recommend sturdy shoes and gloves
- Bring ID and proof of address – especially important for the Kingston and Merton sites
- Time your visit wisely – weekday mornings are quietest (we often go at opening time to beat the rush)
What Happens to Your Waste After Recycling?
Many of our customers ask what actually happens to their waste after we take it away or they drop it at the tip. Having worked closely with these recycling centres for years, we can tell you:
- Garden waste becomes compost used in local parks and agriculture
- Wood gets processed into chipboard or biomass fuel
- Metals are melted down and reused (saving massive amounts of energy compared to mining)
- Electronics are carefully dismantled to recover precious metals and other materials
In fact, one of our team members followed a load of garden waste last year and was amazed to see it turned into compost that ended up being used in Croydon’s parks!
How to Book a Slot
While Croydon’s sites don’t require booking, both Kingston and Merton do. Here’s how to secure your spot:
- Visit the South London Waste Partnership website
- Have your vehicle registration number ready
- Choose a convenient time slot (weekdays are easier to book than weekends)
- Receive your booking confirmation by email
- Show this confirmation when you arrive
Sustainability Tips at Home
While we’re in the waste business, we’re also passionate about reducing waste in the first place. Here are some tips we share with our customers:
- Start composting at home – food scraps and garden waste make brilliant soil for your garden
- Choose products with less packaging when shopping
- Repair items where possible (we keep an old washing machine going for 15 years!)
- Buy quality items that last longer
- Consider borrowing or renting tools you’ll only use occasionally
Alternatives to Visiting the Tip
Sometimes getting to the tip isn’t practical. We understand that not everyone has access to transport or the time to visit a recycling centre. Here are the alternatives we recommend to our customers:
- Council kerbside collections – Most South London boroughs will collect recycling and garden waste from your home
- Bulky waste collection services – Your council can collect large items for a small fee
- Community recycling points – Check your local supermarket for battery and textile recycling bins
- Donate usable items – Charity shops, community groups, and online marketplaces like Freecycle
- Skip hire (that’s us!) – When you’ve got too much waste for regular collection, we’ll bring a skip to you, and ensure everything gets properly sorted for recycling
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a van to the tip?
Yes, but with conditions. Many sites restrict commercial-style vehicles or require pre-booking. We often advise customers with vans to call ahead.
Will they check my ID?
Yes, especially at Kingston and Merton sites. Bring proof of address like a recent council tax bill or utility bill.
Are there any charges?
Basic household recycling is free, but there might be charges for DIY waste. For example, we’ve seen customers charged for disposing of multiple bags of concrete or plasterboard.
Can I bring my kids?
You can, but we recommend they stay in the car. Recycling centres are working facilities with moving vehicles and potentially hazardous materials.
Need More Help?
We’ve been helping South London residents manage their waste for years, and we’re always happy to offer advice. If you’re doing a larger clearance project or home renovation, our skip hire service in South London might be the most convenient option.
Feel free to give us a call at 0800 260 5989 for more information about our services. We’re your local waste management experts – here to help keep South London clean and green!
