Ex-owner of LM Solutions London · onlyvans-uk.com · rubbishbids.co.uk
How to Dispose of Rubbish in Richmond upon Thames (2026 Guide)
Richmond upon Thames gives you three main routes for getting rid of rubbish: the council’s collection service, Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre, and EA-licensed carriers who collect from your door. Each one has a different price, a different wait time, and different rules. This guide explains all three honestly — so you can pick the right one for your situation.
Richmond — Quick Disposal Summary (2026/27)
Council bulky waste
£71 / 5 items · ~14-day wait
Garden waste subscription
~£95/year · fortnightly
Townmead Road tip
Booking essential · cars & small vans
EA-licensed carrier
From ~£40 · collects from your door
Council figures are 2026/27 rates — check current rates on the Richmond Council website before booking.
Option 1: Richmond Council Collection Services
Richmond Council offers two paid services for waste the standard wheelie bin won’t take.
Bulky waste collection
Worth knowing: At £71 for up to five items, Richmond is among the priciest London boroughs for bulky waste. If you have more than five items, need them collected from inside the property, or cannot wait two weeks, a licensed carrier is the more practical option.
Garden waste subscription
See Richmond garden waste removal costs for a full breakdown, including what the subscription covers and when a one-off carrier collection works out cheaper.
Option 2: Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre
Richmond’s household waste tip is at Townmead Road, off Mortlake Road, Kew, TW9 4EL. It is free for residents and accepts most household waste — but it has more restrictions than most people expect.
Booking is essential. You can book up to 14 days ahead online. Turn up without a booking and you will be turned away — no exceptions.
Open Monday–Saturday 8am–4pm, Sunday 9am–4pm. Last van entry is 3:30pm.
Cars and small vans only. Maximum load space approximately 1.7 × 1.5 × 1.2 m.
Within the ULEZ. Non-compliant vehicles pay £12.50 per day on top.
Tyres and asbestos are not accepted.
Construction and DIY waste: limited quantities are free for householders, but van-borne C&D waste is charged. All visits count against a four-visit-per-four-weeks limit.
Space Waye, Feltham (WLWA) is also open to Richmond residents if Townmead Road is fully booked.
When the tip is the right choice: If you have a car-boot load of general household waste, have booked in advance, and your vehicle fits the size limit — Townmead Road is free and perfectly suited. The reuse section also accepts furniture and small appliances in good condition. The tip becomes impractical when you have van-sized volumes, mixed or heavy waste, or cannot transport the items yourself.
Option 3: EA-Licensed Carriers — Comparing Bids
An EA-licensed carrier collects from your door, loads the waste, and disposes of it responsibly — no trip to the tip, no council wait. This is the right option when the council or tip doesn’t fit your situation: too much volume, the wrong waste type, items you cannot move yourself, or a timeline tighter than 14 days.
| Job size | Typical price | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Small (1–2 items) | £40–£120 | Sofa, mattress, a few bags |
| Medium (half van) | £120–£250 | Flat clearance, furniture + bags |
| Large (full van+) | £250–£350+ | House clearance, renovation waste |
Two Richmond-specific pricing factors: The whole borough is within the ULEZ — carriers using non-compliant vehicles pay £12.50 per day, which can factor into prices. Many conservation-area streets in Richmond, Kew, and Barnes also have no off-street parking, so access can be tighter and skips on the highway require a permit from the council.
See typical London rubbish removal prices for a full breakdown by load size and waste type.
Compare bids from EA-licensed carriers in Richmond
Post one job for your Richmond address. EA-licensed carriers covering TW9, TW10, TW1, TW2, TW11, TW12, Barnes and East Sheen send their bids. Pick the one you want — only that carrier receives your contact details.
Renovation Waste in Richmond — What to Know
Richmond’s Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian period housing stock means a high volume of renovation work — and that produces rubble, plasterboard, soil and tiles that neither the council collection nor a standard bin will take.
Plasterboard must be kept separate
This is a legal requirement, not just a carrier preference. Mixing plasterboard with general waste contaminates the load and can result in a surcharge of £50–£150. Always segregate it before the carrier arrives.
Soil and rubble are priced by weight
A seemingly small pile of wet clay soil can weigh significantly more than it looks — and be priced accordingly. Get an estimate based on weight, not just visual volume.
Townmead Road charges van-borne DIY waste
Van loads of construction and demolition waste are charged at the tip. For renovation jobs of any meaningful size, an EA-licensed carrier collecting from site is usually simpler and comparably priced.
See builders’ waste removal in Richmond for more on what carriers accept and how jobs in the borough are typically priced.
Your Legal Duty of Care — Why It Matters
You are responsible for your waste after you hand it over
If an unlicensed carrier takes your rubbish and fly-tips it, the waste can be traced back to your Richmond address — and you can be fined even though you had nothing to do with the dumping. The fixed penalty starts at £400; prosecuted cases carry unlimited fines. This applies whether you hired someone from Facebook Marketplace, a leaflet through the door, or anyone without a valid EA waste carrier licence.
Only use EA-licensed carriers. You can check any carrier on the Environment Agency public register before handing over any waste.
Keep your waste transfer note. Your carrier must provide one. You are legally required to keep it for two years.
Read more: the fly-tipping fine that lands on the householder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
Luke Polach
Founder, RubbishBids · Ex-owner, LM Solutions London
Luke Polach is the founder of RubbishBids and onlyvans-uk.com. He previously ran LM Solutions London, a licensed waste carrier serving London and the South East — giving him direct knowledge of council service limitations, disposal costs, and how EA licensing actually works in practice.
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