Flats Above Shops Bag Service

A recycling and waste collection service for those properties that do not have any outdoor space for bin storage.

New enhanced service: October 2024

Known for our high recycling rates within London, Sutton is taking steps to further enhance our recycling and waste services.
To better accommodate residents in flats above shops, the borough introduced a new schedule in October 2024. Flats above shops receive two weekly collections, providing more flexibility for those who may face storage challenges. This change aims to increase recycling rates, maintain cleaner streets, and reduce fly-tipping.

Enhancing this service further, from 27 October 2025, food waste collections will be introduced to 111 households in Sutton as part of a trial to help inform a wider service introduction for flats above shops.

Flats above shops recycling service

• Two collections a week (one weekday and one weekend)
• Bags provided for recyclable and non-recyclable waste, along with a service leaflet delivered every 3 months
• Residents have time-banded collections where bags are to be presented on collection days between 6pm and 8pm, with collections occurring afterwards
• Some flats above shops will take part in a trial food waste collection service. Households taking part will place their peelings, eggshells, teabags and plate scrapings into their indoor caddies, before placing full liners into shared outdoor bins.

Benefits of the service

• Following feedback from residents, the evening service resolves storage issues experienced by Sutton residents and remove bags from streets quickly
• Increase in recycling collections, including food waste from some flats above shops, supports Sutton in being one of London's greenest boroughs
• The service helps to make our streets cleaner, with bags collected after 8pm.  This makes sure our streets are clean first thing in the morning
• Properties have two collection days; one during the week and one on the weekend.  This provides residents with flexibility