Waste disposal and Fires

Waste disposal

Please don’t bring anything from outside the site for disposal.

Green bins

Outside the upper entrance gates there are brown bins for green waste, provided by Southwark Council. These are emptied early each Monday morning.

In 2024, we reduced the number of bins from eight to four. When we had eight, they could accommodate the full range of compostable organic waste, from grass clippings to small branches (up to 10 cm in diameter).

Cutting down the number of brown bins collected by Southwark, is saving GLA money.  We also hope it will encourage on-plot composting of the softer materials (grass, leaves, flowers, weeds) see here.

The four remaining brown bins can still be used for:

  • diseased plants (e.g. blighted)
  • brambles
  • woody plants,
  • tough plant residues (e.g. brassica stalks),
  • twigs, and
  • branches (no more than 10cm diameter)

As before, these bins should not be used for:

  • food waste,
  • fencing or other waste wood,
  • soil, rubble, stones or gravel, and
  • non-compostable waste (see below)

Blue bin

Inside the upper entrance there is a large blue bin for general waste.  This is for non-compostable waste.  Please do not put in your organic waste and please do not overfill it.   Plotholders must not leave their general waste outside the bins, dump it anywhere on the Site or retain excessive amounts on their plots.  (Skips, which are expensive, may very occasionally appear, but they are ordered only for a special clearance task.)

Skips

These are hired occasionally to deal with accumulated materials that are no longer of use. They are expensive and not to be used for material from home.

Communal composting bay

There is a large communal composting bay at the edge of the car park. It closes when full. If open, it is for green compostable waste, so NO:

  • treated wood
  • large branches
  • perennial weeds (couch grass etc.)

Fires

Members may burn organic material from their plot which cannot or should not be composted, such as timber offcuts, seeded weeds and bindweed roots.  Do not burn plastics or rubber.  Avoid overly smoky fires and especially of wet green waste.  Avoid fires on windy days because of the serious risks.  Timing and control of fires must be within the rules:

  • fires must in metal containers
  • fires must be not be left unattended
  • fires may only be lit on certain days, without exception
    • TUESDAYS
    • The FIRST SATURDAY of each MONTH and
    • The LAST SUNDAY of each MONTH