Lambeth launches Community Skip Days making it easier for residents to dispose of bulky waste

Lambeth has announced that it’s launching its Community Skips scheme this month in an effort to tackle fly-tipping, increase recycling and make it easier for local people to get rid of bulky waste.

Forming part of a long-term plan to clean up Lambeth, the 10-week trial will take place in Brixton, Clapham, Norwood, Streatham, and north Lambeth – which includes Vauxhall, Kennington and Waterloo.

The trial phase will inform the design of a rolling schedule of Community Skip Days launching early in 2027.

The Community Skip Days will take place on Saturday mornings, and each will feature two ‘mega skips’ for recyclable and non-recyclable waste. Council staff will be on hand to help out and answer any questions from residents.

First skip days

The first skip day will take place on 21st November in Streatham, opposite Sunnyhill Primary School, Sunnyhill Road.

The second skip day will be in Brixton on 5 December, outside Ark Evelyn Grace Academy, Shakespeare Road. Further dates and locations will be announced soon.

Following the trial and resident feedback, the council expects to launch a wider programme in the new year, with other measures to cut fly-tipping and make it easier for residents to recycle considered.

Cllr Ciara Alleyne, Lambeth’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Future Generations, said:

” Lambeth residents have been clear; they are sick and tired of flytipping. It is our responsibility as a council to make sure people can be proud of where they live, and keeping the streets clean is a vital part of that.

“Our Community Skip Days will make recycling and disposing of bulky waste easier for all, especially those without access to a car who might struggle to get down to the tip.

“This trial is just the first stage. We want to hear resident feedback on these trial events, tell us what works, what doesn’t and how we can make it easier for residents to reuse and recycle.

“This feedback will help us create an initiative that is shaped by our communities, for our communities.”

The skips will be available for local residents, who will need to bring proof of address when dropping off up to six bags of waste or individual items, including old electricals and bulky items like mattresses and sofas.

More information about the skip days, what items can be brought along and timings are available on the Lambeth Council website.

Why’s it called a ‘skip’?

The word “skip” comes from skep, an old regional and Late Old English/Old Norse word (sceppe / skeppa) meaning a basket.

The word is most often used in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.