Mega Skip Days: free help with your bulky items

Getting rid of an old mattress or a broken sofa isn't easy. Not everyone can get to the tip, and paying for a collection isn't always an option. That's why we support Richmond Council's Mega Skip Days.

On selected Saturdays each month, a large skip comes to a different location in Richmond borough for a few hours. Bring along the things you no longer need, and the council will take them away for free. There's nothing to pay, and no need to book.

Richmond Furniture Scheme is there on the day too. They take reusable furniture, upcycle it and pass it back into the community. Your old chest of drawers could end up making a difference in someone else's home.

What you can bring

Each household can bring up to six items, including:

• sofas, mattresses and furniture
• smaller electrical appliances
• black bags.

One black bag counts as one item, and so does one sofa or one mattress.

There are some things the skips can't take:

• cardboard
• paint, chemicals, engine oil or cooking oil
• car batteries or flammable liquids
• concrete, cement, rubble or hardcore
• plasterboard or asbestos
• hazardous or sharp objects
• fridges and freezers.

If you're unsure about an item, just ask a member of staff on the day.

Fridges and freezers

Richmond Council has had to pause its fridge and freezer collection and disposal services for now. Recycling sites across the UK are under pressure, so they can't safely recycle as many fridges and freezers as usual. The pause will help reduce demand while they catch up.

During the pause, you can't book a council collection. You also can't take them to Townmead Road or any other recycling centre in West London. Mega Skip Days can't take them either.

If you're buying a new one, ask the shop if they'll take your old one away. Otherwise, please keep it safely at home until collections start again, if you can. We know this isn't easy, especially if you're short on space.

Please don't leave fridges or freezers in the street or on public land. The council may treat this as fly-tipping.

Read the council's full update. You can also check when collections will start again.

Keep an eye out for a skip near you

The next Mega Skip Days are:

• Saturday 7 November 2026 at ETNA Community Centre, Twickenham
• Saturday 7 November 2026 at Castelnau Community Centre, Barnes
• Saturday 21 November 2026 at Heathfield Junior School car park, Twickenham, using the Powder Mill Lane entrance.

The skips are open from 9am to 11am, or until they're full, whichever comes first. They fill up fast, so it's worth coming early.

Each Mega Skip Day usually happens in one location at a time, so dates and locations change. We'll share the next ones on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/therhpgroup and on our community events page.

You can also sign up for Richmond Council's waste and recycling email updates. They'll let you know when a Mega Skip Day is coming to your postcode. Visit www.richmond.gov.uk/mega_skip_days to find out more.