New figures reveal that residents across the London Borough of Bromley have raised dozens of complaints about the council’s waste services over the past year, with issues ranging from missed collections to crews spilling rubbish in the streets.
According to a FOI submitted by the News Shopper, between January 2025 and January 2026, there were 37 formal Stage 1 complaints made to Bromley Council about its waste collection service.
While most roads were only mentioned once, Addington Road in West Wickham stands out, generating two separate complaints from different addresses.
The council does not maintain an official “top 10” list of streets for complaints, but its records provide a snapshot of where residents have voiced concerns.
The majority of complaints relate to crew behaviour, including repeat missed collections, spilling rubbish and leaving a mess. problems with bulky waste collection and damage to property.
Other issues raised by residents include stolen bins, contaminated recycling letters, and policy questions about wheeled bins or supplementary recycling.
For example, a stolen container was reported on Wotton Green in Orpington.
Despite this, Councillor Will Rowlands, Executive Councillor for Environment said Bromley remains London's "top recycling borough" with around 1.7million collections every month.
He told the News Shopper: “We actually get more compliments than complaints these days about our recycling and waste services.
"As London’s top recycling borough we make around 1.7million collections every month and whilst we strive to get it right each and every time, we recognise that mistakes will occur from time to time, with the statistics, we are pleased to note, showing that we get 99.9 per cent collections right, with around 1,800 enquiries per month.
"The remarkably low complaint record is no room for complacency as we continue to look for ways to improve our recycling partnership with residents and thank you to residents for their support and feedback.”
Here are the streets where complaints were recorded:
January 2025
- Abbey Park, Beckenham (BR3 1QE) – Spilling and leaving a mess
- Stowe Road, Orpington (BR6 9HG) – Spilling and leaving a mess
- Durley Gardens, Orpington (BR6 9LL) – Spilling and leaving a mess
- Dittisham Road, Mottingham (SE9 4BJ) – Spilling and leaving a mess
- Caesar Road, Beckenham (BR3 3UP) – Spilling and leaving a mess
- Maberley Road, Anerley (SE19 2JD) – Spilling and leaving a mess
February 2025
- Farnaby Road, Bromley (BR1 4BH) – Crew behaviour issue
March 2025
- Wotton Green, Orpington (BR5 3PB) – Stolen container
- Cornish Grove, Penge (SE20 8RB) – Contaminated recycling letter
- Ravenscroft Crescent, Mottingham (SE9 4LL) – Repeat missed collection / wheeled bin policy
- Wilmington Avenue, Orpington (BR6 9BJ) – Spilling and leaving a mess
- Albert Road, Bromley (BR2 9PY) – Supplementary recycling issue
April 2025
- Birchtree Avenue, West Wickham (BR4 9EG) – Crew behaviour
- Devonshire Road, Mottingham (SE9 4QP) – Repeat missed collection
- Thickett Road, Penge (SE20 8DB) – Crew behaviour issue
May 2025
- Addington Road, West Wickham (BR4 9BJ) – Repeat missed collection
- Trinity Mews, Croydon Road, Penge (SE20 7YY) – Repeat missed collection
June 2025
- Ravenscroft Crescent, Mottingham (SE94LL) - Wheeled bins
- Leesons Hill, Orpington (BR5 2NH) – Repeat missed collection
July 2025
- High Street, Penge (SE20 7QB) - Other
- Crow Hill, Downe (BR6 7JE) – Repeat missed collection
- Samos Road, Penge (SE20 7TU) – Repeat missed collection
August 2025
- Parkland Mead, Bickley (BR1 2FQ) – Repeat missed collection
September 2025
- St Paul’s Wood Hill, St Mary Cray (BR5 2SZ) – Other
- Ravensbourne Avenue, Bromley (BR3 5HG) – Repeat missed collection
- Star Lane, St Mary Cray (BR5 3LN) – Repeat missed collection
October 2025
- Hawes Lane, West Wickham (BR4 9AG) – Repeat missed collection
- Godwin Road, Bromley (BR2 9LG) – Crew behaviour issue
- Mosslea Road, Bromley (BR2 9PS) – Crew behaviour issue
November 2025
- Briar Wood Close, Bromley (BR2 8EJ) - Removal of Property
- Addington Road, West Wickham (BR4 9BQ) - Repeat missed collection
December 2025
- William Booth Road, Anerley (SE20 8BX) - Bulky Waste
- Bayfield Place, Orpington (BR6 7FA) - Repeat missed collection
January 2026
- Silver Dale Road, St Paul's Cray (BR5 2LT) - Bulky Waste
- Maple Leaf Close, Biggin Hill (TN16 3JW) - Repeat missed collection
- Whitewebbs Way, Orpington (BR5 2TJ) - Repeat missed collection
- Cyril Road, Orpington (BR6 0EX) - Damage to property
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