Townmead Road Tip: Book First, 8am to 4pm, Closed 3 Days

Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre, off Mortlake Road in Kew, is the Richmond tip: the only council tip in Richmond upon Thames, so “Kew tip”, “Townmead tip” and “Richmond tip” all mean the same place. You cannot simply turn up. Residents need a booked slot, made up to 14 days ahead, and anyone arriving without one is turned away. It opens 8am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays, and closes for just three days a year: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Everything below is from the council’s Townmead Road page, updated on 11 September 2026 and checked again on 8 October 2026, and from the West London Waste booking system, read the same day.

The quick answer

• Residents: Monday to Saturday 8am to 4pm, Sundays and bank holidays 9am to 4pm. Trade: Monday to Friday 8am to 3.30pm, no weekends or bank holidays.
• Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day only. Open at the Sunday times on every other bank holiday, including the substitute holiday on Monday 28 December.
• Book a slot first at the West London Waste booking site. Cars must leave within 15 minutes of the slot ending; vans get 30 minutes to unload.

Where it is

Townmead Road, off Mortlake Road, Kew, TW9 4EL. The site is run by the West London Waste Authority, so residents of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow can use it too. Proof of address is only asked for if you arrive in a van or bring DIY waste: a recent photo ID plus a utility or council tax bill, which can be shown on a phone.

Booking a slot

Residents book online, up to 14 days in advance, subject to availability. If you need to change the date or time, or no longer need the slot, use the links in the confirmation email; you will need the booking reference and the email address used. The council asks people to cancel rather than simply not show.

Businesses and tradespeople do not book, but they must carry a valid waste carrier’s licence and show the certificate to staff before tipping, or they will be refused entry.

Richmond tip booking: how easy is it to get a slot?

Slots are 30 minutes long and run every half hour from 8am, with the last one starting at 3pm (9am to 3pm on Sundays). Cars, vans and bicycles are booked separately. We read the booking system for Townmead Road on Thursday 8 October 2026:

So for a car, a same-day or next-day booking is usually easy. Van slots are the scarce ones at weekends, with only two left for each of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October. Book a van visit for a weekday if you can.

The system offered no slots of any kind for Thursday 15 October, while the days either side were almost empty. The council’s page, checked the same day, gives no closure for that date, so we cannot say why; if you were planning to go that day, book another and check the council page before travelling.

The booking form asks for your vehicle registration. Arrive within your slot: cars must be off site within 15 minutes of it ending and vans within 30.

What you can bring, and in what

Visits are limited to cars, motorcycles, bicycles (including trailers and cargo bikes) and small vans. Pedestrians are not permitted. A small van means a load space no bigger than 1.7 by 1.5 by 1.2 metres; if you book as a small van and turn up in a large one, you will not get in.

The site takes most household materials, and asks you to separate them before you arrive so they go straight into the right containers. It does not accept tyres or any form of asbestos. Good-condition household items such as laptops, furniture, baby items and bicycles can be left at the reuse drop-off in zone 1, where they are redistributed through local community groups; visitors cannot browse or take items.

Charges

There is no charge for most residential waste. Construction and demolition waste, including rubble from preparatory work, is charged unless all of the following apply: it came from your own home, nobody was paid for the work that produced it, it is under 100 litres (two 50-litre bags) or a single item no bigger than 2000 by 750 by 700mm, and you have made no more than four such visits in any four-week period. The site manager has the final say. Payment is by debit or credit card only; the council warns that arriving without the means to pay can be treated as fly-tipping, with a fine of up to £2,500.

Compost bins are sold on site: £20.20 for 220 litres and £22.70 for 330 litres. Trade waste is charged by type and weight, exempt from VAT.

Christmas and New Year

The centre is closed to residents and traders on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Every other day over the holidays it runs to the normal timetable, with Sunday hours (9am to 4pm) on the substitute bank holiday, Monday 28 December. Real Christmas trees can be brought here with a booked slot, or left at one of the council’s drop-off points in January: the list is on our Christmas bin collections page.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Richmond tip?

Townmead Road, off Mortlake Road, Kew, TW9 4EL. It is the borough’s only council tip, which is why it is also called Kew tip.

Do I need to book the Richmond tip?

Yes, if you are a resident. Book a 30-minute slot online up to 14 days ahead; anyone arriving without one is turned away. Traders do not book, but need a waste carrier’s licence.

What time is the last slot?

3pm, every day the site is open. The site itself closes to residents at 4pm.

Can I walk in with my rubbish?

No. Pedestrians are not allowed. Bicycles, including cargo bikes and bike trailers, are, and have their own slots.

Does the tip take tyres or asbestos?

No. Townmead Road takes neither.

Contact

Site staff: 020 8876 3281 during opening hours. Customer services: recycling@richmond.gov.uk, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Bulky item collections (£85 for up to five items) and everyday bin rules are on our bin collection days page.

Related: bin collection days · Christmas bin collections · roadworks and travel