Plastic Free July: what you can do and recycle in Richmond this month
10 July 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
July is Plastic Free July, the global campaign encouraging households and businesses to cut their reliance on single-use plastics. Richmond upon Thames is using the moment to point residents towards practical local resources that make it easier to act.
The most useful of these is The Fixery, the borough's circular economy hub, where residents can swap, share and repair items, and refill household cleaning products at an on-site refill shop. It is part of the council's commitment under the London Councils' One World Living programme, which aims to phase out single-use plastics across the borough by 2030.
On recycling, it is worth a reminder of what can actually go in your kerbside box: clean plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays are accepted, but carrier bags, crisp packets, bubble wrap, polystyrene and plastic toys cannot. Those items need different disposal routes.
The council has published a tips guide covering ways to reduce plastic at home, on the go and in the community — from choosing reusable containers to finding local refill points. It is a practical read if you are looking to build new habits rather than just mark the month.