A to Z of what to do with your rubbish and recycling

Use our guide below to find out what we pick up as part of your household bin collection, and how you can get rid of the things we don’t collect.

We colour code our bins to help you remember what to put in them:

  • grey: non-recyclable domestic waste
  • brown: recyclable waste
  • green: cut flowers, weeds, leaves, grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, twigs (you can sign up for this service here)

Bins in communal flats

  • silver Eurobin: non-recyclable domestic waste
  • blue Eurobin: recyclable waste

 

A

Aerosol:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Aluminium cans and foil:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Appliances:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Asbestos:

The City of London operates a household asbestos collection and disposal service for residents of our borough. Apply online at City of London or call 020 7332 3433 to arrange a collection.

 

 

B

Baths:

Book a bulky waste collection

Barbecues:

Book a bulky waste collection

Batteries (household):

Take to a recycling centre or find your nearest recycling point by visiting recyclenow.com

Beds:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Bicycle:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Boiler:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Bones:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Books:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin (please remove hardback covers and plastic sleeves), or charity shop if in good condition

Bottles (glass or plastics):

Brown bin / blue Eurobin or designated recycling banks

Bottle tops:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Broken glass:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Bubble wrap:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Building materials (domestic):

Take to a recycling centre (requires booking)

 

C

Cans:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Car batteries or parts:

Take to a recycling centre

Cardboard:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Carpet / underlay:

Take to a recycling centre

Carrier bags:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Catalogues and directories:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Cat litter:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Cat poo:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

CDs / DVDs:

Take to a recycling centre or a charity shop if in good condition

Cassettes and videos:

Take to a recycling centre

Ceramics:

Take to a recycling centre or a charity shop if in good condition

Chair:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection or TCL Reuse Centre

Chemicals:  

The City of London operates a household hazardous chemicals collection and disposal service for residents of our borough. Apply online at City of London or call 020 7332 3433 to arrange a collection.

Christmas trees:

Take to a recycling centre or refer to the council’s website during the Christmas period to find local drop-off points

Cling film:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Clinical waste:

Contact GP surgery or hospital for advice or call 033301224220 to arrange for clinical waste or needle box.

Clothing:

Take to a recycling centre, Bring Bank or charity shop

Coat hangers (metal or plastic):

Brown bin

Coffee cup (takeaway):

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Coffee grounds:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or compost at home

Commode:

Book a bulky waste collection

Compost bin:

Book a bulky waste collection

Compostable coffee cup:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or compost at home

Computers:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Concrete (from domestic DIY):

Take to a recycling centre (requires authorisation letter)

Cot:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Cooking oil:

Take to a recycling centre

Creosote:  

The City of London operates a household hazardous chemicals collection and disposal service for residents of our borough. Apply online at City of London or call 020 7332 3433 to arrange a collection.

Crisp packets and sweet wrappers:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Crockery:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or charity shop if in good condition

 

D

Dead animals:

Report a dead animal

Desk:

Book a bulky waste collection

Dishwasher:

Book a bulky waste collection

Disposable nappies:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

DIY waste (domestic only):

Take to a recycling centre (requires booking)

Dog poo:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Doors:

Take to a recycling centre (requires booking) or book a bulky waste collection

Drink cartons:

Take to designated recycling bring bank (Whiting Avenue, Barking), or take to a recycling centre

Dustbin:

Book a bulky waste collection or take to a recycling centre

DVDs / CDs:

Take to a recycling centre

 

E

Egg trays:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Egg shells:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or compost at home

Electric cables:

Take to a recycling centre

Electrical items (small):

Take to a recycling centre or find your nearest recycling point by visiting recyclenow.com

Electrical items (large):

Take to a recycling centre or find your nearest recycling point by visiting recyclenow.com

Engine oil:

Take to a recycling centre

Envelopes:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Exercise machine:

Book a bulky waste collection or take to a recycling centre

 

F

Fish tank:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin or take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Flooring:

Take to a recycling centre (requires booking)

Flowers:

Green garden waste service or compost at home

Foil:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Food waste:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or compost at home

Food and drink cartons:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Fridges / freezers:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Fruit net packaging:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Frying pans:

Take to a recycling centre

Furniture:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection or TCL Reuse Centre

 

G

Garden chemicals:

The City of London operates a household hazardous chemicals collection and disposal service for residents of our borough. Apply online at City of London or call 020 7332 3433 to arrange a collection.

Garden waste:

Green garden waste service or take to a recycling centre or compost at home

Gas bottles:

Take to a recycling centre

Glass bottles and jars:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin or designated glass recycling bring banks

Golf clubs (including bag):

Book a bulky waste collection

Grass:

Green garden waste service or take to a recycling centre or compost at home

 

H

Halloween pumpkins and apples:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or compost at home

Hardcore and rubble:

Take to a recycling centre (requires booking)

Hay:

Take to a recycling centre or compost at home

Hedge trimmings:

Green garden waste service or take to a recycling centre or compost at home

Household batteries:

Take to a recycling centre or find your nearest recycling point by visiting recyclenow.com

Household chemicals:

Take to a recycling centre

 

I

Incontinence pads:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Ironing board:

Book a bulky waste collection

 

J

Japanese Knotweed:

Refer to Environment Agency’s guidelines

Jars:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Juice carton:

Take to designated recycling bring bank (Whiting Avenue, Barking) or take to a recycling centre

 

K

Kitchen Towel:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or compost at home

Kitchen Towel roll (inner tube):

Brown bin / blue Eurobin or compost at home

 

L

Lawnmower:

Book a bulky waste collection

Leaflets:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Leaves:

Green garden waste service or take to a recycling centre or compost at home

Light bulbs:

Take to a recycling centre

 

M

Magazines:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Margarine tubs:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

Market waste:

Trade Waste Bin

Mattress:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Medical Waste:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin for non-hazardous medical waste

Contact GP surgery or hospital for advice or call 033301224220 to arrange for clinical waste or needle box for hazardous waste

Metal:

Take to a recycling centre

Microwaves:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Milk carton:

Take to designated recycling bring bank (Whiting Avenue, Barking) or take to a recycling centre

Mirrors:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Mobile phones:

Take to a recycling centre or see other options on recycle.now.com

Monitors:

Take to a recycling centre

 

N

Nappies (disposable):

Grey bin or silver Eurobin

Needles:

Contact GP surgery or hospital for advice or call 033301224220 to arrange for clinical waste or needle box for hazardous waste

Newspapers:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin

 

 

O

Oil:

Take to a recycling centre

Ottoman:

Book a bulky waste collection

 

P

Packaging:

Recyclable packaging: brown bin / blue Eurobin  

non recyclable packaging:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Paddling pool:

Book a bulky waste collection

Paint:

Take to a recycling centre

Paint stripper:

Take to a recycling centre

Paper:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Paper towels:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or compost at home

Paving slab (from domestic DIY):

Take to a recycling centre (requires authorisation letter)

Pet food pouches:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Phones:

Take to a recycling centre

Photographs:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Piano:

Book a bulky waste collection

Pizza boxes:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Plants:

Green garden waste service or take to a recycling centre or compost at home

Plant pots:

Take to a recycling centre

Plasterboard:

Take to a recycling centre

Plastic, food and drinks packaging:

Recyclable packaging: brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Non recyclable packaging: grey bin / silver Eurobin

Plastic bags and magazine wrapping:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Plastic bottles:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Plastic cups and straws:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Plastic lids:

If recyclable in brown bin. If not, then in grey bin.

Polystyrene and foam:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Pool table:

Book a bulky waste collection

Pots and pans:

Take to a recycling centre

Printers:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Printer cartridges:

Take to a recycling centre

Prunings:

Green garden waste service or take to a recycling centre or compost at home

Pushchair:

Book a bulky waste collection

 

Q

 

R

Radiator:

Book a bulky waste collection

Rotary line:

Book a bulky waste collection

Rubble / hardcore:

Take to a recycling centre (requires booking)

 

S

Sanitary towels/pads:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Sanitiser bottle:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Satellite dish:

Book a bulky waste collection

Sewing machine:

Book a bulky waste collection

Scrap metal:

Take to a recycling centre

Shelves:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Shower cubicle:

Book a bulky waste collection

Shredded paper:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin   

Shoes:

Take to textile banks or charity shops if in good condition, or take to a recycling centre

Sofa:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection or TCL Reuse Centre

Soil:

Take to a recycling centre

Stairgate:

Book a bulky waste collection

Straws:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Strimmer:

Book a bulky waste collection

Styrofoam:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Suitcase:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection

Sun lounger:

Book a bulky waste collection

Syringe:

Contact GP surgery or hospital for advice or call 033301224220 to arrange for clinical waste or needle box

 

T

Table (any size):

Book a bulky waste collection

Tetra Pak:

Take to designated recycling bring bank (Whiting Avenue, Barking), or take to a recycling centre

Textiles and shoes:

Take to designated recycling bring bank (Whiting Avenue, Barking), or take to a recycling centre

Tiles:

Take to a recycling centre (requires booking)

Tins, cans and foil:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Timber:

Take to a recycling centre

Tissues:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin

Toilet (or toilet seat):

Book a bulky waste collection

Toys:

Take to a recycling centre or charity shop if in good condition

Trade waste:

Trade waste bin or bag or see more information on commercial rubbish and recycling

Trampoline:

Book a bulky waste collection

Trigger sprays:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Tumble dryer:

Book a bulky waste collection

TVs:

Take to a recycling centre

Twigs:

Green garden waste service or take to a recycling centre or compost at home

Tyres:

Take to a recycling centre

 

U

Underlay / carpet:

Take to a recycling centre

 

V

Vacuum cleaner:

Take to a recycling centre

Vapes:

Take to a recycling centre

Vegware:

Grey bin / silver Eurobin or compost at home

 

W

Walking aids:

Book a bulky waste collection

Wardrobes:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection or TCL Reuse Centre

Water bottles (plastic):

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Water butt:

Book a bulky waste collection

Wheelbarrow:

Book a bulky waste collection

Wheelchair:

Book a bulky waste collection

Weeds:

Green garden waste service or take to a recycling centre or compost at home

White goods:

Take to a recycling centre or book a bulky waste collection or TCL Reuse Centre

Wood (from trees):

Take to a recycling centre

Wood (treated wood):

Take to a recycling centre

Wood (wood shavings):

Take to a recycling centre

 

X

 

Y

Yoghurt pots:

Brown bin / blue Eurobin  

Z