If you have excess organic waste that does not fit in the brown bin or green garden waste bags you can take garden waste (but not food waste) to one of the three household waste recycling centres. You can also compost at home or you can request that excess green garden waste be collected when your regular green garden waste collection is made. This only applies to organic material. You will be asked to leave alongside your brown bin in open black sacks.
The Council provides a collection service from residential properties for bulky waste that is not suitable to be collected as part of the weekly household refuse/recycling collection.
From Tuesday 1 June 2010, new arrangements will be in place:
- A wider range of items can be collected at no charge
- There will be no specific limit on the number of collections in any year
- Bulky collections organised on an area basis
- Bulky collections can take place up to 10pm on the day of collection
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chingford Green | Chapel End | High Street | Forest | Cann Hall |
| Endlebury | Hale End and Highams Park | Hoe Street | Leabridge | Cathall |
| Hatch Lane | Higham Hill | Markhouse | Leyton | Grove Green |
| Valley | Larkswood | William Morris | Wood Street | Leytonstone |
The bulky collection service is for specified items. You will be asked to describe the items when requesting the collection. The specified items must be identifiable and accessible on the day of collection. For loose items such as kitchen / bathroom tiles you will be asked to contain these in a sturdy bag or rigid container (non return)
Abuse of the service
- The bulky collection service is not a house or garden clearance service
- Abuse such as numerous multiple collections, will be reported to Enforcement officers who may serve notices or issue fines
- All loose material must be bagged and wood must be tied together
Collectable items
» See list of collectable items
Excluded items
We are unable to collect certain types of waste due to the vehicles and licences available. These are as follows:
- Asbestos and other hazardous waste
- Batteries – recycled via black box scheme only and at all household waste recycling centres
- Car parts
- Clinical waste – There are separate collection arrangements in place
- Dead animals – There are separate collection arrangements in place
- Fencing – This is recycled at all household waste recycling centres. Estimates will continue to be available for special collections
- Gas cylinders – These can be recycled at all household waste recycling centres
- Glass panes, window panes or anything containing sheet glass, including glass panes from internal and external doors - Sheet glass and windows can be delivered to household waste recycling centres
- Knives
- Oil, preservative, varnish and solvent containers (full or empty) – empty metal tins and original containers of gloss and emulsion paint can be recycled at all household waste recycling centres
- Pianos
- Plasterboard – This can be recycled at South Access Road Household Waste Recycling Centre
- Rubble and concrete (including hardcore / cement ) – This can be recycled at all household waste recycling centres
- Tyres and wheel rims
- Nails still in wood including carpet grips cannot be taken for safety reasons
Other exclusions
Waste generated by trades people that have been employed to carry out work (such as installing a new kitchen or bathroom) is classified as industrial waste. It is the responsibility of the trader to dispose of.
Waste generated by landlords in conjunction with lettings is classified as commercial waste. It is the responsibility of the landlord to dispose of.
The Council will monitor the bulky collection service to identify misuse.
Everyone has a duty to make sure that they dispose of their waste legally. Find out more
A number of organisations provide services to recycle or reuse suitable household items. See the links in the right hand menu for more information.
How to request this service
To request your bulky collection, contact Waltham Forest Direct:
Tel 020 8496 3000
Email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
When you request a free bulky collection you will be told the day when your bulky waste will be collected, which will be within a maximum of six working days. Please leave your waste as close to the front of your property as possible the night before your collection.
