The Get Sorted! Door to door recycling collection services collects from all low-rise households in the borough.
Recycling is compulsory for all properties in the Get Sorted! scheme. Find out more about compulsory recycling.
If you do not have a black recycling box, you can request one by using the online order form or you can call Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000. You can also request additional boxes if one is not adequate.
What items do I have to recycle?
Paper – all paper can be recycled, including newspapers, magazines, leaflets, catalogues, yellow pages and telephone directories. Shredded paper should be wrapped in a large sheet of paper, such as newspaper.
Cardboard - flatten and fold or cut down to fit in your black recycling box. Maximum size: 28in x 18in x 9in / 71cm x 45cm x 23cm. Pieces of cardboard that are larger than these dimensions cannot be collected by the kerbside service; please take them to a main recycling centre.
Glass bottles and jars – rinse and remove all tops (these cannot be recycled). Other glass items, like light bulbs, cannot be collected by the kerbside service.
Food and drink cans and foil – rinse and flatten if possible
Plastic bottles – rinse, remove tops (these cannot be recycled as they are made from a different type of plastic) and squash so they take up less space in your box.
Textiles – such as clothes, curtains, sheets and blankets. Place textiles in a plastic bag to keep dry. No pillows or duvets please.
Shoes – tie together in pairs
Household batteries – place in a tied-up bag
Car batteries – place next to your black recycling box
Engine oil – put in a sealed container in your box
You can download a handy 'What has to go in the box?' reminder card to keep at home.
Can I recycle Tetra Pak cartons?
Tetra Pak cartons can't be collected from your black recycling box. You can take Tetra Pak cartons and other food and drink cartons to be recycled at seven sites in Waltham Forest:
- Morrisons, Chingford E4
- Sainsburys, Walthamstow Avenue, E4
- Pool and Track, off Chingford Road E17
- South Access Road Recycling Centre, Walthamstow E17
- Kings Road Recycling Centre, Chingford E4
- Leyton Recycling Centre, (near Asda store)
Where should I leave my black recycling box?
Leave your black recycling box at the edge of your property, clearly visible and near to the gate, by 6am on your collection day.
How can I help the Council run a more efficient recycling service?
- Make sure that the items you put in your box can be recycled. If your black box contains items that cannot be recycled those items will not be collected.
- Make sure all items in your black recycling box are clean.
- Please try to separate different types of items in your black recycling box.
- Ensure your black recycling box has your house name or number clearly marked to help the collectors return it. You can pick up stickers from WFD shops.
If I cannot fit all my recycling into my black recycling box can I leave it next to the box?
If you need additional black boxes, they can be obtained free of charge by using the online order form or by contacting Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000.
If you occasionally have more recycling than you can fit in your black box you can you can sort the excess items into different carrier bags and place them next to your box. Each carrier bag must contain only one material, such as glass or paper, as the contents of the bags cannot be sorted at the roadside.
How can I find out my recycling collection day?
View the collection schedule or contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000.
Who collects the black recycling boxes?
The boxes are collected by our contractor, Verdant, which provides a weekly recycling and rubbish service on behalf of Waltham Forest. The service is a ‘kerbside sort’ which means that your recycling box is taken to the recycling vehicle and sorted into various compartments. The materials are then bulked and transported to relevant processors.
Will I get my own black recycling box back after each collection?
Yes, but please do ensure that your box has your house name or number clearly marked to assist the recycling collectors. You can collect stickers from Waltham Forest Direct shops.
What if I am physically unable to lift my box?
Residents can request an assisted collection. Please contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000.
What happens to the materials collected in my recycling box?
Glass – is crushed and processed at Berryman in Dagenham, Essex, to be made into new bottles or jars.
Cans - are taken to Edwards in Barking to be sorted, before being transferred to AMG Resources Ltd in Llanelli, Wales where they are recycled into new cans. Recycling cans saves huge amounts of energy and resources – recycling an aluminium can uses only 5% of the energy and produces only 5% of the CO2 compared to making a new one, and steel cans be recycled indefinitely.
Paper and cardboard – go to Newport Paper in Shropshire where they are sorted and transported on to be made into newsprint - the paper used to make newspapers - and new cardboard.
Plastic bottles – are sorted into the different plastic types at Indigo Waste Services in Thetford, Norfolk, to be recycled into more bottles and other plastic products like guttering and even clothing!
Textiles and shoes – are taken to LM Barry in Stratford. Textiles are sorted and good condition clothing is sent to developing countries, along with shoes. Remaining textiles are cut up and used for industrial cleaning clothes.
Batteries – are recycled at G&P batteries in Darlaston, Staffordshire. Batteries are shredded and separated into components that can be recycled, like gypsum, and waste materials like water and acid which are treated.
Engine oil – is collected by Mallary Oils in Cambridge. Heavy metals are extracted from the oil which is then reused as industrial lubricant.
Contact us
Public Realm
Environment and Regeneration
Low Hall
Argall Avenue
London E10 7AS
tel 020 8496 3000
fax 020 8521 3577
email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
