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

Use the index below to find out what we pick up as part of your household bin collection service, and how you can get rid of the things we don’t collect from the kerbside. If you don't find what you are looking for please complete a Waste Enquiry form

green recycling: should be placed your green wheelie bin, green communal recycling bin or green recycling sack (depending on the type of property you live in).
food and garden waste: should be placed in your brown wheelie bin or communal food waste bin (food items only).
black bin: is not recyclable and should be placed in your black wheelie bin, communal refuse bin or general refuse sacks.

Other items may be suitable for a large item collection or disposing of at a local waste and recycling centre.

This is for residential waste only. Businesses and landlords must use trade waste contractors.

A

Aerosol: green recycling
Aftershave bottles: green recycling bin
Aluminium cans and foil: green recycling
Aluminium foil: clean food trays and clean foil wrapping in the green recycling bin
Appliances: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Asbestos: cement bonded asbestos can be accepted at Hornsey Street HWRC in Islington. Asbestos must be pre-booked before being dropped off at the site.

B

Baby food pouches: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Batteries: placed inside a regular plastic or carrier bag left on top of your two-wheeled bin on your collection day. You can also take them to Waltham Forest libraries or to a local waste and recycling centre
Beds: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Bike recycling: bikes can be taken to local waste and recycling centres or directly to our second time around shop at Kings Road Reuse and Recycling Centre
Bicycle inner tubes and bicycle tyres: cannot be recycled at home, but there are lots of recycling points you can take them to. They are part of a scheme called Velorim. Just search on the Velorim website to find one near you.
Biscuit and chocolate wrappers: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Black food trays: green recycling bin
Blister packs: recyclable at the Berwickwy Walthamstow Superdrug Pharmacy under the Superdrug medicine packet recycling programme.
Boiler: can be taken to local waste and recycling centre to dispose of or it can be collected through the 'Premium service' of the large item collection service
Bones: brown food and garden waste
Books: if in good condition take to a charity shop or a local waste and recycling centre
Bottle tops: green recycling. Please unscrew and place in bin separately. Tops from milk, fizzy drinks, beer, wine are all accepted
Bottles: plastic and glass bottles in the green recycling bin
Bricks from domestic DIY only: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Broken glass: small amounts such as broken bottles or drinking glasses can be safely wrapped in newspaper and placed in your black refuse bin, otherwise take to a local waste and recycling centre
Bubble wrap: Black bin
Building materials (domestic only): take to a local waste and recycling centre
Business waste: how to dispose of trade waste

C

Car batteries or parts: take to local waste and recycling centre.
Cables: Computer cables, chargers, electrical: If the item is not reusable, you can recycle it. Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled at a local waste and recycling centre
Cardboard: green recycling
Carpet/ underlay: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Carrier bags: reuse them as much as possible in the first instance, and try to use reusable bags instead. Please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Cat litter: black bin
Cat poo: black bin
Cat food pouches: black bin
CDs/DVDs: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Cassettes and videos: black bin
Ceramics: if in good condition please take to a charity shop or a local waste and recycling centre
Cereal liners: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Cheese wrapping: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Chemicals: hazardous waste, please arrange a hazardous waste collection
Christmas trees: take to a local waste and recycling centre or if you have a kerbside brown bin collection, leave next to your brown bin on your collection day. You can also arrange a large item collection.
Christmas decorations: decorations that are in good condition could be sold or donated for reuse or to charity. If the items are not reusable, they can be disposed of in your black bin.
Cling film: black bin
Clinical waste: arrange a clinical waste collection
Clothing: if in good condition please take to a charity shop or a local waste and recycling centre
Coat hangers: take to a local charity shop for re-use
Compostable coffee cup: Black bin please check individual company website for advice if the cup can be composted at home
Computers: small computers take to a public electric recycling bank, larger computers take to a local waste and recycling centre
Coffee cups: black bin
Coffee filters: black bin
Coffee pods
Compostable card takeaway containers: black bin
Compostable plastic, bioplastic, biodegradable plastic: black bin
Computers: keyboards or monitors take to a local waste and recycling centre
Concrete domestic DIY only: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Cooking oil: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Cotton wool: black bin
Creosote: can be collected by the City of London
Crisp packets and sweet wrappers: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Crockery: if in good condition please take to a charity shop or a local waste and recycling centre

D

Dairy products: Solid dairy products can go in the food waste bin but nothing liquid, like milk.
Dead animals: report a dead animal
Delivery bags: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Detergent pouches: Please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Diesel: arrange a hazardous waste collection
Disposable nappies: black bin
Disposable coffee cups: The inner lining of coffee cups is made from a mixture of paper and plastic and cannot be recycled at home. There are some coffee cup recycling schemes available in some coffee shops, or alternatively dispose in the in the black bin
Disposable plastic cups: When made from only one type of material can be recycled. Please empty, rinse them and remember to remove the plastic straw since these are not recyclable.
DIY waste domestic only: please take to a local waste and recycling centre
Dog poo: black bin
Doors: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Drink cartons: green recycling
DVDs/CDs/videos: take to a local waste and recycling centre
DVD Cases: black bin

E

Egg cartons: green recycling bin
Egg shells: brown food and garden waste
Electric cables: take to a grey electrical bring bank or to a local waste and recycling centre
Electrical items (small): take to a grey electrical bring bank or to a local waste and recycling centre or if you have two-wheeled bins place these items in a carrier bag on top of the two-wheeled bins to be collected by the collection crew on your collection day
Electrical items (large): arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Energy saving light bulbs: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Engine oil: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Envelopes: green recycling (with plastic windows torn out)
Expanded polystyrene: The kind of sturdy packaging material that is used to protect products such as large electrical appliances. It is not the same as the type of polystyrene used to make takeaway container, take to a local waste and recycling centre

F

Face masks: black bin
Face cream jars: empty glass jars in the green recycling bin
Fencing: wooden fencing panels, take to a local waste and recycling centre
Fibreglass loft insulation: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Fish: brown food and garden waste
Fish tank: if in good condition please to a charity shop or a local waste and recycling centre
Fish wrapping: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Flowers: brown food and garden waste
Fluorescent light tubes: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Foil: green recycling
Foil trays: can be recycled as long as it does not have any food residue or grease on or in it.
Food waste: brown food and garden waste
Food and drink cartons: green recycling
Frozen food bags: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Fridge / freezers: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Fruit net packaging: black bin
Frying pans: if in good condition take to a charity shop, if not, place in your black bin or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Furniture: arrange a large item collection for this item

G

Garden chemicals: arrange a hazardous waste collection
Garden waste: brown food and garden waste
Gas bottles: take to a local waste and recycling centre
(Contact the manufacturer first to see if they are able to take back the item for refilling or disposal. One gas bottle up to 15kg in size, either propane or butane will be accepted per resident at the site.)
Glass bottles and jars: green recycling
Glasses: Some opticians and charity shops will accept old glasses for repair and shipment to developing countries.
Gloves (rubber): black bin
Grass: brown food and garden waste

H

Hand sanitiser bottle: Empty and rinse well, labels can be left on, green recycle bin
Hardcore and rubble: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Hay: brown food and garden waste
Hedge trimmings: brown food and garden waste
Household batteries: placed inside a regular plastic or carrier bag left on top of your brown bin on your collection day. You can also take them to Waltham Forest libraries or to a local waste and recycling centre
Household chemicals: arrange a hazardous waste collection
Household plants: brown bin, plant only no soil

I

Irons: placed in a carrier bag on top of your green recycling bin
Incontinence pads: black bin, double bagged, to reduce spillage
Inhalers: should be taken to a pharmacy to be safely disposed of
Ink cartridges: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Irons: placed in a carrier bag on top of your green recycling bin

J

Japanese Knotweed: or any soil that has been near Japanese knotweed must not be placed in any of our bins. Please read advice from the Environment Agency on how to dispose of Japanese knotweed safely and legally
Jars: washed and empty, green recycling bin

K

Kettles: placed in a carrier bag on top of your green recycling bin
Kitchen Towel Roll: black bin
Keys: metal, take to a local waste and recycling centre

L

Lateral flow tests: put all of the items from the test, and the plastic packaging into the small waste bag provided with the kit, and then put it in your black bin
Leaves: brown food and garden waste
Light bulbs: if they are energy saving take them to your local waste and recycling centre. If they are ordinary bulbs please dispose of them in the black bin
Lithium batteries: take to your local waste and recycling centre.

M

Mattress: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Magazines: green recycling bin
Make up: Foundation bottles (including plastic jars, tins etc) can be put in your green recycling if emptied and rinsed out. Used-up make up brushes should go in the general waste bin.
Metal: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Microwaves: arrange an electrical item collection take the item to one of the 3 reuse and recycling centres in the borough
Mirrors: if in good condition please take them to a charity shop or a local waste and recycling centre
Mobile phones: can be placed in a local grey electrical recycling bank or taken to a local waste and recycling centre
Monitors: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Multi-pack wrapping: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator

N

Nail varnish bottles: black bin
Nappies (disposable): black bin. To switch to reusable, washable cloth nappies visit Real Nappies for London and claim your free voucher worth £70
Nappies (eco/biodegradable): black bin. These cannot be composted in your brown bin. To switch to reusable, washable cloth nappies visit Real Nappies for London and claim your free voucher worth £70
Needles: arrange a clinical waste collection
Newspaper: green recycling bin

O

Oil: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Organic waste: Please make sure you do not add plastic bags, soil, turf, stones, rubble, plant pots, painted/treated wood, animal faeces, animal litter, food waste, logs over 30cm in diameter or 2m in length, or any invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed in the brown bin

P

Paint: take to a local waste and recycling centre so that it can be reused via the Forest Recycling Project. Leftover paint is also available for residents to take away for free from waste and recycling centres in the brought.
Paint stripper: arrange a hazardous waste collection
Paper: green recycling
Paper Towels: black bin
Paraffin: arrange a hazardous waste collection
Pasta wrapping: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Paving stones (domestic DIY only): take to a local waste and recycling centre
Pesticides: arrange a hazardous waste collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Pet food pouches: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Petrol: arrange a hazardous waste collection
Phones: can be placed in a local grey electrical recycling bank or taken to a local waste and recycling centre
Photographs: black bin
Pizza Boxes: if greasy or stained with foods then it must be placed in the black bin. Otherwise it is green recycling.
Plants (small): brown food and garden waste
Plant Pots: local waste and recycling centre or black bin
Plasterboard: local waste and recycling centre
Plastic Tubs: i.e cosmetic tub: green recycling bin
Plastic food packaging: Plastic bags which hold things like bread, potatoes or salad cannot be recycled at home. Please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Plastic bags and magazine wrapping: recyclable items (except black plastic bags)
Plastic bottles: green recycling
Plastic cups and straws: green recycling:
Plastic drinks packaging: green recycling
Plastic film lids: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Plastic lids: please unscrew and place in the green recycling
Polystyrene and foam: black bin
Pots and pans: if in good condition please take to a charity shop or a local waste and recycling centre, or put in your black bin
Printers: local waste and recycling centre
Printer cartridges: local waste and recycling centre
Prunings: brown food and garden waste

R

Radiators: local waste and recycling centre
Rioce bags: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Rubble / hardcore: local waste and recycling centre
Rugs: local waste and recycling centre

S

Sandwich packets: Paper or card sandwich packets can be recycled as long as they don't have lots of food stuck to them. Please ideally remove the plastic window before putting into your green recycling bin.
Salad bags: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Sanitary towels: black bin, double bagged, to reduce spillage
Sanitiser (hand sanitiser- plastic bottle): green recycling
Scrap metal: local waste and recycling centre
Sharps: arrange a clinical waste collection
Shelves: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Shredded paper: green recycling
Small electrical items
Sofa / suite: arrange a large item collection
Soil: take to a local waste and recycling centre
Suitcase: if in good condition please to a charity shop or a local waste and recycling centre

T

Tetra Pak: green recycling
Textiles and shoes: local textiles recycling bank or take to a local waste and recycling centre or if you have two wheeled bins place these items in a carrier bag on top of the two wheeled bins to be collected by the collection crew
Tins, cans and foil: green recycling
Timber: local waste and recycling centre
Tins (biscuits/sweets): green recycling
Tissues: black bin
Toilet roll wrapping: please put them in your general waste, or take them to a collection point at the larger stores of most major supermarkets. Collection point locator
Trade waste: how to dispose of trade waste
Trimmings: brown food and garden waste
Trigger Sprays: green recycling, please separate in to 2 parts if possible
TVs: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Twigs: brown food and garden waste
Tyres: try your local garage (they will sometimes dispose for a small fee) or take to a local waste and recycling centre

U

Underlay / carpet: local waste and recycling centre

V

Vacuum cleaner: if in good condition please take to a charity shop, arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Vapes: Vapes cannot go in your rubbish or recycling bin. Like anything with a battery, cable or plug, vapes can and should be recycled. This is the same for all single-use vapes, rechargeable vapes and those that are rechargeable with a single-use chamber. You can recycle vapes at any north London reuse and recycling centre or use a take back-scheme. Refer to this Vape Recycling Guide for further advice
Vegware: black bin or check with the individual company website for advice if the vegware can be composted at home
Videos/DVDs/CDs: local waste and recycling centre

W

Wardrobes: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Waste enquiry form
Weeds: brown bin food and garden waste
Wet wipes: black bin
White goods: arrange a large item collection or take to a local waste and recycling centre
Wood (from trees): brown bin food and garden waste
Wood (treated wood) - take to a local waste and recycling centre
Wood shavings: brown bin food and garden waste

Y

Yoghurt pots: Please just give them a quick rinse to make sure there is no food left inside. Remove film lids and any cardboard packaging but labels can be left on and place in the green recycling bin

More information

If we haven't listed an item you want to get rid of, try the Wise up to Waste A to Z.

You may also be able to take reusable items to a charity shop or list them with the Waltham Forest Freecycle group.