Collections from places of worship

Faith groups are entitled to:

• one standard black refuse wheelie bin
• one green recycling wheelie bin  (either standard or large)
• one brown garden waste wheelie bin (either standard or large)
• one outdoor food waste caddy
• indoor kitchen food waste caddies

The cost of each of these bins is £32.50. Food waste caddies are currently provided for free. The collection of all of these containers are free.

Should you require additional containers for your place of worship then you will need to seek a trade waste agreement.

Places of worship are exempted from local non-domestic rating under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, this covers most churches, mosques and synagogues.

If the place of worship hires out buildings to other groups not connected with the conduct of religious worship this would be a commercial activity and any waste arising from such use would be classified as trade waste. A trade waste agreement would need to be in place for this activity. 

As of 31 March 2025, UK places of worship must comply with new regulations requiring mandatory food waste recycling, alongside existing commercial waste duties.

We can provide one free 23-litre outdoor caddy for food waste collections and indoor 5-litre food waste caddies to places of worship. We do not provide places of worship with compostable food waste liners. These should either be purchased privately, or food waste should be put into the food waste caddies loose.

For the collection of food waste which is produced from commercial activities such as charged events which require a 140-litre or 240-litre food waste unit, this would be classed as trade waste. To enquire about this service, places of worship should email recyclingteam@walthamforest.gov.uk.