Home Environment & waste Recycling and waste Recycling containers and purple bin recycling at home
Underground bin collection issues

Unfortunately, we are not able to collect waste from our underground bins.

We are working to fix this issue.

In the mean time, we will have dedicated waste crews clear the top plates of these bins in the morning and afternoon.

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Recycling containers and purple bin recycling at home

How do I recycle and when is it collected?

Check your collection day

 

 

How do I recycle and when is it collected?
I live in aYour serviceYour recycling is collected

Block of flats

Most blocks have large purple communal bins

Weekly

House or a flat in converted house

Purple wheeled bins or clear sacks

Weekly

Leave at the edge of your property before 7am

Flat above a shop

Clear sacks

Leave at the kerbside before 7am

Flat above a shop on these streets:

  • Bethnal Green Road and Redchurch Street

  • Bow Road

  • Cambridge Heath Road

  • Commercial Road

  • Commercial Street and Whitechapel High Street

  • East India Dock Road

  • Grove Road (Mile End Road to Haverfield Rd)

  • Hackney Road

  • Leman and Hooper Street

  • Midlothian Rd and Burdett Road

  • Mile End Road

  • Osborne Street, Brick Lane and Hanbury Street

  • Roman Road (Parnell Rd to St. Stephens Rd)

  • Roman Road (St. Stephens Rd to Cambridge Heath Rd)

  • Whitechapel Road

Clear sacks

Daily collection

Leave at the kerbside before 7am

Recycling containers – where do I get them?

Never put recycling in black sacks.

I live in a block of flats

You don’t need sacks to recycle. Empty your recycling into the communal bins loose or use any clear sack.

I live in a house or house converted into flats with space for a purple wheelie bin

You don’t need sacks to recycle. Empty your recycling into the bin loose or use any clear sack. Order a new or replacement wheelie bin.

I live in a property in a time band area

Clear sacks are delivered twice every year. The next delivery is due in January 2026. If you need extra sacks for recycling, you can collect them from  Idea Stores or buy clear/transparent (uncoloured) sacks from a supermarket.  

I live in a house or house converted into flats without space for a purple wheelie bin

or

I live in a flat above a shop

Clear sacks are delivered twice every year. If you need extra sacks for recycling, you can collect them from  Idea Stores or buy clear/transparent (uncoloured) sacks from a supermarket.  

Check your address is on the delivery schedule.

What can I recycle?

You can recycle the following materials mixed together in your purple bin or clear sack.

what to recycle: cans, tins, paper, card, glass, plastic pots, trays and bottles, aerosols

What can I recycle?
Material Yes, please recycle me

Paper and card

  • Birthday and Christmas cards

  • Cardboard boxes (flattened)

  • Cardboard food packaging (e.g., cereal and clean pizza boxes)

  • Envelopes (including ones with windows)

  • Newspapers and magazines

  • Paper - all sizes and colours

  • Shredded paper (please place in a paper bag or an old envelope)

  • Wrapping paper (no foil)

Cartons

  • Juice, soup, sauce and milk cartons

  • Empty and rinse containers

Glass bottles and jars

  • All glass drinks bottles and all glass food jars, including beer and wine bottles, sauce jars, dressing (salad) bottles and jam jars Empty and rinse containers

Tins and cans

  • Drink cans

  • Food tins

  • Empty aerosol cans

  • Foil trays

  • Sweet tins

  • Metal bottle tops

  • Jar lids Empty and rinse containers

Plastic bottles, pots and trays

  • Bottles and caps, including drinks, shampoo and washing up bottles

  • Food trays

  • Fruit and vegetable punnets

  • Margarine tubs, ice-cream tubs, and yoghurt pots Empty and rinse containers

Other items

  • Clean aluminium foil (screw it up in a ball)

 

keep out: food waste, clothes, nappies, electrical items, batteries, polystyrene and plastic wrap

These must not be placed in the purple bins and clear sacks
MaterialNo thanks, these must not be placed in the purple bins and clear sacks

Paper and card

  • Any paper/card containing foil or metal

  • Plastic-coated cardboard, polystyrene

  • Soiled pizza boxes (and other food soiled boxes)

  • Tissues

Glass

  • Drinking glasses

  • Mirrors• Sheet (window) glass

  • Light bulbs and florescent tubes

Plastic

  • Crisp packets

  • Food film

  • Plastic bags - please reuse them or return them to a supermarket

  • Plastic food pouches

  • Bubble wrap

Other items

  • Any metal items other than food and drink cans

  • Hard plastics e.g., toys, Tupperware

  • Wood

  • Garden waste

  • Clothes, bedding, pillows, duvets

  • Shoes

  • Sanitary waste

  • Dirty aluminium foil

Check the Recycling A-Z for a detailed list of items that can be recycled and how.