Rubbish and recycling guide for purpose-built flats
All managing agents and landlords need to provide appropriate and adequate facilities to store rubbish and recycling.
You also need to ensure residents know how to dispose of rubbish and recycling correctly.
New builds/developments
Buy bins before completion or people have moved in. Please allow at least three months before buying bins.
Please complete this webform if:
- you have a new build block/development to add to the collection schedule, or
- if you need advice on the types and numbers of bins needed.
Food waste collections are coming
The council will be introducing separate weekly food waste recycling collections to all properties including blocks of flats with shared communal facilities and flats above shops. We are aiming to ensure everybody in Tower Hamlets can recycle their food waste by April 2027.
At blocks of flats, the council will provide free:
- communal wheeled bin/s (140 or 240 litres). Where practicable aim to provide approximately 10 litres of storage capacity per household
- food waste starter packs for each household containing a kitchen caddy, starch caddy liners and information leaflet
- posters to advertise the scheme.
Food waste collections are mandatory
Separate weekly food waste collections are mandatory, as part of the Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms. Simpler Recycling requires all properties to be provided with separate collection of food waste, metal, plastic, paper and card for recycling.
What to expect
Officers are carrying out assessments of each property to determine communal bin numbers, locations and how many households will need a food waste starter pack.
This will be a phrased rollout. We will be in contact to advise you on our recommended locations for food waste bins and confirm the quantities of bins and caddies that will be provided.
In some cases, caddies, liners, and communication materials may be delivered to a central location and for you to distribute to each household/flat within the block, or estate/development.
What we need from you
We are asking all managing agents/landlords to provide:
- a complete list of communal properties managed within the borough
- the number of households within each communal property (if this data is available)
- contact details for staff (on-site or external) who can facilitate site assessments and access etc.
Contact us via email frp@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Housings for food waste bins
Food waste bin housings are an effective way to enclose the food waste bins and can help reduce odours, prevent contamination and improve visual amenity in communal bin areas.
Landlords and managing agents are responsible for purchasing these items for use at their properties. The council will not be providing these items as part of the service roll out.
Food waste bin housings for 140 litre or 240 litre bins can be purchased from various companies.
Rubbish and recycling for purpose-built flats
We operate a weekly collection of rubbish and dry recycling. You should provide your residents with communal rubbish and recycling area/s within the boundary of the property.
Bin size and type
Communal areas should have the following bins:
Recycling bins
- Large 1280 litre or 660 litre violet bins with black lockable reverse lid. Lids must have an opening suitable for mixed recycling large enough to accept carrier bag sized bags (no flat lids without an opening).
- Bins should be metal and BS EN840.
- Recycling bins must have stickers to show residents what to recycle.
- Ensure your residents only put materials we can recycle (see poster) in the bin. No black sacks are allowed. Incorrect items are referred to as contamination.
- Ask the bin supplier to put Tower Hamlets Council recycling stickers on all the bins. Artwork can be provided on request.
- Recycling bins must be colour coated in RAL 4008 (signal violet).
- Signs above the bin/s will help residents to use them correctly.
- Contamination of recycling can be significantly reduced if recycling bins have apertures large enough to accept carrier sized bags and the bin lids are kept locked.
Rubbish bins
- Large 1100 litre or 660 litre bin/s (usually silver or black) with lids for rubbish.
- Bins should be metal and BS EN840.
- Ensure your residents only dispose of general rubbish in these bins. You should encourage your tenants to recycle.
- Ask the bin supplier to put Tower Hamlets Council rubbish bin stickers on all the bins. Artwork can be provided on request. Signs above the bins will help residents to use them correctly.
All properties must have enough storage capacity to store all materials for a minimum of eight days-worth of waste.
Ensure there is the correct allocation of bins for the number of flats in your development by following our guidelines.
The capacity guidelines for each flat in a purpose-built block:
Suggested minimum capacity (litres)
| Number of Bedrooms | Rubbish | Dry recyclables |
|---|
|
1
|
70
|
60
|
|
2
|
120
|
90
|
|
3
|
165
|
120
|
|
4
|
215
|
150
|
Bin access
It is essential that the council has access to the bins on the collection days. Any bin store doors should be fitted with a key code access or fire brigade (FB) lock. The council does not accept fobs.
Any codes must be given to the council before residents move in or if they change.
Check the collection days
Bin cleaning and maintenance
Managing agents are responsible for making sure the bins and bin areas are clean and well-maintained.
This should include:
- Ensuring the bin areas are well-lit
- Bins and floors around the bins are cleaned regularly
- Bin lids/apertures are cleaned regularly, and any issues i.e. broken wheels are promptly rectified
- Bulky waste should be cleared regularly
- Side waste is bagged and where space is available put in the bins
- Cardboard is broken down and flattened and placed in the recycling bins, or neatly bundled beside
- All polystyrene must be removed and placed in the rubbish bins
Missed collections
Report missed collections to the council after 3pm on the day of collection.
Communication materials and support
You can avoid the issues of contaminated recycling, overflowing bins and dumping by informing your residents about how to use the services correctly.
Signs that can be amended
- Download recycling and rubbish sign. Use these designs to have signs made to be placed above the bins. These can be amended to include your logo.
- Download “No dumping” sign . Use this to have signs made to place in areas where people fly-tip. These can be amended to include your logo.
Agreements
- Consider adding a clause to your tenancy and leaseholder agreement requiring correct use of communal rubbish and recycling facilities and correct disposal of bulky waste.
Bulky waste and dumping
- Dumping makes an area unpleasant and if not cleared quickly can lead to further dumping and general disrespect for the area.
- Current residents can request two free collections of up to five items of bulky waste every year.
- Landlords or the landowner is responsible for clearance of any items dumped on private residential land.
- If dumping in bin stores is blocking the bins from being accessed these will not be emptied. You will be expected to arrange for this area to be cleared. We will return on the next scheduled collection day and will empty the bins if the area has been cleared.
Residents moving out
Residents moving out must not contaminate the recycling bins and leave excess rubbish or bulky items in the bin store or around the bin area.
Where a resident vacates a property and leaves waste that they have generated inside, this waste becomes the responsibility of the managing agent/landlord.
Consider adding a clause to your tenancy agreements and leaseholder agreements requiring the property to be cleared of all waste at the end of the agreement. Failure to comply could result in a charge for waste removal which could be taken out of their deposit, where applicable.
Further information