Flats recycling and waste

Your recycling and waste collection dates

Flat blocks receive weekly refuse collections and most also receive weekly recycling collections.

You can check your collection day by entering your postcode.

What to put in your blue or green recycling bins

If you live in a block with 6 or more properties you will have blue or green communal recycling bins for mixed dry recycling. These items include:

• mixed paper (this includes shredded paper which must be put in a paper envelope before it goes in the recycling bin)
• cardboard 
• food tins and drinks cans
• cartons and Tetra Pak
• mixed glass bottles and jars
• plastic bottles, including toiletry containers
• plastic tubs, pots and trays
• aerosol cans

Remember to place items in the recycling bin loose and not in carrier bags or black sacks.

Please don’t overfill the bins by making use of all recycling bins available at your property.

Any household waste that can't be recycled should be put in your black or grey refuse bins.

What shouldn’t go in your recycling bin and where it should go

• nappies: these can’t be recycled and should be placed in the refuse bin
• food waste: this can’t be recycled and should be placed in the refuse bin
• textiles: textiles can be taken to Summers Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre, charity shops or swapped
• wood: wood can be taken to Summers Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre
• electrical items: these items can be taken to Summers Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre
• polystyrene: this can’t be recycled and should be placed in the refuse bin
• plastic film and wrapping: some local supermarkets offer in-store collection points where plastic film and wrapping can be taken, or place these in your black refuse bin
• pet waste: this can’t be recycled and should be placed in the refuse bin
• clinical waste: clinical waste items such as syringes, needles or other sharp items can’t be recycled and are extremely dangerous in the manual processing of materials. You can arrange a clinical waste collection here
• batteries: these can be taken to Summers Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre. Most supermarkets also have battery drop off points
• carrier bags and black sacks: some local supermarkets offer in-store collection points where plastic bags can be taken, or place these in your black refuse bin

Check what to do with a range of items by using the North London Waste Authority A-Z of materials

Or find out what to do with a particular item by searching for it

You can also download and print the flats recycling poster (PDF, 800 KB) to put up in communal areas of your building to encourage others to recycle.

I don't have any recycling bins

If you do not have recycling bins at your flat block please contact us on 020 8359 4600 with your managing agents / landlord's contact details.

Flats above shops

If you live in a flat above a shop you can either be provided with a recycling bin or recycling sacks for your mixed recycling. We will need to assess your location first to confirm which collection method would be most appropriate and where collections will take place from.

To receive recycling collections if you don’t currently, please contact us on 0208 359 4600.

Important information for landlords, managing agents, developers and architects

• if your property is a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) and has multiple containers of the same type, these can be exchanged for a larger communal bin at a cost. For more information, please contact us
• collections are completed on a weekly basis, however, if your development requires more frequent collections, you can request this by calling 0208 359 4600. There is an additional cost for this service
• when designing and building property, providing adequate recycling and waste facilities is key to increasing recycling rates and ensuring the correct recycling and waste capacity is provided. Download the guide for architects, developers and managing agents for further details

• the location of bins for collection must be in line with the council’s policies. This may be changed at any time to ensure collections are carried out efficiently