Which bin to use and what to recycle
What goes in which bin?
You have different bins for different items.
What your bins look like depends on whether or not you live in a block of flats. Please see below images of how each bin looks.
- Download our Recycling and waste guide for communal bins (PDF, 3MB)
- Download our Recycling and waste guide for non-communal bins (PDF, 4MB)
Food waste bin
In your food waste bin you can put:
- fruit and vegetables
- meat, fish and bones
- tea bags and coffee grounds
- bread, pasta and rice
- eggs and dairy products
- leftover food
General waste bin
In your general waste bin you can put:
- clingfilm
- cellophane
- crisp packets
- sanitary products
- polystyrene
- broken glass - carefully wrapped
- dog poo and cat litter
- nappies - non-reusable
Garden waste bin
In your garden waste bin, if you have one, you can put:
- grass cuttings and hedge clippings
- flowers and small branches
- leaves and prunings
Recycling bin
In your recycling bin you can put:
- paper and cardboard
- glass bottles and jars
- food tins, drink cans and aerosols
- plastic bottles
- food and drink cartons (tetrapacks)
- plastic food trays and containers such a yoghurt pots
If you are not sure exactly what can be recycled, check the A-Z on the North London Waste Authority website:
A-Z of Recycling(external link)
For large, household items such as an old sofa or mattress, you can request a bulky collection.
Some items you will need to take to the reuse and recycling centre.
What do the different bins look like?
You have different bins for each kind of waste.
Non-communal bins
General waste bin:
Recycling bin:
Food waste bins - the black caddy is for your kitchen. Empty your black caddy straight into your green food waste bin:
You may also have a garden waste bin:
Communal bins
General waste bin:
Recycling bin:
Food waste bins - the black caddy (or sometimes brown caddy) is for your kitchen. Empty your black caddy straight into the food waste bin:
