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  • Environment and Waste
    • Refuse and recycling
      • Refuse and recycling services during Covid-19
      • Bin collections
      • Recycling
      • Which bin to use?
      • Bulky waste collections
      • Garden waste
      • Commercial, hazardous and clinical waste
Home » Environment and Waste » Refuse and recycling » Which bin to use?

Which bin to use and what to recycle

  • What goes in which bin?
  • What do the different bins look like?
    • Non-communal bins
    • Communal bins

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.

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What do the different bins look like?

You have different bins for each kind of waste.

Non-communal bins

General waste bin:

Tall black wheelie bin with lid

Recycling bin:

    Tall dark grey wheelie bin with green lidGreen plastic sack tied up containing recycling

    Food waste bins - the black caddy is for your kitchen. Empty your black caddy straight into your green food waste bin:

    Green bin with lidBlack square bin with lid

    You may also have a garden waste bin:

    Tall brown wheelie bin with lid

    Back to top


    Communal bins

    General waste bin:

    Large metal bin with lid

    Recycling bin:

    Large black bin with lid

    Food waste bins - the black caddy (or sometimes brown caddy) is for your kitchen. Empty your black caddy straight into the food waste bin:

    Large black communal food waste bin with lidBlack square bin with lid

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    Page last updated:

    2 March 2021

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        • Refuse and recycling services during Covid-19
        • Bin collections
        • Recycling
        • Which bin to use?
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        • Commercial, hazardous and clinical waste

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