Bins and recycling in Barnet

Your bins in Barnet

• Black refuse bin

  Collected weekly Only things that can't be recycled: nappies, crisp packets, pet waste, plastic film and wrapping, and polystyrene. No food, garden waste, batteries, vapes, energy-saving bulbs, paint, oil, builders' waste or asbestos. Homes that can't have a bin may get black sacks instead, and some high-street homes get purple sacks collected at set times.

• Blue recycling bin

  Collected weekly Mixed recycling, loose: paper (shredded paper in a paper envelope), cardboard, cartons, food tins and drinks cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, plastic pots, tubs and trays (not black plastic), clean foil and empty aerosols. Lids can stay on. No food, plastic bags or film, polystyrene, textiles, wood, electricals or nappies. Extra flattened card (under 1 metre square) and recycling in a clear sack can go beside the bin. Homes without room for a bin use council clear sacks for the same things.

• Brown food waste bin (with kitchen caddy)

  Collected weekly All food: plate scrapings, raw and cooked fruit, veg, meat, fish and bones, dairy, eggshells, bread, rice, pasta, tea bags, coffee grounds and out-of-date food without its packaging. Fill the brown 7-litre kitchen caddy, lined with a compostable liner, newspaper or brown paper if you like, then empty it into the brown 23-litre outdoor bin and lock the lid. No packaging (even compostable), plastic bags, liquids, oil or fat, garden waste, nappies or pet litter.

• Green garden waste bin (paid subscription)

  Collected fortnightly, on Saturdays Grass, hedge and tree cuttings, flowers, leaves, weeds and small branches up to 20cm across and 60cm long, put in loose. No soil, large branches, food, plastic bags, pet waste or bedding, or cooking oil. It costs £68.45 a year for the first bin and £52.32 for each extra bin, with a sticker on the lid. Collections pause for 6 weeks (3 collections) in winter.

• Batteries in a clear bag on your blue bin lid

  Collected weekly (recycling day) Household batteries. Put them in a clear bag on top of the lid of your blue recycling bin on collection day, never inside the bin.

Flat with shared bins: Blocks of 6 or more homes usually share large blue or green recycling bins and black or grey refuse bins, plus a shared food bin or caddies. There's no garden waste or battery collection, and your building manager looks after the bins.

Source: London Borough of Barnet's website.

Bin days in Barnet

Check your collection day with London Borough of Barnet's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.

Garden waste and bulky items

Paid collection from your front boundary: £46.71 for 1 to 3 items, £57.09 for 4, rising to £119.30 for 10. Book at least 2 working days ahead and put items out by 6am. It takes furniture, mattresses, beds, fridges, freezers, cookers and washing machines, and 5 bags of rubbish count as 1 item. No asbestos. Call 020 8359 4600 for 11 or more items. Book or check prices with London Borough of Barnet.

Recycling centres for Barnet

Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.

• Summers Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre

  Porters Lane, off Summers Lane, North Finchley, London N12 0RF

  Opening hours: Every day 9am to 4pm; gates close at 3.45pm (earlier when very busy). Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: No booking needed by car, bike or on foot. Vans, trailers and pick-ups must book at least 24 hours ahead with proof of residency. 1.85m height barrier.

  DIY rubble, soil and hardcore: Barnet says up to six standard rubble bags, no more than once a month, though the NLWA page says two 50-litre bags four times in any four weeks. No household chemicals, solvent-based paint or asbestos (use the City of London hazardous waste service). Free DIY materials swap on site. Phone 020 7464 2225.

  Source: barnet.gov.uk

Where common items go in Barnet

• Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Blue recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Crisp packetThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Blue recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Blue recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Blue recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Brown food waste bin (with kitchen caddy). Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Brown food waste bin (with kitchen caddy). Source: London Borough of Barnet
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Battery (not sure which type)Yes. Put it in your Batteries in a clear bag on your blue bin lid. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Disposable vapeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Green garden waste bin (paid subscription). Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Blue recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Blue recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Blue recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: London Borough of Barnet

Something else? Search any item and choose Barnet as your council.

Common questions

What goes in the black refuse bin in Barnet?

Only things that can't be recycled: nappies, crisp packets, pet waste, plastic film and wrapping, and polystyrene. No food, garden waste, batteries, vapes, energy-saving bulbs, paint, oil, builders' waste or asbestos. Homes that can't have a bin may get black sacks instead, and some high-street homes get purple sacks collected at set times.

What goes in the blue recycling bin in Barnet?

Mixed recycling, loose: paper (shredded paper in a paper envelope), cardboard, cartons, food tins and drinks cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, plastic pots, tubs and trays (not black plastic), clean foil and empty aerosols. Lids can stay on. No food, plastic bags or film, polystyrene, textiles, wood, electricals or nappies. Extra flattened card (under 1 metre square) and recycling in a clear sack can go beside the bin. Homes without room for a bin use council clear sacks for the same things.

What goes in the brown food waste bin (with kitchen caddy) in Barnet?

All food: plate scrapings, raw and cooked fruit, veg, meat, fish and bones, dairy, eggshells, bread, rice, pasta, tea bags, coffee grounds and out-of-date food without its packaging. Fill the brown 7-litre kitchen caddy, lined with a compostable liner, newspaper or brown paper if you like, then empty it into the brown 23-litre outdoor bin and lock the lid. No packaging (even compostable), plastic bags, liquids, oil or fat, garden waste, nappies or pet litter.

What goes in the green garden waste bin (paid subscription) in Barnet?

Grass, hedge and tree cuttings, flowers, leaves, weeds and small branches up to 20cm across and 60cm long, put in loose. No soil, large branches, food, plastic bags, pet waste or bedding, or cooking oil. It costs £68.45 a year for the first bin and £52.32 for each extra bin, with a sticker on the lid. Collections pause for 6 weeks (3 collections) in winter.

What goes in the batteries in a clear bag on your blue bin lid in Barnet?

Household batteries. Put them in a clear bag on top of the lid of your blue recycling bin on collection day, never inside the bin.

When is my bin day in Barnet?

It depends on your street. Enter your address in London Borough of Barnet's bin day lookup (myforms.barnet.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.