Bins and recycling in Brent

Your bins in Brent

• Blue-lidded recycling bin

  Mixed recycling, put in loose: plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, glass bottles and jars, cans and tins, aerosols, clean foil and cartons (including Tetra Pak). Excess can go out in clear bags beside the bin.

• Blue sack for paper and cardboard

  Paper and cardboard only: newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, office paper, books, shredded paper (in an old envelope), flattened cardboard and egg boxes. A 90-litre weatherproof sack.

• Grey bin (general rubbish)

  Collected every 2 weeks Rubbish that can't be recycled or composted: plastic film and wrappers, polystyrene, nappies (bagged), soiled paper, broken and window glass, pet waste (bagged).

• Green food waste caddy

  Collected weekly All food waste with no packaging: fruit and veg, cooked and uncooked scraps, bread, cheese, egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds, pasta and rice. Liners must be compostable, paper or newspaper, never plastic.

• Green garden waste bin (paid subscription)

  Collected every 2 weeks (monthly from December to February) Grass clippings, leaves, plants and prunings, weeds, small branches, hedge trimmings and a small amount of fallen fruit. No soil, food waste, rubble, plant pots, plastic bags, large branches or Japanese knotweed.

Block of flats with shared bins: Blocks of flats use labelled communal bins, collected weekly: recycling, general rubbish and (in most blocks) food waste. There is no blue sack, grey bin or garden bin.

Source: London Borough of Brent's website.

Bin days in Brent

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

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection: £69 a year. £69 a year per subscription, or £55.20 with the 20% discount (Council Tax benefit or Pension Credit guarantee); the service year runs 1 April to 31 March (year not named). (source)

Paid collection run by Litta: GBP 55 for up to five items, booked online (phone 020 4634 9526). One free collection a year if you get Council Tax benefit or Pension Credit (guaranteed rate). Free community skips also tour the borough. Book or check prices with London Borough of Brent.

Recycling centres for Brent

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

• Abbey Road Reuse and Recycling Centre (Brent)

  Abbey Road, London NW10 7TJ

  Opening hours: Monday, and Thursday to Sunday: 8am to 4pm (last entry 3.45pm; vans must arrive by 3.00pm and have last slot 3.00 to 3.30pm). Closed to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday. Always closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: The operator (West London Waste Authority) says you must book a time slot and can't enter without a confirmed booking; Brent Council's own page says booking is not necessary but advisable. Slots open two weeks ahead. Bring photo ID and proof of address (vans always; residents of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond can use it). Commercial vehicles, tail-lift vehicles and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are not allowed; hire vans up to twice a year, booked in advance. Unload within 30 minutes.

  Run by the West London Waste Authority for Brent. Annual limits per household: 3 mattresses, 2 fridge/freezers, 4 tyres. DIY waste free allowance: two 50 litre bags or one bulky item per visit, one visit a week; charges above that (from 16 pounds up to 100kg in a car, 32 pounds up to 200kg in other vehicles). Bonded asbestos is charged (272 pounds a tonne, minimum 54.40 pounds); no commercial asbestos. Hazardous materials and trade waste are not accepted. The operator's FAQ also lists wood, fluorescent tubes, household and car batteries, cooking oil, engine oil, print cartridges and books. Its FAQ also mentions chemicals, paint, gas bottles and fire extinguishers, but its HRRC page says hazardous materials are not accepted, so check with West London Waste on 020 8965 5497 before taking any of them. Has a Reuse Hub. Phone 020 8965 5497. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: westlondonwaste.gov.uk

Where common items go in Brent

• Pizza boxThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey bin (general rubbish). Source: London Borough of Brent
• Plastic carrier bagThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey bin (general rubbish). Source: London Borough of Brent
• Crisp packetThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey bin (general rubbish). Source: London Borough of Brent
• Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey bin (general rubbish). Source: London Borough of Brent
• Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey bin (general rubbish). Source: London Borough of Brent
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Green food waste caddy. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Green food waste caddy. Source: London Borough of Brent
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Battery (not sure which type)Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Disposable vapeNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Small household applianceYour council can collect this from home. Arrange it first. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Paint tinYour council can collect this from home. Arrange it first. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Green garden waste bin (paid subscription). Source: London Borough of Brent
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Blue sack for paper and cardboard. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Blue-lidded recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Brent
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Grey bin (general rubbish). Source: London Borough of Brent

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

Common questions

What goes in the blue-lidded recycling bin in Brent?

Mixed recycling, put in loose: plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, glass bottles and jars, cans and tins, aerosols, clean foil and cartons (including Tetra Pak). Excess can go out in clear bags beside the bin.

What goes in the blue sack for paper and cardboard in Brent?

Paper and cardboard only: newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, office paper, books, shredded paper (in an old envelope), flattened cardboard and egg boxes. A 90-litre weatherproof sack.

What goes in the grey bin (general rubbish) in Brent?

Rubbish that can't be recycled or composted: plastic film and wrappers, polystyrene, nappies (bagged), soiled paper, broken and window glass, pet waste (bagged).

What goes in the green food waste caddy in Brent?

All food waste with no packaging: fruit and veg, cooked and uncooked scraps, bread, cheese, egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds, pasta and rice. Liners must be compostable, paper or newspaper, never plastic.

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

Grass clippings, leaves, plants and prunings, weeds, small branches, hedge trimmings and a small amount of fallen fruit. No soil, food waste, rubble, plant pots, plastic bags, large branches or Japanese knotweed.

When is my bin day in Brent?

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