Bins and recycling in Redbridge

Your bins in Redbridge

• Black wheelie bin (rubbish)

  Collected weekly General rubbish that can't be recycled, including nappies and incontinence pads (double bagged). Close the lid; extra waste outside the bin isn't collected.

• Recycling box 1 (cans, glass, plastics, cartons)

  Collected weekly Food tins and drinks cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, clean plastic pots, tubs and trays (no food, no black plastic), empty aerosols, clean foil and foil trays, cartons and clean tubes.

• Recycling box 2 (paper and card)

  Collected weekly Paper, envelopes (including window envelopes), thin card and thick card (folded or cut to fit). Large cardboard goes flattened next to the box.

• Food waste caddy (kitchen caddy and outdoor caddy)

  Collected weekly Leftovers, plate scrapings, fruit and veg, bread, cakes, rice, pasta, meat and bones, fish, dairy, eggs and shells, tea bags and coffee grounds. No packaging, liquids or oil. Only homes in the roll-out areas have one so far.

• Green garden waste bags

  Collected fortnightly Hedge and grass cuttings, weeds, garden plants, flowers, dead leaves and twigs, in open green bags (up to five). No black sacks, dustbins, soil, turf, large branches, fruit or plant pots.

Flat with shared bins: Most flats and estates share communal rubbish and recycling bins, and everything recyclable goes in one communal recycling bin. Food waste and garden waste collections are mostly not available for flats yet. Flats above shops often have red rubbish sacks and orange recycling bags instead.

Source: London Borough of Redbridge's website.

Bin days in Redbridge

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

Garden waste and bulky items

Garden waste collection is available. Garden waste bags are £2 each from libraries (up to 5 per household, proof of residency needed, no year given); the page doesn't say whether the collection itself carries a charge; 2026 fortnightly collections ran from 2 March to 23 October and are due back in spring 2027, with no 2027 start date given. Season: Mar–Oct. (source)

One free collection every rolling 12 months for up to three items; extra items are £15.20 each, paid in advance. No building or DIY waste. Out by 6am on collection day. Book or check prices with London Borough of Redbridge.

Recycling centres for Redbridge

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

• Chigwell Road Reuse and Recycling Centre

  Chigwell Road, Woodford Bridge, IG8 8PP

  Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 4.30pm (gates shut 4.15pm); Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm (gates shut 3.45pm); other bank holidays 8am to 4pm (gates shut 3.45pm). Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

  Booking: Booking required for vans, trailers and DIY or building waste (restricted waste, 1,000kg per household a year). Bring your council tax bill or driving licence as proof of address.

  No asbestos, chemicals or pesticides. Gas bottles must be empty; textiles and shoes should be in good condition. Map position is the postcode centre.

  Source: redbridge.gov.uk

Where common items go in Redbridge

• Pizza boxThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black wheelie bin (rubbish). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Plastic carrier bagNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: England-wide guidance
• Crisp packetNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: England-wide guidance
• Black plastic ready-meal trayThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black wheelie bin (rubbish). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Paper coffee cupNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Recycling box 1 (cans, glass, plastics, cartons). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Glass jarYes. Put it in your Recycling box 1 (cans, glass, plastics, cartons). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Recycling box 1 (cans, glass, plastics, cartons). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Food waste caddy (kitchen caddy and outdoor caddy). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Tea bagYes. Put it in your Food waste caddy (kitchen caddy and outdoor caddy). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• ClothesNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Battery (not sure which type)Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Disposable vapeNot in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point. Source: England-wide guidance
• Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Small household applianceNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Real Christmas treeYour council can collect this from home. Arrange it first. Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Recycling box 2 (paper and card). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Food cartonYes. Put it in your Recycling box 1 (cans, glass, plastics, cartons). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Recycling box 1 (cans, glass, plastics, cartons). Source: London Borough of Redbridge
• Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black wheelie bin (rubbish). Source: London Borough of Redbridge

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

Common questions

What goes in the black wheelie bin (rubbish) in Redbridge?

General rubbish that can't be recycled, including nappies and incontinence pads (double bagged). Close the lid; extra waste outside the bin isn't collected.

What goes in the recycling box 1 (cans, glass, plastics, cartons) in Redbridge?

Food tins and drinks cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, clean plastic pots, tubs and trays (no food, no black plastic), empty aerosols, clean foil and foil trays, cartons and clean tubes.

What goes in the recycling box 2 (paper and card) in Redbridge?

Paper, envelopes (including window envelopes), thin card and thick card (folded or cut to fit). Large cardboard goes flattened next to the box.

What goes in the food waste caddy (kitchen caddy and outdoor caddy) in Redbridge?

Leftovers, plate scrapings, fruit and veg, bread, cakes, rice, pasta, meat and bones, fish, dairy, eggs and shells, tea bags and coffee grounds. No packaging, liquids or oil. Only homes in the roll-out areas have one so far.

What goes in the green garden waste bags in Redbridge?

Hedge and grass cuttings, weeds, garden plants, flowers, dead leaves and twigs, in open green bags (up to five). No black sacks, dustbins, soil, turf, large branches, fruit or plant pots.

When is my bin day in Redbridge?

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