Bins and recycling in Waltham Forest
What goes in each of Waltham Forest's bins, and where to take the things they don't collect. This page uses London Borough of Waltham Forest's own published information, checked 10 Oct 2026.
Recycle This is independent: it isn't run by London Borough of Waltham Forest. If anything here differs from London Borough of Waltham Forest's website, the council is right.
Your bins in Waltham Forest
Green recycling bin
Black refuse bin
Brown garden waste bin
Brown outdoor food waste caddy
Carrier bag on top of the green bin
Podback coffee pod bag
Flat with shared bins: Blocks use large communal bins collected weekly: green for recycling, black for rubbish, and a grey food unit where the block has been included. There is no garden bin and no bag-on-the-bin collection for extras.
Bin days in Waltham Forest
Check your collection day with London Borough of Waltham Forest's bin day lookup, or use Bin days on this site.
Get the app
Snap a photo instead of typing, and get a reminder the evening before bin day.
Garden waste and bulky items
Book online for up to 5 non-electrical items (no glass or mirrors, two-person lift); reuse and express options exist. Large electricals are booked separately with Any Junk (free) or the Service Store (paid). Book or check prices with London Borough of Waltham Forest.
Recycling centres for Waltham Forest
Household waste recycling centres take what your bins can't. Some need a booking: check before you go.
Edmonton EcoPark Reuse and Recycling Centre
Lee Park Way, Edmonton EcoPark, London, N18 3AG
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm.
Booking: No booking for cars. Vans, trailers and vehicles without back seats must book through NLWA's van booking system.
The accepted-items list is from NLWA's page for the site. Water-based paint taken for reuse; solvent-based paint, household and garden chemicals and asbestos are not accepted (the City of London collects hazardous waste free, 020 7332 3433). No tyres. DIY waste such as rubble, soil and bricks is limited to two 50-litre bags, four times in four weeks. Phone 07917 849616. Fridges and freezers: NLWA's fridge page (checked 2026-10-12) lists Barrowell Green but not this site, so use Barrowell Green.
Source: nlwa.gov.uk
Kings Road Reuse and Recycling Centre
48 Kings Road, Chingford, E4 7HR
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm, including bank holidays; closed 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.
Booking: No booking for cars. No vans. Height restriction 1.85m.
Sorted household recycling and reuse only: no general household waste, trade waste, carpets, plasterboard, tarmac, tyres, asbestos or household chemicals. Rubble and soil limited to six standard sacks of each per month; sacks can't contain plasterboard, tarmac or tiles. One propane or butane gas bottle up to 15kg per resident. Reuse Shop on site. Phone 0207 464 2225. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: walthamforest.gov.uk
South Access Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre
42a South Access Road, Walthamstow, E10 7AS (also E17 8AX); vehicle access through Argall Avenue only
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm, including bank holidays; closed 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.
Booking: No booking for cars. Vans, pick-ups and cars with a trailer over 4 feet must book at least 24 hours ahead, bring photo ID and proof of address, and are limited to 5 visits a year per household.
Free for residents, no trade waste. Height barrier 1.75m. Rubble and soil limited to six standard sacks of each per month. One propane or butane gas bottle up to 15kg per resident. Does not take asbestos, household chemicals, tarmac or tyres. Phone 0207 464 2225. Map position is the postcode centre.
Source: walthamforest.gov.uk
Where common items go in Waltham Forest
- Pizza boxYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Plastic carrier bagYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Crisp packetThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Black plastic ready-meal trayYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Paper coffee cupThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Wine bottleYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Glass jarYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Kitchen foilYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Food scraps and leftoversYes. Put it in your Brown outdoor food waste caddy. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Tea bagYes. Put it in your Brown outdoor food waste caddy. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- ClothesYes. Put it in your Carrier bag on top of the green bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Battery (not sure which type)Yes. Put it in your Carrier bag on top of the green bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Disposable vapeNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Light bulb (not sure which type)Not in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Small household applianceYes. Put it in your Carrier bag on top of the green bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Paint tinNot in any home bin. Take it to a household waste recycling centre. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Real Christmas treeYes. Put it in your Brown garden waste bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Cardboard boxYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Food cartonYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Plastic drinks bottleYes. Put it in your Green recycling bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Till receiptThis can't be recycled here. Put it in your Black refuse bin. Source: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Something else? Search any item and choose Waltham Forest as your council.
How Waltham Forest compares
- Weekly shop basket Collects 20 of 22 everyday packaging items from home. Joint 22nd of 279 councils in England. Not collected from home: Crisp packet, Bread bag
- Recycling rate 33.5% of household waste was reused, recycled or composted in 2024-25 (Defra). Joint 153rd of 195 councils that collect waste but don't run the tips in England.
- Food waste Collected from home every week.
As of 24 Oct 2026. See all the council rankings.
Common questions
What goes in the green recycling bin in Waltham Forest?
Paper, card, glass bottles and jars, tins, cans, aerosols, foil, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, and drinks cartons, all clean and dry. No food, textiles, electricals or batteries.
What goes in the black refuse bin in Waltham Forest?
Everything that can't be recycled. Only what fits with the lid fully closed is collected, and no side waste.
What goes in the brown garden waste bin in Waltham Forest?
Grass, leaves, hedge trimmings, small branches under 4 inches, flowers and weeds. No food, soil, turf, treated wood or plastic bags.
What goes in the brown outdoor food waste caddy in Waltham Forest?
Food scraps including bones, bread, dairy, eggs, peelings, pasta, rice, tea bags and coffee grounds. No packaging, flowers or liquids.
What goes in the carrier bag on top of the green bin in Waltham Forest?
A standard carrier bag (not a bin bag) of clothes and shoes, small electricals up to 52cm x 51cm, household batteries or printer cartridges, left on top of any two-wheeled bin on your collection day.
What goes in the podback coffee pod bag in Waltham Forest?
Coffee, tea and hot chocolate pods in a bag from Podback, collected with the other additional items from two-wheeled bins.
When is my bin day in Waltham Forest?
It depends on your street. Enter your address in London Borough of Waltham Forest's bin day lookup (walthamforest.gov.uk), or use Bin days on Recycle This.