When to put your bin out
You must make sure your bin is out by 7am on your collection day. When possible, put it out the night before.
How bin collections work
Find your collection day and time
Find your collection day and time
You can use our lookup service to find your collection day for:
- Paper and cardboard (blue sack)
- Other recycling (blue lidded bin)
- General waste
- Food Waste
- Garden waste (if you subscribe to this service)
Where to put your bins for collection
A house (including ones that have been converted into flats)
If you live in a house or in a house converted into flats, you should have the following bins:
- blue bin for recycling (or clear bags if you live on the North Circular)
- blue sack for recycling paper and cardboard
- grey bin for general rubbish (or blue bags in you live on the North Circular)
- green food waste recycling caddy
- green bin for garden waste (paid for service only)
Collections are every week for recycling and food waste and every two weeks for your general rubbish bin.
Where you can put your bin or bags
For all collections, you need to put your bins or bags as close to the street as possible or they will not be emptied.
At all other times, you must keep your bins within your garden. Do not leave your bins on the pavement or public highway, except where a special arrangement is already in place with us.
The following are some examples of where you put your bins and bags on collection day.
 | If you live in a property with a large front garden, you must put your bins or bags at the front of your drive or pathway. Make sure they are as close to the street as possible. |
 | If you live in a property with a small area at the front, you must put your bins or bags as close to the street as possible. |
 | If you live in a property, with a very small front garden and no space to move your bins, your bins or bags can stay where they are. |
Need help moving your bins?
We provide a special service to help residents who are unable to put their bins out for collection. Find out more, and apply for our assisted collection service.
A flat
If you live in a house converted into flats, please see the information related to houses above.
If you live in a blocks of flats you should have access to the following bins:
- Communal recycling bins
- Communal general rubbish bins
- Communal food waste bins (most, but not all, will have these)
All the communal recycling bins have labels that clearly show what items goes in what bin.
We collect communal bins from blocks of flats every week.
Flats above shops
When you first move into your flat, you will receive an initial roll of clear recycling bags and a letter advising you where and when you need to place your recycling bags for collection. You will need to buy black sacks for general rubbish. We do not provide food waste caddy's for these properties.
Additional clear recycling bags can be collected free of charge from your local library or you can order more online.
Timed collections
If you live in a flat above a shop and do not have bins for your rubbish, you may be in a timed collection area.
This means your rubbish and recycling will only be collected at very specific times and it must be placed in certain locations.
Find out more about timed waste collection.
What to do if your bins have not been collected
Your bin or sack can be collected at any time up to 10pm on the day it is due to be collected. Do not report a missed bin before this time.
We will not collect your bin if:
- excess rubbish is left outside of the bin or bag
- the bins are too full and the lid can't be shut
- incorrect rubbish is placed in the bin, bags or containers
- bins, sacks or containers have been put out on the wrong day
- you put you bins out AFTER 7am on your day of collection
- bins or sacks have been placed in the incorrect position
- it does not have a valid bin sticker attached to the bin presented for emptying.
If your recycling bin contains incorrect materials we cannot empty it. It will be your responsibility to ensure that the wrong materials are removed before the next collection takes place.
If your bin has been missed for these reasons, you'll need to:
- wait for your next scheduled collection; or,
- take your recycling and/or rubbish to the Abbey Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre
When to report a missed bin collection
If your bin or sack hasn’t been collected by 10pm, then you can report a missed collection. You must do this within 2 days after the day your collection was due.
We aim to collect missed bins within 24 hours of you reporting it to us.
Order a new or replacement bin
You can order a bin or sack for a number of reasons. This includes if:
- you have moved into a new home and you have no bins or blue sack
- your bin or sack is missing, lost or stolen
- your bin or sack has been damaged
- you need a larger or additional bin or sack
You can replace and / or request a new:
- Grey bin for general rubbish (a charge applies - please contact us)
- Blue top bin for recycling
- Blue sack for paper and cardboard
- Food waste caddy
Residents living in a flat must contact their managing agent if they need a new or replacement bin.
What happens next?
A member of our team will assess your request. If, for any reason, we are unable to fulfil your request, we will contact you.
If you are entitled to a free bin or sack, it should be delivered in 10 working days. If you need to pay for a general rubbish bin, an assessment will need to be made.
Replacement recycling and rubbish bags
If you live in a house on the North Circular (A406) you will have bags instead of bins. We deliver new bags to you every week for your recycling. However your general rubbish should be disposed off in black bags. General rubbish (black bags) are collected daily, five days a week.
If you live in a flat above a shop, you will often have clear recycling bags instead of a recycling bin, these can be collected free of charge from your local library or you can request more recycling and rubbish bags online.
Garden waste bins
If you pay for the garden waste service and need to order a replacement bin because your bin has been lost, stolen or damaged please contact us
If you need an additional green bin, or more degradable sacks, you can sign up for an additional garden waste service. Each additional collection service is £60 per year.
Contact us
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