Recycling in Tower Hamlets - an overview

Recycling collections from home

Tower Hamlets provide a weekly collection recyclables, including paper, card, glass, cans, aerosols, plastic bottles and tetra pak cartons. There is no need to separate the different materials they can all go mixed in to the pink sacks or purple bins. Most properties have now been set up with a collection, either from your doorstep or with communal recycling bins.

If you live in a flat you may have access to shared purple wheeled bins in your bin store or car park; please place your recyclables into the bins loose, or in carrier bags.

For further information, or to find out when your collection day is:

Phone: 020 7364 5004

Email: generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Visit: Recycling in Tower Hamlets

Kitchen food waste collections

Tower Hamlets now collect food wate from you doorstep for composting every week.

All low-rise properties and 2000 high-rise properties have a doorstep collection service.

Residents are issued with a silver kitchen caddy, compostible liners and a brown collection caddy in which to store the food waste. When the liners are full, tie it up and place into the larger brown collection caddy. Collections will be made from this larger caddy from the front boundary of each property on a weekly basis.

5000 high-rise properties have a communal collection service.

Involving most Poplar Harca and Tower Hamlets Community Housing (THCH) properties. Residents are issued with a silver kitchen caddy and compostable liners. When liners are full, tie up and place into the communal food waste collection bin located on site. These bins will be emptied at least twice a week.

Cooked and uncooked food can be recycled in your brown kerbside food container including:

• raw and cooked fruit and vegetables

• raw and cooked meat and fish

• bones

• flowers and house plants

• bread, rice and pasta

• plate scrapings

• tea bags

• coffee grounds

• egg shells

• used kitchen paper towels

• bedding from vegetarian pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters).

You cannot use the food waste bin for:

• glass - please recycle using your pink sac or purple bin

• cans - please recycle using your pink sac or purple bin

• paper - please recycle using your pink sac or purple bin

• plastic bags

• nappies

• any packaging marked ‘compostable» or ‘biodegradable’ as this takes too long to break down

For further information:

Phone: 020 7364 5004

Email: generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Visit: Tower Hamlets kitchen food waste collections

Green garden waste collections

Tower Hamlets offer a green garden waste collection scheme to most residents in the borough. The council will collect garden waste from your home every two weeks. The council will supply you with green garden waste bags.

You can put the following into your green waste bag:

• bedding from vegetarian pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils)

• branches, twigs, flowers and leaves

• grass and hedge cuttings

• logs (up to 20cm diameter)

• plants, shrubs and weeds

• christmas trees

Please DO NOT put these items in your green waste bag:

• cat, dog or food waste

• Japanese knotweed

• plant pots or seed trays

• soil, stones or rubble

• glass, plastic, paper, metal, nappies or any other rubbish.

To participate in the green bag service please register your address by contacting the council. Then simply fill your green bag with your green waste and place where you leave your ordinary rubbish, by 7am on your collection day. For further information or to find out when your collection day is:

Phone: 020 7364 5004

Email: generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Tower Hamlets green garden waste collections

Local street recycling banks

Tower Hamlets have more than 50 local street recycling banks for the collection of all paper cardboard glass bottles and jars, food and drinks cans and plastic bottles. Some alos accept shoes and textiles. To find out where you nearest street recycling bank is and what you can recycle there please visit: Tower Hamlets street recycling banks.

Special collections

If you have a piece of furniture, a fridge, cooker or similar item which is still in good condition check out the Reuse page to see if someone else can give it a home. Alternatively the Council can collect it for you. All residents are entitled to two free special collections of bulky items per calendar year. For any further collections there will be a charge. Senior citizens and those with disabilities are entitled to unlimited collections. This service is by appointment only. For more information or to book a collection:

Phone: 020 7364 5004

Email: generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Visit: Tower Hamlets special collections

Tower Hamlets Reuse and Recycling Centre
Visit: Tower Hamlets Reuse and Recycling Centre

Reuse and Recycling Centre

Northumberland Wharf Waste Transfer Station
Yabsley Street
London
E14 9RG

Opening hours
Monday to Friday 8.00am – 8.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 9.00am – 6.00pm
Bank Holidays 9.00am to 4.30pm

Further information

This page is provided for general guidance. To find out exactly what you can recycle where you live please contact your borough or look at its own website for further information:

Phone: 020 7364 5004

Email: generalenquiries@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Visit: Recycling in Tower Hamlets