What not to recycle
Recycling is good for the environment, but there are some items that we don't collect. This is because:
- the sorting plant that we use isn't set up to deal with certain materials
- reprocessing facilities to turn old materials into new ones do not exist locally
Our clear bag and mixed bank recycling services currently cannot collect:
- food waste
- garden waste
- clothes, shoes or textiles
- other plastics including carrier bags, polystyrene or cling film
- wood and building or DIY materials
- foil or metals (other than cans)
- shredded paper
- nappies including used nappies
- broken glass or Pyrex glass
- light bulbs
- batteries
- aerosol cans
If you put any of these materials into your recycling bag or mixed recycling bank it could contaminate the load. This means it will be treated as rubbish - what a waste!
Read about recycling at home.
Where can I recycle items the Council doesn't collect?
There are other ways to recycle for some of the items that we don't collect.
- Food waste can be composted. Find out about home composting and our food waste collection service.
- Garden waste can be collected through our garden waste service. Call Streetline on 0207 361 3001 for more information.
- Clothes are always gratefully received at charity shops. You can also leave them at clothes and textile recycling banks at mini recycling centres.
- Wood and building materials you can give away through Freecycle. You could also use the Council’s Too Big For The Bin service.
- Polystyrene can be donated to local artists or community groups for art projects
- Lightbulbs and batteries can be recycled in special containers throughout the borough. Read our A-Z of recycling.
Find out more about recycling.