Recycling collection
Changes to recycling collection on Eastern Avenue and Woodford Avenue
Your recycling collection will move back by one week.
Your next scheduled recycling collection is Monday 9 March and then every two weeks, alternating with garden waste.
For example, Monday 2 March is garden waste, Monday 9 March is recycling, Monday 16 March is garden waste. This will keep alternating in the same way.
We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Check your collection day
We offer kerbside recycling collection on the same day as your normal bin collection.
Presenting your recycling
Place your recycling boxes within the boundary of your property by 6am on the day of collection.
Cardboard must be flattened and presented inside your existing recycling box or left in a bundle (maximum 2ft x 3ft). It may be necessary to cut larger items up to ensure they fit in the box and remove any packing tape.
Your recycling can also be presented in clear sacks/bags (not black bags), cardboard boxes or similar sized storage boxes.
Recycling must not be presented in dustbins or moving crates.
What goes in your recycling boxes?
Please ensure your recycling is completely free from food, rinsed and squashed to save space in your box.
Box 1:
- Food tins, drinks cans
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic bottles
- Clean plastic pots, tubs and trays (rinsed, no food, no black plastic)
- Empty aerosol cans
- Clean aluminium foil, including foil trays (rinsed, no food, scrunch small pieces)
- Cartons/Tetra Paks from 31 March 2026
- Clean tubes (e.g. face wash) from 31 March 2026
Box 2:
- Paper
- Envelopes (including windows)
- Thin card
- Thick card (ensure this is folded or cut to fit inside your recycling box)
- Larger cardboard will only be taken if presented neatly and flat, next to your recycling box
Please see table below for a full list of what you can and can't recycle in Redbridge. Want to know more about our service? Find out the technical details of waste and recycling in the borough, including what happens to your refuse with our in depth guide.
Order a recycling box
You can order a recycling box for £7.20 each, including replacements for lost, stolen or damaged boxes.
You have the choice to order a lid. A soft lid is £1 or a hard rigid lid is £3.
Delivery is included in the price.
You can present your recycling in a clear sack and/or cardboard box. We'll not collect recycling presented in a bin or wheelie bin.
If our crew has misplaced or damaged your recycling box
Let us know as soon as possible.
If you have video evidence showing our crew members misplacing or damaging your bin, send this to us so we can investigate. For example, your ring doorbell or CCTV footage. Email cleansing.services@redbridge.gov.uk
We may replace your wheelie bin or recycling box free of charge.
Need to report a missed bin collection?
If you feel that your recycling waste has been missed by the crew, then please use the button below to report it.
If your waste was not presented correctly (at the boundary) then the crew may have not taken it. This means that they may have made a note and you'll be blocked from reporting it.
Recycling for communal properties
If you live in an area that shares bins (communal), then please visit the Recycling for Communal Properties webpage.
Disposing of laughing gas canisters
Please take them to Chigwell Road Recycling Centre where they can be placed in the gas canister cage (site staff will advise).
Disposing of batteries and small electricals
Never put batteries or small electricals in your household bin. Please recycle them safely instead. Visit our Hazardous Waste page to find your nearest battery recycling location.
I live in a flat above a shop - how do I recycle?
We are currently unable to offer recycling collections for flats above shops because of access issues. We are actively working on a solution, but for now we encourage residents in these homes to use our network of on‑street recycling banks.
We’ll contact properties directly as soon as a recycling service becomes available.
We can also provide a reusable bag to help you carry your recycling to your closest bank.
