Recycling rules for Brent
Based on Brent published guidance · Last verified September 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Brent.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Brent
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Brent's recycling bin
Not accepted in the blue bin. Grey bin.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue sack; flatten, remove tape.
Food waste: Goes in your food waste bin
Green food waste caddy.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue sack; in an old envelope.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue bin.
Clothes: Needs specialist recycling, not your kerbside bins
Free small items collection or Traid bins.
Your bins in Brent, by colour
Container colours as published by Brent. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Blue bin
Mixed recycling
Blue lid; North Circular houses and flats above shops use bags, not this bin
Blue sack
Paper and cardboard
Homes with their own blue-lidded bin; not communal bin users
Grey bin
General rubbish
North Circular houses use black bags; flats above shops buy black sacks
Green bin
Garden waste
Paid subscription; degradable sacks instead where there is no space for a bin
Green caddy
Food waste
Houses; block flats use communal food bins and flats above shops get no caddy
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Plastics
- Yoghurt pots · Blue bin; wash and squash
- Margarine containers · Blue bin; wash and squash
- Food trays · Blue bin; wash and squash
- Fruit punnets · Blue bin; wash and squash
- Ice cream tubs · Blue bin; wash and squash
- Plastic drinks bottles · Blue bin; wash and squash
- Cooking oil bottles · Blue bin; must be empty
- Cleaning fluid containers · Blue bin; includes bleach
- Shampoo containers · Blue bin; and shower gel ones
- Detergent containers · Blue bin; and fabric conditioner
- Toothpaste tubes · Blue bin; empty
- Plastic flower pots · Blue bin; not black, over 40mm
Paper & Card
- Cartons · Blue bin; foil-lined ones too
- Newspapers and magazines · Blue sack; catalogues too
- Telephone directories · Blue sack
- Envelopes · Blue sack; window ones too
- Junk mail · Blue sack
- Office paper · Blue sack; coloured too
- Wrapping paper · Blue sack; not foil or metallic
- Books · Blue sack; hardback and paperback
- Shredded paper · Blue sack; in an old envelope
- Cardboard · Blue sack; flatten, remove tape
- Corrugated card · Blue sack
- Egg boxes · Blue sack
- Greeting cards · Blue sack; without glitter
Glass
- Glass drinks bottles · Blue bin; all colours
- Glass food jars · Blue bin; metal lids too
Metals
- Drink cans · Blue bin
- Food tins · Blue bin
- Aerosol cans · Blue bin
- Aluminium foil · Blue bin; clean only
- Metal screw-top lids · Blue bin
- Metal bottle tops · Blue bin
- Metal takeaway containers · Blue bin; washed, not the lids
Not accepted
- Crisp and sweet packets · Foil-lined: goes in the grey binInstead: Grey bin
- Vapes · Cause fires in binsInstead: Retailer take-back or Abbey Road
- Biodegradable bags · Not taken; these can sometimes be composted
- Polystyrene · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- CD and DVD cases · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Tupperware · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Plastic bags · Not accepted in the blue bin
- Plastic storage boxes · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Foil balloons · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Bubble wrap · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Plastic film or cellophane · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Blister packs · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Laminated paper · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Plastic coat hangers · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Glass panes · Window glass goes in the grey binInstead: Grey bin
- Broken glass · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Mirrors · Not accepted in the blue bin
- Light bulbs and tubes · Not accepted in the blue bin
- Paint cans · Not accepted in the blue bin
- Soiled paper · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Tissue and kitchen roll · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Wallpaper · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Waxed paper · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Card with padding · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Greasy pizza boxes · Not accepted in the blue binInstead: Grey bin
- Pringles tubes · Not accepted in the blue sack
- Jiffy envelopes · Not accepted in the blue sack
- Till receipts · Not accepted in the blue sack
Common mistakes
- Batteries · Free small items collection or take-back point
- Small electricals · Free small items collection
- Textiles and clothes · Free small items collection or Traid bins
- Paint · Free small items collection
- Food waste→ goes in Food Waste · Green food waste caddy
- Nappies→ goes in General Waste · Bag them; general waste bin
- Garden waste→ goes in Garden Waste · Garden waste service or Abbey Road
- Black bin bags→ goes in General Waste · General waste bin only; recycling goes in loose
Tips (12)
- • Wash and squash plastics
- • Put recycling in loose
- • Dry wet recycling first
- • Empty liner goes in rubbish
- • Paper and card: blue sack
- • Flatten cardboard boxes
- • Remove tape from cardboard
- • Put bin out by 7am
- • Extra recycling: clear bags
- • No batteries or vapes
- • Cartons go in the blue bin
- • Only clean foil
Garden Waste
Accepted
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Plants and prunings
- Garden weeds
- Small tree branches
- Hedge trimmings
- Fallen fruit · Small amounts only
- Twigs
- Old plants and flowers · No soil
Not accepted
- Soil · Not accepted in the garden bin
- Food waste · Not accepted in the garden binInstead: Green food waste caddy
- Bricks or rubble · Not accepted in the garden bin
- Plastic plant pots or bags · Not accepted in the garden bin
- Large tree branches · Not accepted in the garden bin
- Oil canisters · Non-garden waste
- Japanese knotweed · Not in garden or general wasteInstead: Specialist contractor
- Rocks and stones · Not accepted in the garden bin
- Large trunks and logs · Not accepted in the garden bin
Tips (12)
- • Put bin out by 7am
- • Lid must close fully
- • Keep sticker visible
- • No sticker, no collection
- • No Japanese knotweed
- • Too-heavy bins not emptied
- • Leave bin near the pavement
- • No soil in the bin
- • No plastic bags or pots
- • No food waste in the bin
- • Remove wrong items
- • Keep bin inside boundary
When are bins collected in Brent?
This page covers what goes in each bin. Collection days are set by the council and vary by street. See how to find your bin collection day, or browse streets by postcode to see schedules your neighbours have added.
Many councils shift bin collections during bank holiday weeks. BinBosh automatically adjusts collection dates for common shifts, and your neighbours can vote on the actual collection day if it differs.
No streets in Brent on BinBosh yet — be the first to add yours, and your neighbours can adopt it instead of setting up their own.
Frequently asked questions
What bin does polystyrene go in Brent?
In Brent, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin. Not accepted in the blue bin. Grey bin.
What bin does cardboard go in Brent?
In Brent, cardboard goes in your recycling bin. Blue sack; flatten, remove tape.
What bin does food waste go in Brent?
In Brent, food waste goes in your food waste bin. Green food waste caddy.
What bin does shredded paper go in Brent?
In Brent, shredded paper goes in your recycling bin. Blue sack; in an old envelope.
What bin do tins and cans go in Brent?
In Brent, drink cans go in your recycling bin. Blue bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Brent?
Brent's recycling bin accepts yoghurt pots, margarine containers, food trays, fruit punnets, ice cream tubs, plastic drinks bottles, and more. Blue bin; wash and squash.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Brent?
Brent's garden waste bin accepts grass clippings, leaves, plants and prunings, garden weeds, small tree branches, hedge trimmings, and more.
What can't be recycled in Brent?
Items not accepted in Brent: crisp and sweet packets, vapes, biodegradable bags, polystyrene. Crisp and sweet packets — foil-lined: goes in the grey bin.
Helpful guides
Source: Brent council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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