Recycling rules for Epping Forest
Based on Epping Forest published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Epping Forest.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Epping Forest
Polystyrene: Usually general waste (UK-wide position)UK-wide, not council-specific
Across the UK, polystyrene is rarely collected at the kerbside and usually belongs in general waste. Epping Forest's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Lids can be kept on.
Food waste: Epping Forest has a separate food waste collection
Takes meat, bones, fat and gristle, fish and fish bones, cooked and uncooked food waste and more.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Epping Forest, by colour
Container colours as published by Epping Forest. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Green bin
Garden waste
Availability: paid subscription
Green lid
Black bin
General waste
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Put these items in your blue-lidded recycling bin:
- Glass bottles and jars · Lids can be kept on
- Food tins and drink cans
- Clean paper, card, newspapers, magazines and shredded paper
- Plastic household bottles, food trays, containers and tubs
- Aluminium foil and foil containers
- Aerosol cans
- Tetra Paks and other food cartons
Not accepted
- Recycling in black bin bags · Will not be collected
- Garden or food waste · Bin not collected until contamination removed
Food Waste
Accepted
Put these items in your food caddy:
- Meat, bones, fat and gristle
- Fish and fish bones
- Cooked and uncooked food waste
- Fruit and vegetable peelings
- Fruit that has fallen from a tree in your garden
Not accepted
- Plastic sacks or carrier bags · Prevents your food waste being collected
We don't have checked garden waste guidance for Epping Forest yet.
See Epping Forest's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Epping Forest?
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.
Bank holidays, in Epping Forest’s own words: “Your normal collection day may change during some public holiday periods. Put your bins out on the revised dates listed below rather than on your normal collection day.” See the council’s page →
No streets in Epping Forest 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 do glass bottles and jars go in Epping Forest?
In Epping Forest, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Lids can be kept on.
What bin does food waste go in Epping Forest?
In Epping Forest, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes meat, bones, fat and gristle, fish and fish bones, cooked and uncooked food waste and more.
What bin does shredded paper go in Epping Forest?
In Epping Forest, clean paper, card, newspapers, magazines and shredded paper goes in your recycling bin.
What bin do tins and cans go in Epping Forest?
In Epping Forest, food tins and drink cans go in your recycling bin.
What bin do aerosols go in Epping Forest?
In Epping Forest, aerosol cans go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Epping Forest?
Epping Forest's recycling bin accepts glass bottles and jars, food tins and drink cans, clean paper, card, newspapers, magazines and shredded paper, plastic household bottles, food trays, containers and tubs, aluminium foil and foil containers, aerosol cans, and more. Lids can be kept on.
What goes in the food waste bin in Epping Forest?
Epping Forest's food waste bin accepts meat, bones, fat and gristle, fish and fish bones, cooked and uncooked food waste, fruit and vegetable peelings, fruit that has fallen from a tree in your garden, and more.
What can't be recycled in Epping Forest?
Items not accepted in Epping Forest: recycling in black bin bags, garden or food waste, plastic sacks or carrier bags. Recycling in black bin bags — will not be collected.
Helpful guides
Source: Epping Forest council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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