Recycling rules for Harlow
Based on Harlow published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Harlow.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Harlow
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Harlow's recycling bin
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Egg boxes, toilet and kitchen rolls.
Glass bottles and jars: Not accepted in Harlow's food waste bin
Food waste: Harlow has a separate food waste collection
Takes fish, meat and bones, bread, pastries, pasta and rice and more.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Drink cans, food cans, biscuit tins.
Clothes: Not accepted in Harlow's recycling bin
Textile waste collection.
Your bins in Harlow, by colour
Container colours as published by Harlow. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Black bin
Non-recycling
Brown bin
Green waste
Availability: green waste subscription service
Must display a valid permit sticker
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Recycling bin, we can collect:
- Mixed paper: newspapers, magazines, paperback books, leaflets, brochures, greeting cards (no glitter), wrapping paper (no glitter or foil-like wrapping)
- Cardboard · Egg boxes, toilet and kitchen rolls
- Aerosols
- Foil · Food containers, take away trays
- Metal cans · Drink cans, food cans, biscuit tins
- Plastics: drinks bottles, food bottles, toiletry bottles (such as shampoo or shower gel), cleaning product bottles, yoghurt pots, soup pots, spread tubs, ice cream tubs, chocolate of biscuit tubs, food trays for meat, fruit or vegetables, ready meal trays
- Food and drink cartons · Such as TetraPak
- Mixed glass · bottles and jars
Not accepted
Recycling bin, we cannot collect:
- Bags that are not clear or white
- BatteriesInstead: Supermarkets, Recycling Centre or battery collection
- Black or purple bags
- Ceramics, crockery, window glass, drinking glasses, Pyrex
- Clothes, shoes and fabric itemsInstead: Textile waste collection
- Electrical itemsInstead: Bulky waste collection
- Food wasteInstead: Food caddy
- Food packaging with remaining food or liquid · Can contaminate other recyclables
- Gas canistersInstead: Harlow Recycling Centre
- Green wasteInstead: Green waste collection
- Light bulbsInstead: Harlow Recycling Centre
- Nappies, incontinence and sanitary wasteInstead: Non-recycling bin or nappy collection
- Polystyrene
- Toys, plastic bags and film wrapping
- VapesInstead: Supermarkets, vape shops or Recycling Centre
- Wallpaper
- Wood
- Black plastic items · Currently cannot be recycled
Tips (4)
- • You need to make sure the items are empty, clean and dry
- • Put the bags next to your full bin or box
- • Extra recycling should be put out as normal
- • We will collect extra recycling.
Food Waste
Accepted
Food bin, we can collect:
- Fish
- Meat and bones
- Bread, pastries, pasta and rice
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Plate scrapings
- Fruit and vegetables
- Dairy products
- Shellfish and egg shells
Not accepted
Food bin, we cannot collect:
- Plastic packaging · Even if it is biodegradable
- Glass
- Cans and tins
- Oyster shells
- Pet food
- Liquids
- Garden waste
- Coffee cups
We don't have checked garden waste guidance for Harlow yet.
See Harlow's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Harlow?
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 Harlow’s own words: “You can check your bin dates for the Christmas period online.” See the council’s page →
In Harlow’s own words: “We make collections every week. One week we collect non-recycling, the next week will be recycling. We collect food waste every week.”
No streets in Harlow 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 Harlow?
In Harlow, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in Harlow?
In Harlow, cardboard goes in your recycling bin. Egg boxes, toilet and kitchen rolls.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Harlow?
In Harlow, glass can't go in your food waste bin.
What bin does food waste go in Harlow?
In Harlow, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes fish, meat and bones, bread, pastries, pasta and rice and more.
What bin do tins and cans go in Harlow?
In Harlow, metal cans go in your recycling bin. Drink cans, food cans, biscuit tins.
What goes in the recycling bin in Harlow?
Harlow's recycling bin accepts mixed paper: newspapers, magazines, paperback books, leaflets, brochures, greeting cards (no glitter), wrapping paper (no glitter or foil-like wrapping), cardboard, aerosols, foil, metal cans, plastics: drinks bottles, food bottles, toiletry bottles (such as shampoo or shower gel), cleaning product bottles, yoghurt pots, soup pots, spread tubs, ice cream tubs, chocolate of biscuit tubs, food trays for meat, fruit or vegetables, ready meal trays, and more. Egg boxes, toilet and kitchen rolls.
What goes in the food waste bin in Harlow?
Harlow's food waste bin accepts fish, meat and bones, bread, pastries, pasta and rice, tea bags and coffee grounds, plate scrapings, fruit and vegetables, and more.
What can't be recycled in Harlow?
Items not accepted in Harlow: bags that are not clear or white, batteries, black or purple bags, ceramics, crockery, window glass, drinking glasses, pyrex. Food packaging with remaining food or liquid — can contaminate other recyclables.
Helpful guides
Source: Harlow council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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