Recycling rules for Hounslow
Based on Hounslow published guidance · Last verified September 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Hounslow.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Hounslow
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Hounslow's recycling bin
Not recyclable in Hounslow. General waste wheelie bin.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your glass bin
They go in the glass recycling box.
Food waste: Not accepted in Hounslow's recycling bin
Collected separately. Food waste bin.
Your bins in Hounslow, by colour
Container colours as published by Hounslow. Some homes get a different container — see the notes.
Black bin
Things you can't recycle
Most homes have a standard 140L bin; larger bins on request
Green box
Glass bottles and jars
Blue box
Card and paper
Flatten cardboard to under 70x70cm
Green bin
Food waste
25-litre outdoor bin plus a 7-litre kitchen caddy
Brown bin
Garden waste
Paid subscription; homes not eligible for wheelie bins get two reusable sacks
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Plastics
- Plastic bottles — Wash and squash; keep the lids on
Metals
- Cans — Wash and squash
- Tins
- Foil
- Aerosols
- Aluminium trays — Including the tray from a disposable barbecue
Not accepted
- Plastic carrier bags — They tangle in the sorting machineryInstead: Take them on your next supermarket trip
- Plastic wrapping and packaging — Crisp packets, cereal bags, bread bags, nappy packaging
- Batteries — Not accepted in the recycling boxInstead: Most supermarkets
- Glass jars and bottles — Collected in a separate boxInstead: Glass recycling box
- Card and paper — Collected in a separate boxInstead: Paper and card recycling box
- Polystyrene — Not recyclable in HounslowInstead: General waste wheelie bin
- Food waste — Collected separatelyInstead: Food waste bin
Common mistakes
- Glass bottles and jars→ goes in Glass — They go in the glass recycling box
- Card and paper→ goes in Paper & Card — They go in the paper and card recycling box
- Polystyrene→ goes in General Waste — Goes in the wheelie bin for things you can't recycle
- Carrier bags — Supermarket collection points
Tips (8)
- • Wash and squash all items
- • Keep lids on your plastics
- • No carrier bags or wrapping
- • Boxes are collected every week
- • Glass goes in the glass box
- • Paper goes in the paper box
- • Order an extra box if it is full
- • Batteries: most supermarkets
When are bins collected in Hounslow?
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.
In Hounslow, a bank holiday pushes that week's collections back by a day: after a Monday holiday, Monday's bins go out on Tuesday, Tuesday's on Wednesday, and so on. BinBosh adjusts your dates automatically, and your neighbours can vote on the actual day if it differs.
No streets in Hounslow 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 Hounslow?
In Hounslow, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin. Not recyclable in Hounslow. General waste wheelie bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Hounslow?
In Hounslow, glass bottles and jars go in your glass bin. They go in the glass recycling box.
What bin does food waste go in Hounslow?
In Hounslow, food waste can't go in your recycling bin. Collected separately. Food waste bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Hounslow?
Hounslow's recycling bin accepts plastic bottles, cans, tins, foil, aerosols, aluminium trays, and more. Wash and squash; keep the lids on.
What bin does card and paper go in Hounslow?
In Hounslow, card and paper goes in your paper & card bin. They go in the paper and card recycling box.
What bin do plastic carrier bags go in Hounslow?
In Hounslow, plastic carrier bags can't go in your recycling bin. They tangle in the sorting machinery. Take them on your next supermarket trip.
What can't be recycled in Hounslow?
Items not accepted in Hounslow: plastic carrier bags, plastic wrapping and packaging, batteries, glass jars and bottles. Plastic carrier bags — they tangle in the sorting machinery.
What happens if I put the wrong item in my bin in Hounslow?
Common mix-up in Hounslow: Glass bottles and jars should go in the glass bin. They go in the glass recycling box. Wrong items can contaminate entire loads.
Helpful Guides
Source: Hounslow council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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