Recycling rules for Islington
Based on Islington published guidance · Last verified September 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Islington.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Islington
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Islington's recycling bin
General rubbish — trays, beads and disposable coffee cups.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Must be clean and dry.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Metal lids can stay on.
Food waste: Islington has a separate food waste collection
Takes meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, tea bags and coffee grounds and more.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Empty and rinse.
Your bins in Islington, by colour
Container colours as published by Islington. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Green box
Mixed recycling
Or clear bags; some homes have communal bins or wheelie bins
Green or brown sack
Garden waste
Hessian sacks; order up to three free
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Plastics
- Plastic bottles, tubs, trays and containers · Empty and rinse
- Yoghurt pots and margarine containers
- Food trays and fruit punnets
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars · Metal lids can stay on
Metals
- Tins and cans · Empty and rinse
- Tin foil and empty aerosol cans
- Screw-top lids and bottle tops
Paper & Card
- Paper and cardboard · Must be clean and dry
- Tetra Pak and cartons · Foil-lined card cartons; plastic milk, soup, juice cartons
- Newspapers, magazines and catalogues
- Envelopes · Including envelopes with windows
- Books · Hardback and paperback
- Shredded paper
- Egg boxes
- Wrapping paper · Only if it tears like paper
Not accepted
- Black plastic bags · Not accepted in recycling
- Plastic film · Check the A to Z — not in the recycling bin
- Crisp packets · Foil-lined packets go in the rubbish bin
- Polystyrene · General rubbish — trays, beads and disposable coffee cups
- Nappies · General waste only
- Tissues · General waste only
- Food waste · Goes in food caddy
- Textiles and clothing · Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: Use a textile bank or charity shop
- Bubble wrap · General rubbish bin
- Foil balloons · General rubbish bin
- Coffee pods · Ask your supplier how to recycle these
- Takeaway coffee cups · Household rubbish
Common mistakes
- Household batteries · Fire risk — take to a recycling centre
- Vapes · Contain batteries — never put in any bin
- Electrical items · Small electricals go to a recycling centre
- Broken glass→ goes in General Waste · Wrap carefully before binning
- Food-soiled pizza boxes→ goes in General Waste · Collected as household rubbish
Tips (12)
- • Empty and rinse first
- • Keep paper clean and dry
- • Glass jars: metal lids on
- • Flatten cardboard boxes
- • Tetra Paks are accepted
- • No black plastic bags
- • No plastic film or crisps
- • No polystyrene
- • No food in recycling
- • Batteries: never bin
- • Foil and aerosols are fine
- • Shredded paper is accepted
Food Waste
Accepted
- Meat and fish
- Fruit and vegetables
- Tea bags and coffee grounds
- Dairy, eggs and cheese
- Rice, pasta and beans
- Peelings
- Leftovers
- Cut flowers and plant cuttings · Small amounts only
Not accepted
- Packaging · Remove all packaging first
- Plastic bags · Do not use as caddy liners
- Liquids · Not accepted in the caddy
- Oil and liquid fat · Not accepted in the caddy
- Garden waste · Not accepted in the food caddy
Common mistakes
- Large bones and carcasses→ goes in General Waste · Not for the caddy; they go in general rubbish
- Cooking oil · Not for the caddy; take cooking oil to the Reuse and Recycling Centre by car
Tips (10)
- • All cooked food accepted
- • Meat and fish are fine
- • Peelings and eggshells are OK
- • Tea bags and coffee grounds
- • Use compostable liners
- • No plastic bag liners
- • No packaging in caddy
- • No liquids or oil
- • No garden waste
- • Liners from libraries or shops
Garden Waste
Accepted
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Plants and prunings
- Garden weeds
- Small tree branches
- Hedge trimmings
Not accepted
- Soil
- Food waste
- Bricks or rubble
- Plastic plant pots or bags
- Large tree branches
- Any other non-garden waste · e.g. oil canisters
Tips (10)
- • 12-month paid subscription
- • Collected every two weeks
- • Three sacks per collection
- • Out by 9am on collection day
- • Within your property boundary
- • Free reusable hessian sacks
- • Overloaded sacks aren't taken
- • Pay for a one-off collection
- • Cancel within 14 days
- • Normally your recycling day
When are bins collected in Islington?
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 Islington, 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 Islington 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 Islington?
In Islington, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin. General rubbish — trays, beads and disposable coffee cups.
What bin does cardboard go in Islington?
In Islington, paper and cardboard goes in your recycling bin. Must be clean and dry.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Islington?
In Islington, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Metal lids can stay on.
What bin does food waste go in Islington?
In Islington, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, tea bags and coffee grounds and more.
What goes in the recycling bin in Islington?
Islington's recycling bin accepts plastic bottles, tubs, trays and containers, glass bottles and jars, tins and cans, tin foil and empty aerosol cans, paper and cardboard, tetra pak and cartons, and more. Empty and rinse.
What goes in the food waste bin in Islington?
Islington's food waste bin accepts meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, tea bags and coffee grounds, dairy, eggs and cheese, rice, pasta and beans, peelings, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Islington?
Islington'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 Islington?
Items not accepted in Islington: black plastic bags, plastic film, crisp packets, polystyrene. Black plastic bags — not accepted in recycling.
Helpful guides
Source: Islington council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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