Recycling rules for Merton
Based on Merton published guidance · Last verified September 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Merton.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Merton
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. Merton's published guidance we hold doesn't list it.
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags; flatten large boxes.
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag.
Food waste: Merton has a separate food waste collection
Takes bread and bakery goods, dairy products, fruit and vegetables and more.
Shredded paper: Goes in your recycling bin
In a paper envelope or bag, with your paper and card.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag.
Your bins in Merton, by colour
Container colours as published by Merton. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Brown bin
Garden waste
Paid opt-in; paper sacks if a bin is unsuitable
Blue bin
Paper and card
Blue lid; clear bags where no outside space
Purple bag
Recycling, paper and card
Supplied if no outside space; or communal recycling bins
Black bin
Non-recyclable household waste
Black lid; black sacks or red striped bags if no outside space
Red bag
Rubbish
Supplied if no outside space
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Metals
- Aerosols · Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag
- Aluminium foil · Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag
- Tins and cans · Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag
Other
- Food and drink cartons · Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag
- Plastic and metal lids · Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars · Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag
Plastics
- Plastic bottles · Squash; box, purple or blue striped bag
- Plastic pots, tubs and trays · Remove film lids; box, purple or blue striped bag
Paper & Card
- Magazines · Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags
- Newspapers · Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags
- Junk mail · Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags
- Catalogues · Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags
- Envelopes · Windows OK. Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags
- Card and cardboard packaging · Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags; flatten large boxes
- Egg boxes · Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags
- Toilet & kitchen roll tubes · Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags
- Shredded paper · In a paper envelope or bag, with your paper and card
Not accepted
- Tissue paper · Not accepted with paper and card
- Disposable paper masks · Not accepted with paper and card
- Food-soiled pizza boxes · Not accepted with paper and card
- Plastic bags · Not accepted with paper and cardInstead: Recycle at supermarkets
- Food or drink cartons · Not accepted with paper and cardInstead: Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag
Common mistakes
- Cooking oil · Garth Road recycling centre
- Paper and card→ goes in Paper & Card · Not in the recycling box: blue-topped bin or clear bags
- Garden waste→ goes in Garden Waste · Garden waste service or Garth Road
- Paint tins · Dry the paint, then take to Garth Road
- Batteries · Garth Road recycling centre, bin marked Batteries
- Electrical appliances · Garth Road recycling centre
- Clinical waste · Separate clinical waste collection
Tips (13)
- • Empty and rinse all containers
- • Squash plastic bottles
- • Remove film lids from pots
- • Wash and squash items
- • Flatten large boxes
- • Shredded paper in an envelope
- • No tissue paper
- • No plastic bags with paper
- • No paper or card in boxes
- • No food-soiled pizza boxes
- • No disposable paper masks
- • Out by 6am on collection day
- • Lids must be closed
Food Waste
Accepted
- Bread and bakery goods
- Dairy products
- Fruit and vegetables
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
- Peelings
- Egg shells
- Bones
- Rice and pasta
- Fish and meat
Not accepted
- Plastic bags · Not accepted in food waste
- Packaging · Not accepted in food waste
- Liquids · Not accepted in food waste
- Oil or liquid fat · Not accepted in food waste
- Kitchen roll · Not accepted in food waste
Tips (9)
- • Compostable liner or newspaper
- • No plastic bags
- • No packaging
- • No liquids
- • No oil or liquid fat
- • No kitchen roll
- • Keep bins in a secure area
- • Lock the bin handle
- • Heavy item on top of food bin
Garden Waste
Accepted
- Grass cuttings · Loose in the bin or paper sacks
- Leaves · Loose in the bin or paper sacks
- Hedge trimmings · Loose in the bin or paper sacks
- Prunings and twigs · Loose in the bin or paper sacks
- Weeds · Loose in the bin or paper sacks
- Plants · Loose in the bin or paper sacks
- Small branches or bark · Branches: 22cm diameter or less
- Fallen fruit · Loose in the bin or paper sacks
- Cut flowers · Loose in the bin or paper sacks
Not accepted
- Branches over 22cm · Not accepted in garden waste
- Japanese Knotweed · Not accepted in garden waste
- Flower pots · Not accepted in garden waste
- Flower trays · Not accepted in garden waste
- Hardcore, grit or rubble · Not accepted in garden waste
- Stones or bricks · Not accepted in garden waste
- Soil · Not accepted in garden waste
- Wire, string, plastic, metal · Not accepted in garden waste
- Animal bedding · Not accepted in garden waste
- Food waste · Not accepted in garden waste
- Plastic or compostable bags · Not accepted in garden waste
Tips (11)
- • No plastic or compostable bags
- • No soil
- • No flower pots or trays
- • No branches over 22cm
- • No Japanese Knotweed
- • No food waste
- • No animal bedding
- • Loose in bin or paper sacks
- • Lid must be closed
- • No side waste
- • Put out by 6am
When are bins collected in Merton?
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.
Merton doesn't move bin collections for bank holidays, so your usual day stands. Christmas and New Year weeks can still differ, so check the council's site for those. Your neighbours can vote on the actual day on BinBosh if it changes.
No streets in Merton 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 cardboard go in Merton?
In Merton, card and cardboard packaging goes in your recycling bin. Blue-topped bin, clear or purple bags; flatten large boxes.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Merton?
In Merton, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin. Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag.
What bin does food waste go in Merton?
In Merton, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes bread and bakery goods, dairy products, fruit and vegetables and more.
What bin does shredded paper go in Merton?
In Merton, shredded paper goes in your recycling bin. In a paper envelope or bag, with your paper and card.
What goes in the recycling bin in Merton?
Merton's recycling bin accepts aerosols, aluminium foil, tins and cans, food and drink cartons, glass bottles and jars, plastic and metal lids, and more. Recycling box, purple or blue striped bag.
What goes in the food waste bin in Merton?
Merton's food waste bin accepts bread and bakery goods, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds, peelings, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Merton?
Merton's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, prunings and twigs, weeds, plants, and more. Loose in the bin or paper sacks.
What can't be recycled in Merton?
Items not accepted in Merton: tissue paper, disposable paper masks, food-soiled pizza boxes, plastic bags. Tissue paper — not accepted with paper and card.
Helpful guides
Source: Merton council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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