Recycling rules for Thurrock
Based on Thurrock published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Thurrock.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Thurrock
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Thurrock's recycling bin
Cardboard: Goes in your recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Food waste: Thurrock has a separate food waste collection
Takes cooked and uncooked food, vegetable peelings, meat and bones and more.
Tins and cans: Goes in your recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Your bins in Thurrock, by colour
Container colours as published by Thurrock. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
Green or grey bin
Non-recyclable waste
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
What to put in your wheeled bins:
- Paper, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes
- Phone directories and catalogues
- Cardboard
- Aerosols
- Food tins
- Drink cans and cartons
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic food trays and yoghurt pots
- Tetra Pak packaging
- Glass bottles and jars
Not accepted
What must not go in your wheeled bins:
- Plastic bags
- Plastic wrap or film
- Polystyrene
- Light bulbs
- Pyrex and Vision cookware
- Mirrors
- Children's toys
- Textiles or shoes
Food Waste
Accepted
What to put in your food bin:
- Cooked and uncooked food
- Vegetable peelings
- Meat and bones
- Egg shells
- Plate scrapings
- Teabags and coffee grounds
Not accepted
What must not go in your food bin:
- Cans
- Glass
- Liquids
- Packaging, even if compostable
Garden Waste
Accepted
What to put in your wheeled bins:
- Grass cuttings
- Prunings
- Leaves
- Cut flowers
- Clean straw or hay
- Branches under 10cm in diameter
Not accepted
What must not go in your wheeled bins:
- Bags or sacks of any kind
- Plastic of any kind
- Soil or mud
- Plant pots
When are bins collected in Thurrock?
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.
Check with the council over bank holidays. See the council’s page →
In Thurrock’s own words: “We collect household waste and recycling green/grey wheeled bins and blue wheeled bins every 2 weeks on alternate weeks.”
No streets in Thurrock 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 Thurrock?
In Thurrock, polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin does cardboard go in Thurrock?
In Thurrock, cardboard goes in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Thurrock?
In Thurrock, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in Thurrock?
In Thurrock, food waste goes in your food waste bin. It takes cooked and uncooked food, vegetable peelings, meat and bones and more.
What goes in the recycling bin in Thurrock?
Thurrock's recycling bin accepts paper, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, phone directories and catalogues, cardboard, aerosols, food tins, drink cans and cartons, and more.
What goes in the food waste bin in Thurrock?
Thurrock's food waste bin accepts cooked and uncooked food, vegetable peelings, meat and bones, egg shells, plate scrapings, teabags and coffee grounds, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Thurrock?
Thurrock's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, prunings, leaves, cut flowers, clean straw or hay, branches under 10cm in diameter, and more.
What can't be recycled in Thurrock?
Items not accepted in Thurrock: plastic bags, plastic wrap or film, polystyrene, light bulbs.
Helpful guides
Source: Thurrock council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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