Recycling rules for Tower Hamlets
Based on Tower Hamlets published guidance · Last verified May 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Tower Hamlets.
Search what goes in your bins →Recycling
Accepted
Metals
- Aerosol cans — Empty — clear sack or purple bin
- Aluminium foil — Must be clean
- Food and drink cans — Rinse first
Glass
- Glass bottles and jars — All colours — rinse first
Plastics
- Plastic bottles — Any type — drink, toiletry, cleaning
- Plastic pots and tubs — Margarine, ice cream, yoghurt — rinse
- Plastic food trays — Remove film, rinse — fruit punnets too
Paper & Card
- Cardboard — Flatten — includes cereal boxes, tubes
- Paper — Remove plastic wrapping from magazines
- Greeting cards
- Wrapping paper — Not shiny or metallic
- Phone directories — Remove plastic wrapping
Other
- Food and drink cartons — Tetra Paks — rinse first
Not accepted
- Plastic bags — Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: Some supermarkets collect them
- Shiny wrapping paper — Contains metallic coating
- Nappies — General waste only
- Textiles and clothing — Not recyclable kerbsideInstead: Charity shops or textile recycling banks
- Electrical items — Specialist disposalInstead: Northumberland Wharf Recycling Centre
- Traditional light bulbs — Cannot be recycled
- Paint — Specialist disposalInstead: Northumberland Wharf Recycling Centre
- Cooking oil — Specialist disposalInstead: Northumberland Wharf Recycling Centre
Common mistakes
- Batteries — Take to retailer or Northumberland Wharf
- Low energy light bulbs — Recolight collection points or recycling centre
- Mobile phones — Phone shop take-back or recycling centre
- Printer cartridges — Refill shops or recycling centre
- Shoes — Charity shop or textile bank — tie laces
Tips (12)
- • Rinse all containers
- • Flatten cardboard boxes
- • Remove film from magazines
- • No shiny wrapping paper
- • Remove film from food trays
- • Clean foil can be recycled
- • No plastic bags in recycling
- • Cartons go in recycling
- • Any colour glass accepted
- • No batteries in bins
- • Take textiles to charity
- • Use clear sacks or purple bin
When are bins collected in Tower Hamlets?
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.
Helpful Guides
Source: Tower Hamlets council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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