Recycling rules for Tower Hamlets
Based on Tower Hamlets published guidance · Last verified March 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
Source: Tower Hamlets council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
Work for Tower Hamlets? See how BinBosh helps councils →
Never miss bin day
Get free reminders the night before your bins go out.
Set up reminders