Household waste and recycling

Easter Bin Collections

There will be no changes to bin collections schedules over Easter, with our bin crews working on both Good Friday and Easter Monday. Please put you bins out for collection on your regular collection days.

A-Z of waste and items for recycling

Our A to Z of waste and recyclable items helps you find the right way to dispose of items.

It's important to put your waste items in the right bin – it helps save money and makes sure we can empty all your bins.

We are currently providing small food bins for all houses in the borough. If you've not yet received your food bin, use your green/grey bin for any item listed as 'Food' under 'Which bin?' below.

Some items can't be collected from household bins, so we've suggested alternatives for you.

There may be an even better way to dispose of items, such as taking them to a charity shop or a re-use organisation, or by home composting. Re-use organisations will accept the same items as charity shops.

Other alternatives include booking a bulky waste collection from your home, or taking items to the Linford Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC). Bulky waste from Thurrock households will also be accepted at the Linford site. You can find your nearest recycling banks by searching the Recycle Now website. 

Item Which bin? Even better Alternatives Available for Free Anglo doorstep collection
Aerosols Blue   Recycling bank  
Aluminium foil Blue      
Aluminium food containers Blue   Recycling bank  
Animal bedding Green/Grey      
Animal faeces - must be bagged Green/Grey      
Armchairs None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Art and craft materials - new Green/Grey Charity shop    
Asbestos None   Special  
Ashes Green/Grey      
Baby wipes Green/Grey      
Batteries (car) None   Linford HWRC  
Batteries (household) None   Special  
Bed settees None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Bed sheets None Charity shop Recycling bank  
Beds None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Belts None Charity shop Recycling bank  
Bicycles None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Bin liners (non-compostable or compostable) Green/Grey      
Birthday cards Blue   Recycling bank  
Biscuit wrappers Green/Grey TerraCycle Special  
Black bin liners Green/Grey      
Blankets None Charity shop Recycling bank  
Blenders None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC Yes 
Blinds None   Linford HWRC  
Blister packs (tablets) Green/Grey      
Blouses None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Boilers None   Linford HWRC  
Bones Food      
Bookcases None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Books None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Bottle tops (metal) Blue   Recycling bank  
Bottle tops (plastic) Blue      
Bowls (ceramic) Green/Grey Charity shop   Yes 
Bowls (glass or hard plastic) Blue Charity shop   Yes 
Bowls (Pyrex) Green/Grey Charity shop    
Bows and ribbons - new None Charity shop    
Bows and ribbons - used Green/Grey      
Branches (over 10cm diameter) None   Linford HWRC  
Branches (under 10cm in diameter) Brown   Linford HWRC  
Bread Food      
Bread bags Green/Grey TerraCycle Special  
Brita filter cartridges None   Special  
Brochures Blue   Recycling bank  
Bubble wrap Blue   Special  
Buckets (all metal) None   Linford HWRC  
Buckets (all plastic) Green/Grey      
Buckets (plastic with metal handle) Green/Grey      
Building waste None   Linford HWRC  
Bureaus None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Candles Green/Grey Charity shop   Yes 
Cans Blue   Recycling bank  
Caps (hats) None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Cardboard Blue   Linford HWRC  
Cards Blue   Recycling bank  
Carpet or carpet tiles None   Linford HWRC  
Carrier bags Green/Grey   Special  
Cartons (Tetra Pak) Blue   Recycling bank  
Cassette tape cases Green/Grey      
Cassette tapes Green/Grey Charity shop    
Cat faeces - must be bagged Green/Grey      
Cat food pouches Green/Grey TerraCycle    
Catalogues (hard backed) Blue   Linford HWRC  
Catalogues (soft backed) Blue   Recycling bank  
CD cases (hard plastic) Blue     Yes 
CDs Green/Grey Charity shop   Yes
Cellophane Green/Grey      
Cereal boxes Blue      
Cereal inner bags Green/Grey   Special  
Chairs and stools None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Chest of drawers None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Children's bicycles None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Chocolate wrappers Green/Grey TerraCycle Special  
Christmas cards, with any glitter torn off Blue      
Christmas trees (artificial) Green/Grey Charity shop Linford HWRC  
Christmas trees (real) Brown   Linford HWRC  
Christmas wrapping (metallic) Green/Grey      
Christmas wrapping (paper) Blue      
Cigarette butts Green/Grey      
Cling film Green/Grey   Special  
Clinical waste None   Special  
Clothes (excluding shoes) - good condition None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes
Clothes (excluding shoes) - poor condition None   Recycling bank  
Clothes hangers Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Clothes pegs (wooden or plastic) Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Coat hangers Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Coats None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes
Coffee grounds Food      
Computers None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Concrete None   Linford HWRC  
Cooked fish Food      
Cookers (electric) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Cookers (gas) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Cooking fat (solid or semi-solid) Green/Grey      
Cooking oil - must be in a plastic bottle Green/Grey   Linford HWRC  
Cooking pots and pans None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Corks Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Cotton buds Green/Grey      
Cotton wool Green/Grey      
Crisp packets Green/Grey TerraCycle Special  
Crisp tubes Green/Grey TerraCycle    
Crockery - broken Green/Grey   Linford HWRC  
Crockery - good condition None Charity shop   Yes
Curtain rings Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Curtains None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes
Cutlery None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes
Dairy products (food) Food      
Dead animals None   Special  
Desks None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Dish cloths Green/Grey      
Dishwashers None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Disposable nappies Green/Grey      
DIY building waste None   Linford HWRC  
Dog faeces - must be bagged Green/Grey      
Doors (not wooden) None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Doors (wooden) None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Dresses None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes
Dressing tables None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Drink cans Blue   Recycling bank  
Drink cartons Blue   Recycling bank  
Drinking glasses Green/Grey Charity shop   Yes
Drinking straws (paper) Blue      
Drinking straws (plastic) Green/Grey      
Duvet covers None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Duvets None Charity shop Linford HWRC  
DVD cases (plastic) Blue     Yes 
DVDs None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes
Egg boxes (cardboard) Blue      
Egg boxes (plastic) Blue      
Egg boxes (polystyrene) Green/Grey      
Egg shells Food      
Elastic bands Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Electric fires (not surrounds) None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Electrical items - broken None   Bulky waste collection  
Electrical items - still working None Charity shop   Yes
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) None   Linford HWRC  
Envelopes Blue      
Exercise equipment None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Extractor fans None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Felt-tip pens Green/Grey      
Fencing - whole or broken up None   Bulky waste collection  
Flower pots (ceramic) None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Flower pots (plastic, any colour except black) Blue Re-use organisation    
Flower pots (plastic, black) Green/Grey Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Flowers Brown Home composting Linford HWRC  
Fluorescent tubes (light bulbs) None   Linford HWRC  
Foil from cigarette packets Blue      
Food Food Home composting    
Food and drink cartons Blue   Recycling bank  
Food cans Blue   Recycling bank  
Food tins Blue   Recycling bank  
Food-stained cardboard Green/Grey      
Food-stained paper Green/Grey      
Food-stained paper towel Green/Grey      
Freezers None   Bulky waste collection  
Fridge freezers None   Bulky waste collection  
Fridges None   Bulky waste collection  
Frozen vegetable bags Green/Grey   Special  
Fruit Food Home composting    
Fruit nets Green/Grey      
Fruit peelings Food Home composting    
Frying pans None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Furniture None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Garden furniture None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Garden materials (organic) Brown Home composting Linford HWRC  
Gas bottles None   Special  
Gas fires None   Bulky waste collection  
Glass bottles (brown) Blue   Recycling bank  
Glass bottles (clear) Blue   Recycling bank  
Glass bottles (green) Blue   Recycling bank  
Glass jars Blue   Recycling bank  
Glasses (eye glasses, spectacles) Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Glitter or card with glitter Green/Grey      
Grass Brown Home composting Linford HWRC  
Greetings cards, with any glitter torn off Blue   Recycling bank  
Hair Green/Grey      
Hairdryers None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Handbags None Charity shop Linford HWRC  
Hard toys or games (large) None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Hard toys or games (small) Green/Grey Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Hats None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Hay - clean Brown Home composting Linford HWRC  
Hay - dirty Green/Grey      
Hedge clippings Brown Home composting Linford HWRC  
Hobs None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Holiday brochures Blue   Recycling bank  
Hoovers None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Hot chocolate tub Green/Grey      
Household batteries None   Special  
Incontinence pads Green/Grey      
Inhalers Green/Grey      
Ironing boards None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
J-cloths Green/Grey      
Jackets None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Japanese Knotweed None   Special  
Jar lids Blue      
Jeans None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Jiffy bag Green/Grey      
Junk mail Blue      
Kettles None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Kitchen knives None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Kitchen paper towel - food-stained Green/Grey      
Kitchen paper towel - stained, not food Green/Grey      
Kitchen pots and pans None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Kitchen units None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Latex gloves Green/Grey      
Leaflets Blue      
Leaves Brown Home composting Linford HWRC  
Leggings None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Light bulb (fluorescent tube) None   Linford HWRC  
Light bulbs (low energy) Green/Grey   Linford HWRC  
Light bulbs (not low energy) Green/Grey   Linford HWRC  
Lino None   Bulky waste collection  
Magazines Blue   Recycling bank  
Mattresses None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Meat Food      
Medicine (tablets or liquids) None   Special  
Microwaves None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection Yes 
Mirrors None Charity shop Bulky waste collection  
Mobile phones None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Monitor (computer) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Musical instruments None Charity shop Bulky waste collection Yes 
Nappies (disposable) Green/Grey      
Newspapers Blue   Recycling bank  
Nightdresses None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Nut shells Food Home composting    
Nuts and bolts None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Office paper Blue   Recycling bank  
Oil (all types) None   Linford HWRC  
Ovens (electric) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Ovens (gas) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Paint tins None   Linford HWRC  
Pamphlets Blue   Recycling bank  
Pans - kitchen None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Paper Blue   Recycling bank  
Paper cups (waxed) Green/Grey      
Pegs (wooden or plastic) Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Petrol None   Special  
Petrol can (empty) None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Photographs Blue      
Pillows None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Plasterboard None   Linford HWRC  
Plasters Green/Grey      
Plastic bottle lids Blue      
Plastic bottles Blue      
Plastic carrier bags Green/Grey   Special  
Plastic cups Blue      
Plastic food containers - clean Blue      
Plastic ready meal trays - clean Blue      
Plastic sandwich containers Blue      
Plastic storage boxes Blue Charity shop    
Plate scrapings Food      
Polo shirts None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Polystyrene Green/Grey   Linford HWRC  
Pot noodle lids Blue      
Pot noodle pots Blue      
Pots - garden (ceramic) None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Pots - garden (plastic, any colour except black) Blue Re-use organisation    
Pots - garden (plastic, black) Green/Grey Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Pots - kitchen None Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Pringles tubes Green/Grey TerraCycle    
Printer None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Printer cartridges None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Pyjamas None Charity shop Recycling bank  
Pyrex Green/Grey     Yes 
Radiators None   Bulky waste collection  
Rags - clean Green/Grey Re-use organisation Linford HWRC  
Rags - dirty Green/Grey      
Razor blades Green/Grey      
Ribbons and bows - new None Charity shop    
Ribbons and bows - used Green/Grey      
Rice packets Green/Grey      
Rubber gloves Green/Grey      
Sandals Green/Grey Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Sanitary products Green/Grey      
Sanitary towels Green/Grey      
Sanitary waste - infectious None   Special  
Sanitary waste - not infectious Green/Grey      
Scarves None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Serviettes (cloth) Green/Grey Charity shop    
Serviettes (paper) Blue      
Settees None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Sewing machines (electric) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection Yes 
Sewing machines (not electric) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection Yes 
Shells from shellfish Food      
Shirts None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Shoes - good condition None Charity shop Recycling bank  
Shoes - poor condition None   Linford HWRC  
Shredded paper - loose, not in bags Blue      
Sideboards None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Silver foil Blue      
Sinks None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Skirts None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Socks None Charity shop Recycling bank  
Sofas None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Soft toys Green/Grey Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Soil None   Linford HWRC  
Spectacles Green/Grey      
Spin dryers None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Sponges Green/Grey Re-use organisation    
Stereos None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection Yes 
Stoma bags None   Special  
Stones None   Linford HWRC  
Stones from fruit Food      
Stools and chairs None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Straw - clean Brown Home composting Linford HWRC  
Straw - dirty Green/Grey      
Straws (paper, for drinking) Blue      
Straws (plastic, for drinking) Green/Grey      
Suites (three piece) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection Yes 
Suits None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Sweat shirts None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Sweaters None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Sweet wrappers Green/Grey TerraCycle    
Swimming costumes None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Syringes (no needle) Green/Grey      
Syringes (with hypodermic needle) None   Special  
T-shirts None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Tables None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Tea bags Food Home composting    
Tea leaves Food Home composting    
Telephone directories Blue   Recycling bank  
Televisions None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Tetra Pak packaging Blue   Recycling bank  
Textiles - good condition None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Textiles - poor condition None   Linford HWRC  
Three piece suites None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection Yes 
Ties None Charity shop Recycling bank  
Tiles - broken None   Linford HWRC  
Tiles - good condition None Charity shop    
Timber (treated) None   Linford HWRC  
Tin foil Blue      
Tin lids Blue      
Tins Blue      
Tissues - used Green/Grey      
Toasters None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection Yes 
Toilets None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Tools (electric) None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection Yes 
Tools (not electric) None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC Yes 
Toothbrushes Green/Grey      
Toothpaste tubes Green/Grey      
Towels None Re-use organisation Linford HWRC Yes 
Toys (hard) - good condition None Charity shop   Yes 
Toys (hard) - poor condition Green/Grey   Linford HWRC  
Tracksuits None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Trainers None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Trousers None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Tumble dryers None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Tupperware Green/Grey Charity shop Linford HWRC Yes 
Turf Brown   Linford HWRC  
TVs None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Tyres None   Linford HWRC  
Underlay None   Linford HWRC Yes 
Underwear None Charity shop Recycling bank  
Vacuum cleaners None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Vacuum dust Green/Grey      
Vapes None   Linford HWRC  
Vegetable peelings Food Home composting    
Vegetables Food Home composting    
Video cases (cardboard) Blue      
Video cases (plastic) Green/Grey      
Video cassettes Green/Grey Charity shop    
Waistcoats None Charity shop Recycling bank Yes 
Wallpaper Green/Grey   Linford HWRC  
Wardrobes None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Washing machines None Re-use organisation Bulky waste collection  
Watering cans Green/Grey Charity shop Linford HWRC  
Wax Green/Grey      
Waxed paper or card Green/Grey      
Weeds Brown Home composting Linford HWRC  
Window glass None   Bulky waste collection  
Windows None   Bulky waste collection  
Wires None   Linford HWRC  
Wood (processed) Green/Grey   Bulky waste collection  
Wrapping paper Blue      
Yellow Pages Blue      
Yoghurt pots Blue      
Zips Green/Grey Charity shop Linford HWRC