Estates rubbish collection and recycling

Getting rid of rubbish

Your rubbish and recycling is collected every week by Veolia Environmental Services. Please recycle as much as you can by putting recyclable materials into the recycling containers outside your block. 

Find out what day your rubbish is collected

Recycling and rubbish – guidance

Dry waste

You can recycle dry waste such as: 

• glass bottles
• plastic bottles
• plastic pots, tubs, trays, bags and containers
• paper
• cardboard
• aluminium cans

Please rinse all empty food cans and containers. Don’t put these items in plastic bin bags. If you do they will not be recycled and the presence of black bags or non-recyclable waste in a recycling bin will contaminate the bin and prevent the rest of the contents from being recycled.

Food waste

Recycle as much food waste as possible using the special compostable food caddy liners, putting them in the food waste recycling containers outside the block.

More liners can be obtained free of charge from your concierge officer, local library or a customer service centre by showing proof of your address.

No other type of bag can be used for this type of recycling or the bin will be contaminated and prevent the rest of the contents from being recycled.

Food waste recycling events

We are looking to boost food waste recycling across our estates/blocks. So look out for our team who will be visiting estates/blocks to offer practical advice on using food bins to help keep estates clean and vermin-free.

If you don’t have a food caddy, the team will provide one, along with liners and a helpful leaflet. Where food recycling bins are currently unavailable, they’ll be installed and residents will be introduced to the service.

Upcoming events:

• October: Clissold Close, N2
• November: Grimshaw Close (North Road) and Dowding House (Hillcrest) N6
• December: Wall Court (Stroud Green Road), Fenstanton (Marquis Road), Wisbech (Lorne Road) and Lawson Court (Lorne Road) N4
• January: Greaves Court (Wightman Road) and Mountview Court (Green Lanes) N8
• February: Verde Court (3 Oakfield Crescent) and Hilldene Court (11 Alexandra Park Road) N10
• March: The Hollies (Bounds Green Road), Bounds Green Court (Bounds Green Road), Daisy Court (6 Brownlow Road), Warwick Court (Bounds Green Road) and Baden Court (Gordon Road) N11
• April: Irving Court (Eldon Road), Norman Close (Norman Avenue), Westbury Court (Lordship Lane), The Stables (7 Ellenborough Road) and 49a Winkfield Road, Sandra Close, N22
• May: Sophia House (19 Antill Road), Talbot Close and Marley Close, Barker House (West Green Road), N15
• June: Sheba Court (Altair Close), Wood Mead (Grange Road), Selby Road/Trafalgar Avenue and Bennetts Close N17

Find out more about food recycling and order a food caddy online.

Small electrical items

Small electrical items that are in good condition can be sold or donated for reuse or to charity.

If the item is not reusable, it can be taken to one of North London's reuse and recycling centres (RRC). Small electricals such as chargers, keyboards and kettles can be recycled at estate bring banks. The bring bank chute is 600mm wide by 230mm high by 400mm deep. Residents in low-rise households can book a home collection of their small electrical items online. 

You can also recycle items such as batteries, books, printer cartridges and light bulbs at our libraries recycling stations.

For more information visit the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) website.

Non-recyclable rubbish

Only non-recyclable household waste should be put in black refuse bags and placed inside the large rubbish bins outside your block. Small bags can be put down the refuse chutes. All refuse bags must be untorn and properly tied up.

You can put items of kitchenware and crockery, excluding small electrical appliances (irons, kettles) in black plastic bags for general waste collection.

You must not leave general refuse bags anywhere except in the refuse bins or we will take action against you.

Bulky items collection on housing estates

Most bulky items can be disposed of at no charge. There are collection points for some estates and blocks. Collections are made by Veolia. There is no limit to the number of items you can leave at a collection point as long as space is available. Please do not leave bulky waste by refuse bins.

Search for a collection point

Collection points are locked for security. If you have bulky items for collection or need help carrying them, please contact your local estate services team between 8.15am and 3.30pm for assistance. 

If there is no collection service where you live, contact Veolia to arrange a collection of up to 10 items. There is a £20 fee for the removal of up to 4 items. Extra items cost £10 each. 

If you put out a bulky item without our agreement we will take action against you.

Items which can be collected

Furniture and general items – Veolia can collect:

• bathroom storage
• BBQs
• beds, bed frames, cots and headboards
• bedside cabinets
• bookcases
• cabinets and shoe cabinets
• carpets and rugs (must be contained within a tied bag - max 80 litres)
• chairs and armchairs
• chests of drawers
• clothes rails
• coffee tables
• doors (no fire doors or metal doors)
• dressing tables
• garden tables and other garden furniture
• home office desk
• kids toys
• mattresses
• mirrors
• shelves
• sideboards
• sofas and sofa beds (please dismantle sofa beds)
• storage furniture
• suitcases
• tables
• trampolines (dismantled)
• table tennis tables (dismantled)
• TV stands and media units
• wardrobes (dismantled)
• up to five tied bin bags

Electric and electronic equipment – Veolia can collect:

• computers/PCs and hard drives
• computer monitors
• cookers and cooking hobs
• dishwashers
• electronic musical instruments
• freezers
• fridges
• fridge-freezers
• hi-fi/stereo systems
• lawnmowers
• laptop computers
• microwaves
• ovens
• tumble driers
• TVs
• washing machines/dryers

Free recycling

You can recycle some large items like tables and bookcases for free through organisations like Barnet Furniture Centre and Freecycle.

Items which cannot be collected

The following items will not be collected from a bulk collection store or collection point:

• asbestos
• bricks and masonry
• building waste 
• car tyres, parts or batteries
• cement    
• chemicals   
• garden sheds and trellis
• gas bottles and cylinders
• loose large carpets and tracking that are not contained within a tied bag
• oil
• paint 
• pianos
• plasterboard
• refuse
• rubble and soil
• scrap metal
• tiles
• tree trunks and thick branches
• waste from house renovations, for example, bathroom fittings, kitchen fittings/worktops, kitchen units, fireplace surrounds

These items need to be taken to your nearest recycling centre.

Request a community clean-up day

Our Estates and Neighbourhoods team is working to improve estates and ensure that shared and green spaces are clean.

In partnership with Veolia, the team will visit estates at residents’ request to:

• tidy communal areas
• reduce litter
• foster stronger community connections

If you’d like to request a community clean-up day, simply complete the short form with your contact details, preferred dates and times, and any specific concerns you’d like addressed.

Once we receive your request, the team will get in touch to discuss the details and confirm the support available. Together, we’ll choose a suitable date, notify the community, and provide all necessary equipment – including litter pickers, gloves, and bin bags. We can also support additional activities such as planting and recycling workshops.

Fill out the form to request a community clean-up day and help make your estate a cleaner, greener place for everyone.

Request a community clean-up day