Brent splits recycling in two: a blue-lidded bin for plastic, glass, metal and cartons, and a separate 90-litre blue sack for paper and cardboard. Food waste goes in a green caddy, general rubbish in a grey bin collected every two weeks, and garden waste is a paid subscription with a monthly winter service.
Last checked against 4 sources (www.brent.gov.uk).
What goes in each bin
Grey bin for general rubbish · General waste
Bin · Every two weeks
Yes please
Soiled paper, tissue, kitchen roll, toilet paper, wallpaper and waxed paper
Metallic or foil backed gift wrap and cards, and card with padding or bubble wrap
Foil-lined packets such as sweet wrappers and crisp packets
Greasy takeaway pizza boxes
Polystyrene, plastic film, cling film, bubble wrap, blister packs and laminated paper
Tupperware, plastic storage boxes, CD and DVD cases and plastic coat hangers
Broken glass, window glass, drinking glasses and ceramic plant pots
Bagged pet waste and babies' nappies, with the lid kept shut
Pillows and bedding, hoover bags and dust, tea lights and toothbrushes
Not in this one
Batteries, electrical items and vapes, which cause fires in bins and lorries
Blue-lidded bin for plastic, glass, metal and cartons · Mixed recycling
Every two weeks
Green food waste caddy · Food waste
Every week
Green garden waste bin or bio sacks (paid subscription) · Garden waste
Every two weeks
Food waste and the national recycling rules
Brent collects food waste every week. Food waste is collected every week in a free green caddy for houses. Flats above shops are not given caddies, though the council said it was launching a food waste trial in selected high-street areas for them. Blocks of flats have communal bins collected weekly.
Garden waste is a paid-for service. The service costs £69 a year per subscription, with a discounted rate of £55.20. The payment covers the service, plus one 240L bin or a year's supply of degradable sacks, and an additional container or set of sacks costs a further £69. The service runs from 1 April to 31 March. Bins and bio sacks are collected every 2 weeks from March to November and once a month from December to February. There is no automatic renewal or direct debit, so renew online from February onwards before 1 April.
A bin or sack can be collected at any time up to 10pm on its collection day, so do not report it as missed before then. After 10pm, report a missed collection on the council's online form. The council will not collect if rubbish was left outside the bin, the lid would not shut, the wrong waste was inside, the bin was out on the wrong day or after 7am, or it had no valid bin sticker. Report within 2 days after the day the collection was due. The council aims to collect missed bins within 24 hours of the report. If it was missed for one of the reasons above, wait for the next collection or take waste to the Abbey Road centre.
Brent's list for the blue-lidded bin has some specific rules. Foil-lined cartons count as recyclable, empty toothpaste tubes can go in, and non-black plant pots larger than 40mm x 40mm are accepted. Plastic film, crisp packets and polystyrene must go in the grey bin.
Paper and cardboard go in the blue sack, not the bin. If the sack is full, a bundle of paper and card can be left next to it, but only when strong winds or rain are not expected. Cardboard boxes should be broken down and flattened.
Batteries, electrical items and vapes must never go in any bin because they cause fires. Brent offers a free small items collection for textiles, small electricals, batteries, paint and coffee pods, which you can book online.
Houses on the North Circular (A406) have bags instead of bins. Recycling bags are delivered each week and general rubbish goes in black bags collected five days a week. Flats above shops use clear recycling bags from a library or ordered online and buy their own black sacks.
The collections page says recycling and food are collected every week and general rubbish every two weeks, while the bins page says the blue-lidded bin goes every other week and the grey bin is collected weekly or fortnightly depending on where you live. Check your own collection day finder.
Put bins out by 7am on collection day, or the night before when possible. Brent will not empty a bin with excess rubbish around it or a lid that will not close.
Abbey Road recycling centre takes most household waste free, cars can stay for a maximum of 30 minutes, and each household has a limited free DIY waste allowance of one visit per week. A time slot is advisable but not required.
Bin questions in Brent
How much does garden waste collection cost in Brent?
The council charges £69 a year per subscription, with a discounted rate of £55.20. The service runs from 1 April to 31 March, with collections every 2 weeks from March to November and once a month from December to February.
When can I report a missed bin in Brent?
Not before 10pm on the day it was due, because crews can collect up to then. After that, report it within 2 days of the collection date, and the council aims to collect missed bins within 24 hours of your report.
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