Recycling in Ealing

Wonder what goes in what bin to recycle in Ealing, ActforEaling has the answers to recycling in Ealing.

ActForEaling’s created the recycling challenge to help with these issues. To find out more about waste and what can be done, see our campaign Cut the Crap. Locally the ReActon hub focuses on reducing our waste and recycling. It is a hub for the circular economy, providing a space for reuse and repair.

So what recycling and rubbish goes where?

Here’s the guide on what waste can go in the blue bin for recycling, black bin for household rubbish and green food bin in Ealing. There is also a subscription service for Garden waste collection.

Blue wheelie bins

For items for recycling in the Ealing Council Doorstop collection are listed below with more details at Ealing Council at Household Recycling. All your recyclable items can be mixed together in the blue bin. If your bin contains the wrong items it will not be collected. Ensure the items you recycle are clean, dry and loose before placing them in your blue bin.

The recycling in Ealing to put in the blue bin are:

• Cardboard and thin card
• Paper, envelopes and junk mail
• Newspapers and magazines
• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
• Metal tins, cans, aerosol cans and clean foil
• Glass bottles and jars
• Food and drinks cartons such as Tetra Pak

Textiles and batteries will be accepted if they are in a separate CLEAR plastic bag. Leave them on top of the blue wheelie bin on recycling day. Alternatively, for textiles, you can call TRAID Doorstep Collection which is free to Ealing residents.

Items that are rejected in Blue Bin:

• Garden and food waste
• Carrier bags, black sacks and cling film
• Crisp packets and sweet wrappers
• Crockery, pyrex and glassware (vases and drinking glasses)
• Polystyrene packaging
• Nappies
• Batteries and electrical items
• Textiles

Tip: Items should be LOOSE inside your bin.

Black wheelie bins

Black wheelie bins are for items that cannot currently be recycled and sent to incineration. The less you put in here, reduces the amount that gets incinerated.

Please only put anything that can’t be recycled and household rubbish in the bin. Rubbish must be bagged. For tips to recycle more in the home and reduce the waste you put in your bin, go to www.recyclenow.com

In your black bin put:

• Carrier bags and cling film
• Crisp packets and sweet wrappers
• Crokery, pyrex and glassware (vases and drinking glasses)
• Polystyrene packaging
• Nappies and sanitary products
• Wipes and tissues
• Pet litter/waste

Items rejected if put in the Black bin:

• Items that can be recycled in the blue bin
• Garden and food waste
• Batteries and electrical items
• Textiles
• DIY and builders waste

NOTE: Soft plastics such as carrier bags and other soft packaging can be taken to a collection point at many supermarkets. More details at Repeat the Cycle.

Tip: Items should be in bags inside your bin.

Food waste bins

Line your food waste bin with newspaper or a compostable bag to stop food sticking to the bin and this will help to reduce smells. Please do not use plastic bags to line your bins.

Food waste is taken to a special processing plant where it is used to generate electricity to power homes and the local community. It also produces a fertiliser which can be used in farming. This costs less and is better for the environment.  

Put in your green food waste bin:

• Teabags and coffee grounds
• Fruit and vegetable peelings
• Leftover food and plate scrapings
• Dairy, fish and egg shells
• Bread and Pastries
• Meat and bones

No thanks to:

• cardboard and thin card
• carrier bags, black sacks and cling film
• cooking oil
• polystyrene packaging
• nappies

What happens to our waste?

Ealing collects your rubbish, usually in a black sack or a wheeled bin. They then deliver what they have collected to one of the two rail transfer stations; one is located in South Ruislip, the other is in Brentford.

Find out more from the ActforEaling trip to Crayford Reprocessing Facility and What happens to Ealing’s Rubbish?

To find out more about what happens to rubbish, go to the West London Waste Authority who deals with all the Ealing waste.

What else can I get collected?

For large household items, such as beds, sofas, fridges and televisions, a bulky items collection can be requested (charges apply). Find out more at Ealing Council Bulky Items Collection

Non-Kerbside

Soft plastics collection point

Soft plastics, also known as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), are more challenging to recycle. A number of specialist collection points do exist and many supermarkets offer collection points. For example Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Tesco are now offering soft plastic drop-offs. At Morrisons, plastic bags can be deposited. Ealing Council, in collaboration with Terracycle, has a facility at Greenford Recycling Centre.

Other recycling

Kerbside collection gathers up a significant amount of recyclables, but not everything you want to discard. Local Reuse & Recycling Centres have containers for small electrical items, textiles, DIY waste, batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges, oil and paint.  

Phew! It’s a lot to remember, but well worth getting to grips with. If everyone disposes of waste responsibly, it will make our Ealing borough a brighter, greener place.