The service information presented for the London Borough of Barnet was last updated in March 2008. Information was verified by borough contacts. The authors of this website are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Data relating to targets and performance is taken from Defra's Environment statistics.

Dry Recycling

Barnet provides a weekly black box recycling collection service for 133,376 properties in the borough.  Recycling in Barnet is compulsory and the following materials are collected:

• aerosols
• aluminium foil
• batteries (car and household)
• glass bottles and jars
• mixed cans
• mobile phones
• motor oil
• paper
• shoes and textiles
• yellow pages

There are 18 collection vehicles operating the service; 14 stillage vehicle and 4 smaller vehicles to reach properties with restricted access. All materials are sorted into different compartments on these vehicles at the kerbside. Assisted collections can be arranged for people who have difficulty in putting out their box. To get a new or replacement box, contact ECT on 020 8371 3670.

Organics

The Council offers a free collection of green garden and food waste to 91,246 households. The scheme is run on an opt-in basis and 55,954 of these households are currently participating. Residents are provided with a 240 litre green wheeled bin, which they can fill with garden waste (i.e. leaves, twigs, grass and prunings) and all food waste, with the exception of bones (i.e. fruit and vegetable peelings, meat scraps, egg shells, tea bags, pasta and bread). The bins are emptied weekly and the contents are taken to London Waste in Edmonton for in-vessel composting.

Dry Recycling
 
Mini recycling sites are provided for residents living on estates and in flats which can not be reached by the black box scheme. Currently 18,500 households are served by 547 sites. The following materials are collected in separate bins:

• glass bottles and jars
• mixed cans
• paper  

Residents are provided with reusable bags to store and transport material and the recycling sites are emptied weekly. To request a mini recycling site contact ECT by calling 020 8371 3670.

Household Reuse and Recycling Centre

There is one Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC) in Barnet:

Summers Lane Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre
Summers Lane
North Finchley
N12 0PD

Click here for a list of materials accepted at the RRC.

Bring Banks

There are 51 bring bank sites in the borough where residents can recycle the following materials: 

• cardboard
• drinks cartons
• glass bottles and jars
• mixed cans
• paper
• plastic bottles
• shoes and textiles  

Not all materials are accepted at all sites.  Materials are collected separately. Many of the banks have soundproofing to reduce noise and have easy wheelchair access.

Home Composting

Barnet council have offered subsidised compost bins since 1996 and to date 11,000 have been distributed.  220 and 330 litre compost converters are available at a cost of £15 and £20.  Compost tumblers are available for £40.  Wormeries are available at £20 or £30. To order a home composter visit http://www.getcomposting.com/barnet/ or call 0845 130 60 90. To order a wormery visit http://www.originalorganics.co.uk/barnet/ or call 01884 841515,

Nappy Waste

Barnet Council is currently working with local childcare providers, health professionals and the Pre-School Learning Alliance to raise awareness of the alternatives to disposables. Advice is provided to residents on the alternatives to disposable nappies and information packs are available.

Barnet offers a subsidy of £54 per child towards the cost of real nappies or discounted nappy laundering.The subsidy is funded by the North London Waste Authority.

Waste Aware Shopping

Barnet promotes smart shopping to residents, visit http://www.barnet.gov.uk/index/environment-planning/rubbish-waste-and-recycling/waste-minimisation/smart-shopping.htm for more information.

Junk Mail Reduction

Barnet promotes the Mail Preference Service, which residents can sign up to by visiting www.mpsonline.org.uk.  Barnet council also suggests residents make their own ‘No Junk Mail’ sign.

Bulky Waste

Fridges and freezers are collected on Saturdays by the council and there is a charge of £30 per item.  Other bulky waste is charged at £40 for a collection of up to 4 items and £15 for each additional item.
 
Furniture is collected at the Reuse and Recycling Centre. Any furniture that is fit for reuse is collected by a charity called Restore Community Projects, which provides furniture to people on low incomes.

Alternatively, there is also a local furniture reuse project called Furniture 4 U in Colindale NW9. They can be reached on 020 8205 2000 to arrange a free collection. A list of other charities which offer free collections in Barnet is available from the Council.

Litter

Leaf fall collected from Barnet’s streets is taken for in-vessel composting at London Waste in Edmonton. 

Residual Waste

Barnet provide residents with a standard 240 litre wheeled bin container for a minimal charge, this includes administration and delivery, or refuse sacks where wheeled bins cannot be used. Residual waste is collected from households on a weekly basis.

Commercial Waste and Recycling

Barnet offers businesses a commercial waste collection service.  But no commercial recycling scheme is currently in operation.

Find out more about recycling in your area Visit Recycle for London
Compare Barnet's recycling services with the rest of London	View the London Matrix
Find out more about the London Borough of Barnet

Contact Barnet Address: Building 4 North London Business Park Oakleigh Road South New Southgate London N11 1NP Tel: 020 8359 7400   Email: recycling@barnet.gov.uk Recycling Team: Nicola Buck (Environmental Services Manager - Waste Strategy)