The service information presented for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham was last updated in April 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

In June 2003 the council launched the orange sack collection scheme for 22,000 households. This scheme has now been extended to cover 69,950 households. The following materials can be recycled by residents in a co-mingled service:

• mixed paper 
• thin card (i.e. cereal boxes)
• aluminium and steel cans
• plastic bottles 
• On 16 June 2008 a separate kerbside box mixed glass collection will begin

Collections are weekly (Monday-Friday) on the same day as residual waste collection to make it easy to remember but using a different vehicle. Orange sacks will be delivered to residents quarterly.

Organics

The Green Garden Waste Collection Scheme allows residents to compost:

• grass cuttings
• leaves
• weeds
• flowers
• hedge trimmings and prunings

Recyclables are collected in biodegradable green bags or a wheeled bin. There is a charge of £5 for 26 bags (two rolls) or £10 for a wheeled bin. Green garden waste is collected fortnightly on the same day as dry recycling and residual waste.

Barking and Dagenham are also running a trial food waste collection to 1,000 households. These residents can scrape any unwanted food waste from potato peelings to left over dinners (not including meat) and cardboard into a green bucket.  Bokashi – a mixture of bran and sawdust is sprinkled over the food to ferment it and stop the smell of rotting.  The waste is collected each week and fed into a Rocket machine and within 21 days it will be converted into compost which will then be distributed among those households taking part. The scheme is being run in partnership with East London Community Recycling Project (ELCRP).

Dry Recycling

Residents living in 12,000 low, medium and high-rise flats are supplied with single use orange bags every three months.  Residents fill the orange bags with dry recyclable materials and place the bags into a 1280 litre orange Eurobins located next to their refuse bin compound.  Residents can recycle:

• cardboard
• mixed cans
• paper
• plastic bottles 

Organics

Barking and Dagenham are also running a trial food waste collection on one estate. These residents can scrape any unwanted food waste from potato peelings to left over dinners (including meat) and cardboard into a green bucket.  Bokashi – a mixture of bran and sawdust is sprinkled over the food to ferment it and stop the smell of rotting.  The waste is collected each week and fed into a Rocket machine and within 21 days it will be converted into compost which will then be distributed among those households taking part. The scheme is being run in partnership with East London Community Recycling Project (ELCRP).

Household Reuse and Recycling Centres

There is one Reuse and Recycling Centre in Barking and Dagenham:

Frizlands Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre
Rainham Road North
Dagenham
RM10 7HX

Click here for a list of materials accepted at the Reuse and Recycling Centre.

Bring Sites

There are 70 bring sites across Barking and Dagenham where residents can recycle mixed paper, glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium cans, aluminium foil, drinks cartons and at certain sites, plastic bottles, textiles and shoes in modular banks or Eurobins.

Home Composting

Barking and Dagenham have been running a home composting scheme since January 2007.  Composters cost £17 (220L compost converter), £20 (330 litre compost converter), £40 (KOMP 250L) and £4 (kitchen caddy).  500 have been sold during this time.

Junk Mail Reduction

Barking and Dagenham promote the Mailing Preference Service and offers no junk mail stickers to residents to reduce the amount of junk mail they receive. For more information visit www.mpsonline.org.uk.

Material Aware Shopping

Barking and Dagenham promotes green shopping and distributes cloth shopping bags.

Bulky Waste

The council provides a bulky waste collection to residents.  The service has a minimum charge of £12.50 with £1.50 for each additional item.  Alternatively recycling projects are always on the lookout for used furniture and electrical items, such as vacuum cleaners, fridges and cookers, to pass on to low-income families. Call the Furniture Recycling Network on 0116 254 5283 for a local contact.

Litter

The Council began to separate street cleansing litter for recycling in September 2005. Leaf fall has been sent for composting since October 2006.

Schools Recycling

All local schools have access to recycling sites for paper, mixed cans and plastic bottles and there is also a bring site at the University of East London.

Shanks East London has a communications officer who has been visiting local schools to talk about recycling and liaising with local community groups.

Residual Waste

Residual waste is collected weekly from kerbside properties in black bags. This is sent by road to Jenkins Lane transfer station and then Frog Island, the new Mechanical Biological Treatment (MET) facility. From here the residual waste goes by road to Dagenham Freight Liner and then by rail to Calvet. A small amount is sent by road to Aveley.

Commercial Waste and Recycling

The council offers a commercial waste collection to businesses.  Recyclable materials are accepted at Frizlands Reuse and Recycling Centre. 

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

Contact Barking and Dagenham Address: Frizlands Administration Depot Rainham Road North Dagenham Essex RM10 7HM  Tel: 020 8215 3000   Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk Recycling Team: Abdul Jallow (Waste and Recycling Policy Manager)