The service information presented for the London Borough of Waltham Forest was last updated in July 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

Waltham Forest provides a weekly 'Get Sorted' kerbside recycling collection with compulsory participation for all low-rise households in the borough. Residents are provided with a black recycling box which can be used to recycle:

• aluminium foil
• cardboard
• batteries (car and household)
• glass bottles and jars
• mixed cans
• motor oil (in a sealed container)
• paper
• plastic bottles
• shoes
• textiles
• yellow pages

80,000 households are served on 12 collection rounds. The recycling crew sorts the materials at the kerbside into various compartments on the recycling collection vehicle.  Co-mingled collections also take place in areas with a higher level of recycling than expected. To request a replacement bin call the switch board on 020 8496 2628.  This is a compulsory recycling scheme across the borough.

Organic

A collection service for green garden waste and kitchen waste is available across the borough on an opt-in basis (approximately 46,000 have taken up the scheme).  Residents are  provided with a  5 litre kitchen caddie to collect the following items:

• eggs and egg shells
• fruit and vegetables
• meat and fish (cooked and uncooked although no bones)
• tea bags

This can then be emptied into the brown wheeled bin along with green garden waste for fortnightly collection. The kitchen waste is transported to an in-vessel composting plant at Edmonton which operates through a partnership between North London boroughs and partial funding from the London Recycling Fund.  Garden waste accepted in the brown wheeled bin includes:

• grass cuttings
• prunings
• hedge trimmings
• weeds
• branches of less than 4” diameter
• leaves
• flowers

Dry Recycling

Approximately 350 estate sites have had mini recycling sites installed. These consist of five 240 litre bins for the separate collection of cans, paper and green, brown and clear glass bottles and jars.

Blue recycling bags can be obtained free of charge for the storage and transportation of recyclables to the outside facilities.

One estate in the borough (Grange Estate, Leyton) receives a door-to-door collection of food waste.  The service is provided by Forest Recycling Group.  Residents are provided with a kitchen caddie and bokashi. Forest Recycling Group is seeking funding to extend the service and is also interested in providing door-to-door collections of dry recyclables if funding was available. 

Household Reuse and Recycling Centre

There are three Reuse and Recycling Centres (RRC) in Waltham Forest:

Kings Road Recycling Centre
48 Kings Road
Chingford
London
E4 7EY

South Access Road Household Waste and Recycling Centre
South Access Road
Markhouse Avenue
Walthamstow
E17 8AX

Leyton Recycling and Reuse Centre
Gateway Road (off Orient Way)
Leyton
London
E10 7AS

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

Bring Banks

Waltham Forest has 27 mini recycling sites around the borough where residents can recycle:

• drinks cartons (at some sites)
• glass bottles and jars
• mixed cans
• paper
• plastic bottles (at some sites)
• shoes
• textiles

All residents who are not able to use the kerbside scheme are within 1KM of a mini recycling site. Some sites are maintained by the Forest Recycling Project, a local community group.

For information on how to participate, click here!

Home Composting

Waltham Forest has distributed over 6,000 compost bins since 2000 enabling residents to compost their kitchen and garden waste at home. The latest campaign is run through Recycle Now with subsidised  bins offered to residents.

Nappy Waste

Waltham Forest supports the use of Real Nappies as an alternative to disposables. Display boards are used in local health centres to raise awareness and the borough supports Real Nappy week each April.
Waltham Forest offers a subsidy of up to £54.15 against the cost of real nappies or the use of a nappy washing service.  The scheme is funded by the North London Waste Authority.

Waste Exchange

The Council organises Give or Take days every few months in conjunction with the Forest Recycling Project. These are held in local halls or community centres and residents are encouraged to clear out old items, which they can bring along to swap with other residents. Any residual items are donated to a local charity at the end of the day.  For detail please visit: www.giveortake.org

The council promotes the use of freecycle, for more information please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleWalthamForest/

Bulky Waste

White goods such as fridges, freezers and washing machines can be taken to the Reuse and Recycling Centres. Residents can also have white goods collected as part of their three free bulky waste collections.

Residents can bring items of reusable furniture to the Waste and Recycling Centres. The furniture is collected by the Kings Cross Furniture Project and is redistributed to low income families.

Litter

Leaf fall within the borough is collected and composted.

Residual Waste

Residual waste is collected weekly from the kerbside.  Residents with enough space are provided with 250 liter wheeled bins, otherwise refuse sacks are used.  Estate blocks are provided with communal euro bins for the collection of waste.

Commercial waste

The council offers businesses a commercial waste collection for a charge.

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

Contact Waltham Forest Address: Development & Standards Officer London Borough of Waltham Forest Low Hall Depot Argall Avenue Leyton London E10 7AS   Tel: 020 8496 2576 Email: environmental.services@lbwf.gov.uk