Green box recycling items

Green box collection service

The green box recycling collection service is available to 95,000 homes in the borough. Recyclable items should be placed in your green box for collection outside your home. Your green box will be collected on the same day as your refuse.

Find your joint collection day by using the May Gurney (formerly ECT Recycling) online database.

You can request a green box online or telephone Ealing Council Customer Services on (020) 8825 6000.

Your box must be out by 7am on your collection day at the front boundary of your property, but not on the pavement. If you are unable to carry your box to the front of your property you can arrange for an assisted collection. Please note: your green box will not be emptied if it contains any items we do not collect for recycling.

The green box collection schedule varies around Christmas, Easter and Bank holidays.

The green box collection service is currently available to residents living in houses or maisonettes. This service has now been extended to blocks with under 12 flats, if the property is suitable for collection. To find out if you are able to join the scheme please contact us on the above number or email customers@ealing.gov.uk. Unfortunately we cannot provide this service to residents who live in blocks with more than 12 flats or on red routes.

It is much easier for the collection operatives to deal with your recycling quickly and efficiently if your items are presented neatly.

Recyclable items

Items that can be put in green boxes	How to prepare item
Paper (newspapers, magazines, envelopes, catalogues and junk mail)	Please try and keep paper together, in a plastic bag if needed. Sorry, no wrapping paper.
Cardboard	Flattened boxes and household cardboard packaging, egg boxes and greeting cards. Please keep cardboard separate from paper, break up large items and remove any tape that may be stuck to the cardboard. No cartons e.g. drinks, soup, milk cartons. These may be taken to one of five locations in the borough. See neighbourhood recycling sites and re-use and recycling centres. Larger cardboard items may be collected by a different vehicle at a different time on the normal collection day.
Food and drink cans	Please rinse and flatten if possible.
Glass (green, brown, and clear bottles and jars)	No broken glass, drinking glasses, Pyrex or window glass. Please wash food jars and remove caps and lids.
Aerosol cans	No gas canisters or spray paints.
Aluminium foil and trays	Clean, aluminium kitchen foil, take-away food trays and milk bottle tops. No foil crisp packets please.
Textiles	Please put in a plastic bag to keep them dry.
Shoes	Please tie together in pairs.
Engine oil	Please stand upright in a sealed container. No cooking oil - this can now be taken to a re-use and recycling centre.
Yellow Pages/telephone directories	Please put in a plastic bag to keep dry.
Domestic and vehicle batteries	Keep household batteries in a tied up bag. Please do not place car batteries on the pavement.

Plastic recycling: The plastic recycling collection service page provides information on how to recycle plastic.

Please note: you can recycle many other items at re-use and recycling centres or neighbourhood recycling sites.