Recycling collections

Our council is committed to recycling as much of our borough's waste as possible and we provide free recycling collections for residents. We encourage everyone to recycle more of the right things and help make Hillingdon a green and sustainable borough.

In this section:

Automatic recycling bag delivery scheme

Festive recycling

Dry mixed recycling

Food waste recycling

Garden waste recycling

Textile recycling

Small electricals

Recycling collection days

More ways to dispose of your recycling

Dry mixed recycling

In Hillingdon, you can recycle paper, cardboard, glass and plastics every week for free - and it all goes in the same clear (dry mixed) recycling bag.

Watch our 'Top of the Pops' style chart countdown, exposing the top 5 contaminating items most commonly found in residents' dry mixed recycling bags.

We've also created a short video called 'That's not my recycling' to encourage children to ask grown-ups to check they're only putting items we can recycle in to their clear bags. The video can also be used by schools and families to talk about recycling at school and home.

What can I recycle in my dry mixed recycling bags?

Important: Please ensure all items/containers are clean, dry and empty.

Aerosol cans (do not pierce or squash)
Aluminium foil (clean)
Books
Butter and margarine tubs
Cardboard
Cartons
Catalogues
Directories
Drinks cans
Envelopes
Food cans
Foil trays and containers
Glass bottles and jars (lids can be added to your recycling bag separately)
Junk mall
Magazines
Newspapers
Paper
Plastic trays
Plastic bottles (including lids)
Shredded paper
Tetra packs (cartons with a waxed finish)
Wrapping paper (not the foil type)
Yellow Pages
Yoghurt pots

Asthma pumps
Batteries
Bubble wrap
Clinical waste
Crisp packets
Disposable nappies
Disposable takeaway cups
Flower pots
Flowers and flower packaging
Food waste
Hard plastics
Hot food containers
Light bulbs
Packaging tape
Pet food packaging
Plastic toys
Polystyrene
Prescription bottles
Sanitary products
Shopping bags
Textiles
Wood

Please note: Items not listed above may be covered on our other web pages:

Order recycling bags

Sign up for automatic deliveries of recycling bags using our online form and we'll deliver recycling bags to your doorstep.

Alternatively, you can order 1 roll of recycling bags online.

Please note:

Orders can be made for households (residential properties) only.
You cannot place another order if your last order was within the last 7 days.
If it has been more than 10 days since you ordered a roll of recycling bags and you have not received them yet, you can query undelivered recycling bags

Instructions for collection

All recycling should be placed in the clear recycling bags provided.
All dry recyclables can be mixed into the same bag - there is no need to sort different materials into separate bags.
You can put out as many recycling bags for collection as you wish.
If you have any big cardboard items, please flatten and put these underneath your tied recycling bags.
Keep all of your recycling bags within your property boundary until collection day.
On your collection day, leave your tied recycling sacks at the end of your property boundary before 6am.
If you do not have a front garden, leave the tied sacks on the pavement no earlier than 5.30pm the evening before collection day.

Look up my collection day

Missed collection

If your recycling hasn't been collected on your collection day and you have followed instructions for collection, please let us know and we will make another collection within 2 working days.

Please note: A missed collection cannot be reported until after 1.30pm on your collection day and must be within 72 hours of the collection being missed.