Harlow bin collection
Enter your postcode and pick your address to see your next bin days for Harlow.
Harlow summary
- Status
- Supported
- Population
- 98,235
- Postcode districts
- 5
- Bin types seen
- 6
- Food waste collection
- Yes
- Council website
- Harlow
Bin colours and collections in Harlow
The 6 bin types Bin Day has seen at addresses in Harlow. Your specific road may have a slightly different mix.
Harlow bins include the brown, blue, black and green bin. Tap a colour to see what it usually holds, or check your address above for the next date.
Food Caddy
Food wasteCooked and uncooked food scraps from the kitchen, collected weekly in a small caddy. The collection is free and runs every week, even in bank holiday weeks.
What goes in
- Cooked and uncooked food including meat, fish and bones
- Plate scrapings, peelings and out-of-date food
- Bread, rice, pasta, tea bags, coffee grounds
- Eggshells and dairy in small amounts
What stays out
- Liquids and cooking oils
- Pet waste, nappies, sanitary products
- Plastic bags unless certified compostable
- Packaging of any kind
Recycling
Mixed recyclingThe main recycling bin. Plastics, metals, cartons and (in many councils) glass go in together. Items go in loose, not bagged.
What goes in
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays (clean)
- Drinks cans, food tins, clean foil
- Drinks cartons and Tetra Pak
- Aerosol cans (empty)
What stays out
- Soft plastics and carrier bags (until 31 March 2027 in England)
- Polystyrene and foam
- Coffee cups (specialist drop-off)
- Anything contaminated with food
Non-Recycling
Mixed recyclingThe main recycling bin. Plastics, metals, cartons and (in many councils) glass go in together. Items go in loose, not bagged.
What goes in
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays (clean)
- Drinks cans, food tins, clean foil
- Drinks cartons and Tetra Pak
- Aerosol cans (empty)
What stays out
- Soft plastics and carrier bags (until 31 March 2027 in England)
- Polystyrene and foam
- Coffee cups (specialist drop-off)
- Anything contaminated with food
Green Waste Subscription
Garden wasteGarden cuttings, leaves and prunings. Most councils run this as a paid annual subscription with fortnightly collection from spring to autumn.
What goes in
- Grass cuttings and leaves
- Hedge trimmings and small branches
- Plants, weeds and flowers
- Twigs up to the council's diameter limit
What stays out
- Soil, stones and rubble
- Plastic plant pots and bags
- Food waste (use the food caddy)
- Treated or painted wood
Communal Food
Food wasteCooked and uncooked food scraps from the kitchen, collected weekly in a small caddy. The collection is free and runs every week, even in bank holiday weeks.
What goes in
- Cooked and uncooked food including meat, fish and bones
- Plate scrapings, peelings and out-of-date food
- Bread, rice, pasta, tea bags, coffee grounds
- Eggshells and dairy in small amounts
What stays out
- Liquids and cooking oils
- Pet waste, nappies, sanitary products
- Plastic bags unless certified compostable
- Packaging of any kind
Communal Non-Recycling
Mixed recyclingThe main recycling bin. Plastics, metals, cartons and (in many councils) glass go in together. Items go in loose, not bagged.
What goes in
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays (clean)
- Drinks cans, food tins, clean foil
- Drinks cartons and Tetra Pak
- Aerosol cans (empty)
What stays out
- Soft plastics and carrier bags (until 31 March 2027 in England)
- Polystyrene and foam
- Coffee cups (specialist drop-off)
- Anything contaminated with food
Harlow on the map
Bin day guides for Harlow
Common bin collection questions for Harlow residents, with the practical detail on each.
Postcodes covered by Harlow
Postcodes here start with CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20 and CM92. Each district has its own bin collection page on Bin Day.
Some postcode districts straddle two councils. Enter your full postcode above to confirm which council collects your bins.
Common questions about Harlow bins
- How do I find my bin day in Harlow?
- Enter your postcode at the top of this page and pick your address. Bin Day pulls the next collection dates straight from the Harlow bin lookup.
- Does Harlow collect food waste?
- Yes. Bin Day has seen food waste collections at addresses in Harlow. Use the lookup above to confirm your address.
- What happens if Harlow misses my bin?
- Wait until the working day after the missed collection, then report it on the Harlow site. Most councils ask for the report within 24 to 48 hours and return within two to three working days.
- Do bin days change on bank holidays in Harlow?
- Yes. Most councils slide collections by a day or two when a bank holiday falls on a working day. Christmas and New Year usually run a published two-week revised schedule. The lookup above always reflects whatever schedule Harlow is running.
- How does garden waste work in Harlow?
- Harlow runs garden waste as an optional subscription in most cases. Sign-up, fees and the collection season are on the Harlow council site.
More UK council bin collections
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