Havering Waste Collection Help Without Guesswork
Havering is not a simple “wheelie bin” area for many homes. Most kerbside houses use black sacks for rubbish and orange sacks for recycling, placed at the property boundary.
Use this page to check your collection day, avoid stickered sacks, report a missed collection at the right time, handle garden waste, book bulky items, and understand flats, clinical waste and Gerpins Lane tip rules.
Quick answer: Havering’s standard kerbside household waste is usually collected weekly using black sacks for rubbish and orange sacks for recycling. Place sacks just inside your property boundary nearest the pavement by 7am on collection day, unless Havering posts a temporary earlier time.
Do not put sacks in a wheelie bin for normal sack collection. If the sack is stickered, remove the wrong item and put it out on the next correct collection day.
Choose your Havering waste problem
Tap the issue first. This tells you the correct route before you open an official form.
Collection day and boundary rules
For most Havering homes, success depends on four details: correct day, correct sack, correct boundary position, and correct time.
| User question | Havering answer | Best action |
|---|---|---|
| How do I check my day? | Use the official address-based collection day finder. | Enter your address, then save the day on your phone. |
| What time should sacks go out? | Normally by 7am on your collection day. | Put sacks out the night before only if safe and tidy. |
| Where do sacks go? | On the ground, just inside your property boundary nearest the pavement. | Do not group with neighbours’ waste or leave on grass verges/posts/highway. |
| Can I use a wheelie bin? | No for normal black/orange sack collection. | Sacks cannot be collected from wheeled bins. |
| Can bags sit on walls or bins? | No. Havering warns sacks can snag and spill. | Leave sacks on the floor at the correct boundary point. |
| Do bank holidays change days? | Sometimes. The finder may show a changed collection day around bank holidays. | Check the bank holiday page before relying on your normal day. |
Black sacks vs orange sacks
Havering’s wording matters: black sacks are for rubbish, orange sacks are for recycling, and both are collected weekly for kerbside sack properties.
| Sack / container | Use it for | Do not do this | Helpful detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black sacks | General household waste only. | Do not put large items, unsafe items, knives, batteries, electricals, DIY waste or recycling inside. | Broken glass and dog mess should be well wrapped. |
| Orange sacks | Recycling from kerbside sack properties. | Do not use for wrong items, dirty recycling, or anything that belongs at a recycling site. | Rinse containers and crush plastic bottles/tins to make sacks last longer. |
| Garden waste green bin | Paid garden waste subscription. | Do not use for general waste or food waste. | 240-litre wheeled green bin; £87 per bin per year. |
| Compostable garden sacks | Paid garden waste sack service. | Do not use for food waste, general waste, soil, logs, stones, plant pots, plastic bags or heavy abrasive items. | 50 compostable sacks per contract; extra rolls available. |
| Communal bins | Large flat blocks and some communal sites. | Do not leave batteries, small electricals or textiles out for collection if your flat has communal bins. | Use marked communal rubbish/recycling bins correctly. |
Stickered sacks: what the sticker usually means
A sticker normally means the crew found something that should not be in that sack. Do not just put it out again unchanged.
Missed collection decision tree
Havering’s missed collection process is time-sensitive. You cannot always report immediately, and you cannot wait too long.
If your whole road was missed
Whole-road misses are handled differently from one household’s missed sacks.
| Situation | What Havering says | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Your road is on the missed roads list | Instructions are published on the missed roads page. | Put waste out for the next working day. No separate report needed. |
| Your road is not on the list | If your waste was not collected, report a missed collection. | Use the missed collection page within the deadline. |
| Friday missed collection | Crews work Monday to Saturday. | Waste missed on Friday can be put out Saturday if instructed. |
| List timing | Confirmation normally appears between 4:30pm and 6pm, but can be earlier or later. | Check before assuming your property alone was missed. |
| Reason shown | Havering may list reasons such as roadworks or blocked access. | Move vehicles or sacks if access caused the issue. |
Garden waste: green bin or compostable sack service
Havering has two paid garden waste routes. Both are useful, but they suit different homes.
| Garden service | Official detail | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Garden waste bin | One or more 240-litre wheeled green bins. | Homes with regular grass, hedge and plant waste. |
| Bin price | £87 per bin, per year. | Best if you need a sturdy reusable container. |
| Bin contract | Annual contract runs 1 April to 31 March. | Renewal information is sent from early March. |
| Late sign-up | No discount for starting later than April or cancelling after renewing. | Decide early if you need it. |
| Activation delay | It can take up to 3 days for a contract to activate. | Do not sign up within 3 days of collection and expect immediate pickup. |
| Compostable sack service | 50 compostable sacks for garden waste. | Homes without space for a wheeled garden bin. |
| Sack price | £87 for a one-year contract from subscription date. | Good for smaller gardens or limited storage. |
| Extra sacks | Additional rolls of 10 sacks cost £16 plus £7.50 delivery. | Useful for seasonal garden clear-ups. |
| Sack phone line | 01708 431717, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. | Use if the online compostable sacks form is difficult. |
Garden sacks: yes items
- Flowers and plants.
- Garden weeds.
- Grass cuttings.
- Hedge trimmings.
- Leaves, small twigs and branches.
Garden sacks: no items
- Food waste.
- General household waste.
- Soil, logs, stones or plant pots.
- Plastic bags or containers.
- Heavy or abrasive items.
Bulky waste collection
Use bulky collection for large domestic items that cannot go in normal rubbish or recycling sacks.
1–3 items
£71.50.
Extra item
£18.50 each.
Max size
6 feet height/length.
Refunds
Non-refundable.
| Accepted examples | Collection rule | Useful warning |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture, white goods, carpets, underlay, toys, sports equipment, bric-a-brac bags, garden furniture, doors and bathroom fittings. | Items must be presented by 7am on the arranged collection day. | Items are collected from front boundary or communal bin area only. |
| Domestic seating such as sofas, armchairs and dining chairs. | Seating may be collected separately because crews handle it differently. | Do not panic if a sofa appears left behind; a separate crew may return. |
| Large domestic items from Havering residents. | Service is not for commercial waste. | Commercial waste should use correct commercial disposal routes. |
| Items you cannot safely move to the boundary. | Call 01708 432563, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, to ask if help is possible. | Do this before the collection date, not after the crew arrives. |
Flats, maisonettes and communal bins
Havering flats can have kerbside sacks or communal bins. The rules are different.
| Property type | Likely collection | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Large block of flats | Most likely communal bin collection. | Use clearly marked communal rubbish and recycling bins. |
| Old house converted to flats / maisonette style | More likely kerbside sack collection. | Black and orange sacks are collected together but separated in the vehicle. |
| Communal bin property | Rubbish and recycling bins collected separately. | Place orange recycling and black rubbish sacks in the correct marked bins. |
| Batteries, small electricals, textiles | Cannot be left out if you have communal bins. | Use recycling locator or Gerpins Lane instead. |
| Missed communal collection | Use the missed rubbish collection route. | Check if the whole block or bin store is affected before reporting. |
Assisted collections for elderly or disabled residents
Assisted collection is for residents who are disabled or frail and cannot present waste at the front boundary.
Who it helps
Residents who cannot put waste at the front boundary because of frailty or disability.
Where crews collect
Havering may collect from a convenient location, such as the front door or a small bin in the front garden.
Not for communal bins
The assisted collection service is not available if you already use a communal bin.
Food waste collection update
Havering has confirmed the separate food waste rollout is delayed because vehicles are now expected in October 2026.
| Question | Current Havering update | What residents can do now |
|---|---|---|
| Is separate food waste already borough-wide? | No. Havering says the rollout will happen after the expected October 2026 vehicle delivery. | Watch official updates before buying extra containers or assuming a date. |
| Why is it happening? | The Environment Act 2021 made separate food waste collections a legal requirement. | Start reducing avoidable food waste now. |
| What happens to separate food waste? | It can be recycled into fertiliser and biogas for generating energy. | Keep food separate when the service starts. |
| What should I do before rollout? | Use your current Havering waste instructions until official containers and dates are issued. | Do not copy another borough’s food waste rules. |
Gerpins Lane, recycling sites and bottle banks
Use recycling sites for items that do not belong in black or orange sacks. Check item acceptance before travelling.
| Need | Best route | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Main disposal site | Gerpins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre. | Check ELWA site for opening hours, ID requirements and restricted waste rules. |
| Knives | Gerpins Lane or police stations. | Do not put knives in black sacks. |
| Batteries/small electricals | Recycling locator or Gerpins Lane. | Communal bin residents cannot leave these out for collection. |
| Bottle banks | Use Recycle Now locator or Havering reporting route for overflowing sites. | Sainsbury’s Hornchurch car park recycling banks are not Havering Council facilities. |
| Sainsbury’s Hornchurch bottle bank issue | Report directly to Sainsbury’s. | Phone 0800 636262, not Havering Council. |
Bank holidays, hot weather and service disruptions
Collection times can change temporarily. This is why official pages sometimes show alerts above the normal rules.
| Situation | What to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bank holiday period | Collection day finder and bank holiday page. | Do not rely only on your normal weekday. |
| Spring Bank Holiday 2026 | Havering says no change for 25 May 2026. | Put bags out by 7am on usual collection day. |
| Summer Bank Holiday 2026 | Havering says no change for 31 August 2026. | Put bags out by 7am on usual collection day. |
| Hot weather alert | Official pages may instruct earlier set-out, such as 6am. | Follow the alert shown on Havering’s current pages. |
| Road delays / missed roads | Roads with missed collections page. | If listed, put waste out next working day. |
Contact numbers and what to say
Use the right contact route. Have your address, collection day, sack type and issue ready.
| Need | Contact | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical waste missed collection | 01708 432563, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. | Address, clinical collection date and what was missed. |
| Help putting bulky items out | 01708 432563, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. | Item list, collection date and why you cannot move items to boundary. |
| Compostable garden sacks | 01708 431717, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. | Address, subscription/renewal need, extra sacks if required. |
| General Council route | Use online Ask Environment or Contact us page. | Photos help if an online form/address lookup is not working. |
Missed collection phone/form script
Hello, I’m reporting a Havering waste collection issue at [full address and postcode]. The waste type is [black sacks/orange sacks/garden/clinical/bulky]. The collection day was [date]. The sacks/items were at the correct boundary point by [time]. My road is [listed/not listed] on the missed roads page. Can you confirm the correct next step?
Official Havering links after you know the route
Use these only after matching your problem above. That keeps the page practical and stops wrong reports.
Report missed collection
Use only after checking missed roads, completion status and deadline.
Missed collectionHelp moving waste
Use if disability or frailty stops boundary presentation.
Assisted collectionHavering Refuse Collection FAQs
How do I check my Havering refuse collection day?
Use Havering Council’s official collection day finder and enter your exact address. The finder shows your next collection day, and garden waste or clinical collections only show if you subscribe to those services.
What time should I put black and orange sacks out in Havering?
Put black and orange sacks on the ground just inside your property boundary nearest the pavement by 7am on collection day, unless Havering has posted a temporary earlier time such as a hot-weather alert.
Can I put Havering black or orange sacks in a wheelie bin?
No. Havering says waste sacks cannot be collected from wheeled bins. Put sacks on the ground at the correct boundary point instead.
How do I report a missed collection in Havering?
Check the missed roads list first. If your road is not listed and the contractor has marked your street completed, report the missed collection before 5pm the next working day.
What does a stickered sack mean in Havering?
A sticker usually means the sack contains items that should not be there. Remove the incorrect item and put the corrected sack out on your next collection day.
How much is Havering garden waste collection?
Havering lists the garden waste bin service at £87 per 240-litre green bin per year. The compostable sack service is also £87 for a one-year contract and includes 50 sacks.
How much is Havering bulky waste collection?
Havering lists bulky waste collection at £71.50 for 1 to 3 items, with every additional item costing £18.50. The service is non-refundable.
What should I do if my whole road was missed?
If your road is on Havering’s missed roads list, you do not need to report separately. Put your waste out for collection the next working day and follow the instructions on the missed roads page.
Do flats in Havering use the same sack collection?
Some converted flats or maisonettes use kerbside sack collections, while large blocks are more likely to use communal bins. Check what collection type your property has.
Is Havering food waste collection active yet?
Havering says the separate food waste rollout has been delayed because vehicles are now expected in October 2026. The service will be delivered after that date.
Final practical advice
For Havering refuse collection, the biggest win is using the correct local system: black sacks for rubbish, orange sacks for recycling, sacks on the ground at your boundary by 7am, no wheelie bins for normal sack collection, and no grouped piles with neighbours’ waste.
If something goes wrong, check the missed roads list first, then report within the official window. For bigger waste, use the correct route: garden waste subscription, bulky collection, Gerpins Lane, assisted collection or the official item lookup.