Ealing Refuse Collection: Bin Days, Missed Bins & Waste

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Ealing bins • missed collections • recycling and waste

Ealing Bin Help Without Guesswork

Use this guide to check your Ealing collection day, understand black rubbish bins, blue recycling bins, weekly food waste, garden waste subscriptions, bulky items, flats and missed-bin rules.

It is built for quick scrolling: choose the problem, read the exact action, then use the official Ealing link only when it is the correct route.

Choose my problem Check bin day Missed bin rules

Quick answer: Ealing usually collects rubbish and recycling on alternate weeks: one week recycling plus food waste, the next week rubbish plus food waste. Food waste is collected weekly. Garden waste is every two weeks only if you register and pay.

Most important rule: put bins at the edge of your property by 7am, close to the street or pavement but not on it. Bag rubbish inside the black bin, put recycling loose in the blue bin, and do not place extra rubbish on or beside the black bin.

Check official collection day Report missed collection How to present bins

Choose your Ealing waste problem

Tap one option. This gives the right action before you open a council form.

Choose one option above to see the best next step.

Collection day and 7am rules

For most Ealing homes, the main task is simple: correct week, correct container, correct set-out point, correct time.

User question Ealing answer Best action
How do I check my day? Use the official address-based collection day checker. Check whether it is rubbish week, recycling week, food waste, or garden waste.
How often is rubbish collected? Rubbish and recycling are collected on alternate weeks. Save two reminders: “black rubbish” and “blue recycling.”
Is food waste weekly? Yes, food waste is collected weekly on your scheduled collection day. Put the green food waste bin out every week.
What time should bins go out? By 7am on your collection day. Put bins out before 7am unless an official alert gives a different time.
Where should bins go? At the edge of your property, close to the street or pavement, but not on it. Keep pavements clear and the bin visible to crews.
What about sacks instead of bins? If you use sacks, put them out on collection day, not the night before. This helps stop animals splitting bags open.
Local tip: On narrow streets in Acton, Southall, Hanwell, Greenford and Ealing Broadway, avoid placing bins where they block pavements, bike parking, front gates or collection vehicle access.
Open collection day checker Official collection day guidance

Black, blue and food waste bins

Ealing’s container colours are important. A lot of missed-collection confusion is actually a wrong-item or wrong-container problem.

Container Put in Do not put in Exact habit to follow
Black wheelie bin
Rubbish		 Bagged household rubbish that cannot be recycled from home. Recycling, food waste, garden waste, electricals, bulky items, building waste, paint, oil, asbestos, batteries or gas cylinders. Bag rubbish, keep lid shut, no extra rubbish on top or beside the bin.
Blue wheelie bin
Mixed recycling		 Cardboard, thin card, paper, envelopes, newspapers, magazines, plastic bottles/pots/tubs, tins, cans, aerosol cans, clean foil, glass bottles/jars, food and drink cartons. Food waste, garden waste, plastic bags, crisp packets, bread bags, thin plastics, textiles or batteries inside the bin. Put recycling loose in the blue bin. Extra recycling may be placed neatly in a bag with the blue bin, but try to fit it in first.
Green food waste bin
Weekly		 Food waste. It may be lined with newspaper or a compostable bag. Plastic bags, packaging, liquids, garden waste or general rubbish. Put food waste out every week with your scheduled collection.
Batteries and textiles Bag separately and place on top of your bin. Never put batteries or textiles inside the blue recycling bin. Keep them separate so crews can collect them safely.
Garden waste containers Paid garden waste only: 240L green wheeled bin, 3 x 90L reusable sacks, or compostable sacks. Plastic bags, food waste, soil, logs, heavy items or household rubbish. Use only after subscribing and attaching the sticker or tags.
Why this matters: Ealing says recycling must be loose in the blue bin, food waste should use the green food waste bin, and garden waste does not belong in either the black or blue bin.
Official recycling list Food waste recycling

White tag or rejected bin

A white tag is not the same as a missed collection. It usually means something is wrong in the bin or the bin was not presented correctly.

White tag on black bin?
Remove the incorrect item, remove the white tag, and present the bin at the boundary by 7am on your next rubbish collection day.
White tag on blue bin?
Remove contamination such as food waste, plastic bags, textiles, batteries, garden waste or wrong plastics.
Should you report it as missed?
No. Ealing says the crew will not return to empty a tagged bin.
What if you leave wrong items in?
You may experience another missed collection on the next cycle.
Practical fix: If the bin is full because wrong items were rejected, remove the wrong items first. Do not put extra rubbish beside the black bin, because it will not be collected.
Tagged rubbish bin guidance Tagged recycling bin guidance

Missed bin decision tree

Ealing’s missed-bin window is strict. Report too early and the crew may not have visited yet. Report too late and the online route may not accept it.

1. Is it your scheduled collection day?
Check the official collection day checker first. Rubbish and recycling alternate.
2. Was it out by 7am?
If not, it may not count as missed. Put it out correctly next time.
3. Has the crew visited your road?
Food waste may be collected at a different time from rubbish or recycling, so wait until the collection window has passed.
4. Is there a white tag?
If yes, fix the tag issue. Do not report as missed.
5. Are you in the report window?
Report from 5pm on scheduled collection day and by 1pm the day after.
6. What happens next?
Ealing says crews will come back and collect by the end of the next working day.
Temporary alert rule: If Ealing posts a heat-warning, driver-shortage or service-disruption alert, follow the message shown on the official page. Collection times can temporarily change.
Official missed-bin guidance Report through MyAccount

Extra rubbish and non-collectable items

Extra waste beside the bin is not the answer. Ealing gives different routes depending on the item.

Waste problem Best route Do not do this
Extra rubbish bags Reduce by moving recycling into the blue bin, or use Greenford Road reuse and recycling centre where accepted. Do not put rubbish on top of or next to the black bin.
Furniture or large household item Book bulky waste, donate/reuse if suitable, or use a recycling centre route. Do not leave it on the pavement.
DIY waste, bricks, rubble, concrete, soil or gravel Take to a reuse and recycling centre; charges may apply. Do not put in black bin or bulky booking if not accepted.
Paint tins Take to a reuse and recycling centre. Do not put paint in household rubbish.
Electrical items Large items: reuse/recycling centre or bulky/reuse collection. Small items: borough electrical recycling bins. Do not put electricals in the black or blue bin.
Engine oil Reuse and recycling centre, or place engine oil only in a clearly labelled plastic bottle on top of or beside the blue bin for recycling. Do not mix with cooking oil or pour down drains.
Sharps or needles Use a yellow sharps box and request clinical/sharps collection. Never put loose sharps into any normal bin.
Non-collectable item rules Reuse and recycling centres

Garden waste prices, dates and rules

Ealing garden waste is a paid service. It is collected every two weeks, except during the winter pause.

Garden waste point Ealing 2026/27 detail User action
Full year £75 for 23 collections, April 2026 to March 2027. Best value if you need garden waste collection from April.
Concessionary / second subscription full year £50 for 23 collections. Apply before paying because concessionary rate will not be applied after payment.
July 2026 to March 2027 £52.17 for 16 collections. Choose if joining from July.
October 2026 to March 2027 £29.35 for 9 collections. Choose if joining later in the year.
Container choices 240L green wheeled bin, 3 x 90L reusable sacks, or 25/75 compostable sacks. Pick the container that fits your garden and front storage space.
Sticker or tags Crews collect only bins with calendar sticker on the lid or sacks with tags attached. Attach sticker/tags before collection day.
Delivery time Tags/stickers can take 5–10 working days; containers after payment can take up to 10 working days. Do not expect collection immediately after payment.
Presentation Front boundary by 7am, close to the pavement. Do not overfill; heavy containers can be difficult to move.
Winter pause Garden waste pauses in December 2026 and starts again during February 2027. Check your calendar for exact pause dates.
Garden tip: Put garden waste directly into the wheeled bin, reusable bags or compostable sacks. Ealing says not to use plastic bags or other containers.
Garden waste collection Sign in to MyAccount

Bulky waste booking

Use bulky waste for large domestic items that two people can carry and that Ealing accepts. It is not a route for trade waste, DIY rubble or items left on pavements.

£

Cost

£30 for up to 6 items.

6

Limit

More than 6 items need a quote.

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Collection

Between 7am and 3pm on the booked day.

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Refund

Administration fee is non-refundable.

Accepted examples Not accepted Presentation rule
Sofas, beds, fridges, freezers, wardrobes and washing machines. DIY waste, builders rubbish, bricks, concrete, iron baths, pianos, asbestos, earth, sand, gravel, paint, oil, boilers, gas cylinders, tyres, batteries, dead pets or pest/mould-contaminated items. Items must be outside at the front of the property, visible, easy to access, at pavement level but not on the pavement, by 7am.
A bed base and mattress count as 2 items. A liftable box of smaller items counts as one item. Businesses and commercial premises are not included. Collection team will not enter the home, rear garden or back of the property.
Broken furniture if bundled securely, bagged or boxed. Loose pieces not attached together can count as more than one item. Mattresses and sofas should be covered and kept dry where possible.
Blocks of flats or housing estates. Items not listed in the booking. Place items outside the block only on collection day and add a note with the collection number, otherwise it may be treated as fly-tipping.
Official bulky waste page Bulky terms and conditions

Order bins, boxes or bags

Use this when a bin is missing, damaged, stolen, too small or not suitable for your property type.

Need Ealing detail Best action
Standard rubbish bin Replacement rubbish bin costs £50 for standard size. Use the official order form and have payment ready.
Large rubbish bin Large replacement rubbish bin costs £75. Ealing may check recycling use before approving larger/extra capacity.
Extra rubbish bin Possible if you need more space, but Ealing checks that you recycle as much as possible. Explain household size, medical need or other reason.
Extra recycling or food waste bin You can order extra recycling or food waste bins without paying for these bins. Use this before putting recycling into black rubbish.
Homes without front space May use green boxes, clear recycling sacks and black bags instead of wheelie bins. Only order containers your property qualifies for.
Delivery time Ealing aims to deliver bins or sacks within 10 working days, but it may take longer if checks are needed. Do not wait until the bin is overflowing before ordering.
Order a bin, box or bags

Flats, estates and clear sacks

Ealing flats do not all use the same setup. The correct answer depends on your building.

Property type Likely service What to do
Flat above a shop Mixed clear sack recycling service or communal facilities. Check what your property uses before ordering bins.
Estate or larger block Communal rubbish and recycling bins are likely. Use the correct marked communal bins and do not contaminate recycling.
Property using loose black sacks Likely to use clear mixed recycling sacks. Use clear sacks to reduce black sack rubbish.
Shared bin order Managing agent or landlord details may be needed. Usually something the managing agent or landlord pays for.
Assisted collection need in a flat Ealing says assisted collections are not offered from flats. Contact landlord/managing agent if you need help.
Flat-block tip: If communal recycling is often contaminated, add simple signage inside the bin store: “blue/recycling only,” “black/general waste only,” and “no batteries/textiles inside bins.”
Rubbish and recycling service Order shared bins

Assisted collections: help moving bins

Apply if you are not physically able to put out rubbish or recycling because of disability, illness or mobility problems.

👤

Who it helps

Residents who cannot put rubbish and recycling out and do not have someone who can help.

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Where crews collect

Collection is from your front doorstep instead of the front boundary, and the bin is returned after emptying.

🏢

Flat exclusion

Ealing says assisted collections are not offered from flats. Contact your landlord if you need help.

Two-year rule: You remain on the assisted collection register for 2 years and then need to reapply. If someone in the house can move the bins, the assistance can be stopped.
Apply for assisted collection

Clinical waste and sharps

Do not put sharps or unsafe clinical waste in normal household bins. Ealing has a separate request route.

Item / need Ealing guidance Action
Syringes, needles and sharp objects Place in a yellow sharps box. Sharps boxes are available from your GP or pharmacy. Request sharps collection; put the box outside your front door on collection day.
Clinical sacks Ealing says collection starts within 2 weeks and then takes place weekly. Use the clinical waste request form.
Sharps collection timing Sharps box collection is within 14 working days. Request each collection separately.
Postcode collection days Wednesday: HAO, NW10, UB1, UB2. Thursday: UB5, UB6. Friday: W. Check your postcode group before placing the box out.
Drugs or tablets Ealing does not collect these as clinical waste. Take them to a pharmacy.
Missed clinical collection Call customer services on 020 8825 6000. Have your address and clinical collection details ready.
Clinical waste guidance Request clinical waste collection

Greenford Road reuse and recycling centre

Use Greenford Road for bulky items, recycling and household waste that should not go in kerbside bins. You must book before visiting.

Point Official detail Useful action
Address Greenford Road, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 9AP. Save the address before driving.
Booking You must book a slot in advance; residents arriving without a booking will not be allowed entry. Book before loading the car.
1 April to 30 September Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 5pm. Wednesday and Thursday closed. Last slot 4pm to 4:30pm. Allow unloading time.
1 October to 31 March Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 4pm. Wednesday and Thursday closed. Last slot 3pm to 3:30pm. Do not arrive near closing with a full load.
Closed days Wednesday, Thursday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Check before travelling during holidays.
Access Visitors need photo ID and proof of residence; pedestrians are not allowed. Cars, motorcycles and cyclists are allowed under booking rules. Bring ID and proof of Ealing residence.
DIY waste Some DIY/building waste is accepted but charges may apply. Separate materials and check limits before visit.
Greenford Road centre Book recycling centre slot

Contact numbers and what to say

Use online forms first where possible. Call only if the service is unavailable, urgent, or you cannot use online services.

Need Contact Have ready
Rubbish, recycling, missed bin, bulky support, clinical waste missed 020 8825 6000 Address, postcode, collection type, scheduled date, what happened.
Main switchboard 020 8825 5000 Use if you do not know which service route applies.
Contact centre hours 9am–5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 10am–5pm Wednesday. Avoid 11am–3pm if not urgent because phone lines are busiest.
Write to council Ealing Council, Perceval House, 14/16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2HL. Use only where written correspondence is needed.

Missed bin call/form script

Hello, I’m reporting an Ealing waste collection issue at [full address and postcode]. The collection type is [black rubbish / blue recycling / food waste / garden waste / bulky / clinical]. The scheduled collection date was [date]. It was presented by 7am at the property boundary, the crew has visited, and there was [no tag / a white tag]. Can you confirm the correct next step?
Ealing contact page Call 020 8825 6000

Ealing Refuse Collection FAQs

How do I check my Ealing refuse collection day?

Use Ealing Council’s official collection day checker and enter your address. Most households have recycling and rubbish collected on alternate weeks, with food waste collected every week.

What time should I put bins out in Ealing?

Put bins out by 7am on your collection day at the edge of your property, close to the street or pavement but not on it. If you use sacks instead of wheelie bins, put them out on the collection day rather than the night before.

What goes in the black bin in Ealing?

The black bin is for bagged household rubbish that cannot be recycled from home. Keep the lid shut and do not put extra rubbish on top of or next to the black bin.

What goes in the blue recycling bin in Ealing?

The blue bin is for loose mixed recycling such as cardboard, paper, plastic bottles, pots and tubs, tins, cans, clean foil, glass bottles and jars, and food and drink cartons.

How do I report a missed bin collection in Ealing?

You can report a missed collection from 5pm on the scheduled collection day and by 1pm the day after. First check that the bin was out by 7am, the crew has visited your road, and there is no white tag on the bin.

What does a white tag on my Ealing bin mean?

A white tag means there is something wrong in the bin or the bin was not accessible or presented correctly. Remove the incorrect item, remove the tag, and present the bin on the next correct collection day.

How much is Ealing garden waste collection?

For April 2026 to March 2027, Ealing lists the full garden waste service at £75 for 23 collections. Concessionary and second subscription rate is £50 for 23 collections.

How much is Ealing bulky waste collection?

Ealing lists bulky waste collection at £30 for up to 6 items. There are no discounts or refunds for this service, and more than 6 items require a quote.

Can flats in Ealing use the same bins as houses?

Not always. Flats above shops and estates may use mixed clear recycling sacks, black bags or communal bins. Check what collection type is available for your property before ordering containers.

How do I get assisted bin collection in Ealing?

Apply for assisted collection if disability, illness or mobility problems mean you cannot put out your rubbish and recycling and no one can help. Ealing says this service is not offered from flats.

Final practical advice

For Ealing refuse collection, the useful routine is simple: check the exact address, follow the alternate-week pattern, put bins out by 7am, bag rubbish in the black bin, keep recycling loose in the blue bin, and put food waste out every week.

If something goes wrong, do not guess. A white tag means fix the item issue; a true missed collection must be reported in the 5pm-to-1pm window. For bigger waste, use garden waste subscription, bulky booking, assisted collection, clinical waste request or Greenford Road reuse and recycling centre.

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