Flats recycling service
If you live in a flat, whether it is managed by the council, housing association or a private owner, we can provide a free, weekly recycling collection service. If your block of flats does not have recycling facilities for plastic bottles and cardboard, please contact us using the details to the left. Please have the details of your managing agent to hand.
What type of facilities will be provided
There are two different types of recycling facilities which we provide for blocks of flats. Our recycling contractors, May Gurney, will decide which of these is most suitable for your block of flats:
Option 1 – Blue and black recycling boxes for smaller blocks of flats
Each flat has its own blue and black boxes which are emptied weekly. Residents need to place their boxes at a designated group collection point on site. Residents will need to separate their recycling between the two boxes as shown here:
Items for the blue box:
- tins and cans
- plastic bottles
- cardboard
- foil
- aerosols
- juice and milk cartons (Tetra Paks).
Items for the black box:
- paper
- glass bottles and jars
- textiles and shoes (placed in a carrier bag to protect them)
- car and household batteries
- mobile phones
- engine oil.
Option 2 – A frame of green wheeled recycling bins for larger blocks of flats
Sets of five green wheeled bins are fitted in a secure frame. Frames are positioned in a convenient place for residents and collections are weekly. The number of bins and frames provided depends on the space available.
Separated, labelled recycling bins are provided for some or all of the following materials:
- paper – newspapers, magazines, printer paper, junk mail and catalogues
- green glass bottles and jars – please rinse
- clear glass bottles and jars – please rinse
- brown glass bottles and jars – please rinse
- tins, cans, foil and aerosols – please rinse
- plastic bottles – drinks bottles, shampoo bottles and detergent bottles
- cardboard – greetings cards, clean cardboard packaging and thick corrugated cardboard, juice and milk cartons (Tetra Paks).
Please note the only kind of plastic we are able to collect is plastic bottles.
You can download the flats recycling service leaflet 
(PDF 855KB) here.
How to obtain new or additional recycling facilities for your flat block
If you would like new or additional recycling facilities, please contact the Customer Care Unit:
- tel: 020 8359 4600
- email: first.contact@barnet.gov.uk
If you are requesting facilities for a block with more than sixteen flats, we will need the permission of your managing agent. Please provide these details when contacting us to request facilities.
Easy to use service
The scheme is extremely popular and convenient to use. Here’s what some of our residents have to say about it.
Joan and David Simmonds have lived in their flat in Hendon for six years. They do their bit by using the Flats Recycling Service. David said: “The scheme takes minimal effort and now it’s become a matter of habit. It’s so easy to use as it’s right by the back door.”
Mr Simmonds initially got involved by taking the recycling issue to the flat’s committee and getting them to agree to the scheme and identify where to place the bins.
Joan said: “Before the flat’s recycling scheme, residents used to leave piles of newspapers in the corridors. This no longer happens as residents are using the scheme religiously.
Residents can now recycle cans, glass and paper from their doorstep. We have also noticed that the flats general waste has decreased, as most waste now goes into our recycling bins.”
Email this pageLast modified by: Rachel Jones on 22/08/2011