Estates Recycling Programme

To increase recycling rates, reduce fire risks and improve the look of our estates, the Council is investing in better waste and recycling facilities in estates across the borough.

The changes we’re introducing include closing bin chutes and providing new recycling facilities and smarter bins stores. When introduced so far, they’ve seen big increases in the amount of waste that’s recycled instead of incinerated – including on the Milton Gardens Estate in Stoke Newington where recycling levels doubled from 9% to 18 % within a year.

Why it’s happening

• it’s cleaner – the new storage areas have been designed to improve the look of estates and neatly hide away communal bins, rather than causing an eyesore
• it’s greener – removing bin chutes where recyclable items can’t be separated from regular waste means recycling is even easier – meaning estate residents can do their bit to help recycle more and tackle the climate emergency
• it’s safer – bin chutes can regularly become blocked and cause a fire hazard – closing them will reduce this risk for residents

Where these works have happened

We installed 57 bin stores across 7 estates during spring and summer 2020 – Broadway House, Gascoyne Estate, Portland Rise, Hill Court, Pitfield Estate, Burma Court and St. Mary’s Estate.

This brings the total number of estates with infrastructure based recycling interventions to 9.  After only 4 months these measures have resulted in:

• recycling rate increased by 2.5% (4 months after completion)
• waste tonnage decreased by 7.2% (4 months after completion)

What’s happening next

The following estates have been identified for improvements to their waste and recycling facilities as part of a Phase 5 delivery:

• Kingsgate Estate
• Regents Court Estate
• Provost Estate
• Lordship North Estate
• Queen Elizabeth Close Estate
• Frampton Park Estate
• St. John’s Court Estate
• Rowley Gardens Estate

We are currently in the consultation stages for Phase 5 and are expected to deliver these improvements in Q4 2022/2023.

Have your say

With more than 200 Council estates, these changes can’t be introduced everywhere at once.

We’re looking at which areas can benefit the most from these changes. To have your say on where we should look at removing bin chutes and adding better waste and recycling facilities, complete this form.

Have your say

Assisted collections on estates

Assisted collections can be offered to residents who’ll find it difficult to access their bin store when these types of works are carried out.

Contact erp.team@hackney.gov.uk for more information.

Find out more about recycling

More information on waste, recycling and communal bins.