Your guide to waste and recycling

At Handel Mansions, as residents you are responsible for providing your own bin bags and taking waste down to the refuse point.

You may already separate your recycling, but the rules can sometimes be unclear. This guide explains what goes where to help make it simple.

Your waste streams are:

Mixed Recycling

Accepted: Paper, cardboard, hard plastics, aluminium, glass, aerosols, Tetra Pak

• Must be clean and dry
• Use clear bin bags only. E.g. these (non-clear bags will be rejected)
• ❌ No batteries or vapes (fire risk 🔥)

General Waste

Accepted: Anything that cannot be recycled

• Any bin bag can be used, but avoid clear bags to prevent confusion with recycling
• ❌ No batteries or vapes (fire risk 🔥)

Food Waste

Accepted: All food (cooked or uncooked), including tea bags

• ❌ No packaging, oils, or liquids
• Any bag can be used, though we recommend compostable food waste liners like this.

🔋 Batteries & Vapes

Dispose of these in the dedicated bins by the stairwell.

Never place them in general waste or recycling (fire risk🔥).

Using these bins allows for the precious materials (e.g. lithium) to be recycled. 

Did you know? Handel Mansions has a below average recycling rate when compared to the London average? (based on February 2026 data).

What can you do to improve this?

• Always use the correct waste stream
• Keep recycling clean and dry
• Separate food waste properly
• Dispose of batteries and vapes safely
• You can find out where/how to recycle more niche items by looking at our A-Z Waste Directory.

If you have any questions regarding Waste Management at Handel Mansions, please email us: sustainability@london.ac.uk.