Hackney Council has long championed ambitious waste-reduction targets — and its confirmed partnership with Anglo Doorstep Collections now gives every Hackney household a straightforward, practical way to act on those goals. Hackney Council charity collections, delivered free of charge directly from your doorstep, mean that clothing, books, footwear and other reusable items no longer need to end up in general waste. Simply book a slot, bag your unwanted goods, and our driver does the rest — right here in Hackney.

Quick answers for Hackney residents

Is the collection really free?

Yes, completely. Hackney Council charity collections through Anglo Doorstep Collections carry no charge whatsoever — no hidden fees, no minimum bag requirements. The service is free because reuse, not profit, is the point.

Do I need to be home when you collect?

No. Simply leave your bags or boxes outside your property on the agreed collection day and our driver will pick them up. There is no need to wait in or arrange access.

What happens to the items once collected?

Everything collected is routed into reuse markets — meaning usable goods find new owners rather than disposal routes. Proceeds support charitable causes and community projects across the UK.

How do I book?

Booking takes just a couple of minutes online. Once confirmed, you will receive details of your collection day ahead of time.

Hackney Council charity collections — what we pick up

Our drivers collect a wide range of everyday reusable household items. Jackets gathering dust, hardback novels you have already read twice, a bag of jeans the kids have outgrown — all of it can go. Below are the eight headline categories; a fuller breakdown appears automatically further down this page.

How a Hackney doorstep donation collection works

1. Book online — choose a date that suits you via our simple booking form. The whole process takes under two minutes.
2. Pack your items — place reusable goods into bags or boxes ready for collection. Clothing, books, footwear and accessories are all welcome.
3. Leave outside on collection day — put your bags by the door before our driver arrives. No need to be present.
4. We collect and rehome — items are routed into reuse markets, keeping them out of disposal streams and generating funds for charitable causes.

Why Hackney Council backs this service

Reuse sits at the top of the waste hierarchy — above recycling, above recovery — because it extends the useful life of products without consuming the energy required to reprocess them. Hackney Council recognises this, which is why the borough’s partnership with Anglo Doorstep Collections is a genuine part of its wider environmental strategy rather than a bolt-on. Keeping coats, blouses, sweaters and books in circulation for longer reduces the demand for new production and cuts the carbon associated with disposal. Together, Hackney Council and Anglo Doorstep Collections are giving residents a tangible, low-effort way to choose reuse before disposal — directly supporting the council’s circular economy objectives and waste-prevention ambitions.

The case for reuse in Hackney — why it matters

• Reuse avoids the carbon cost of manufacturing replacement goods
• Items collected in Hackney are directed into reuse markets, not landfill
• Every collection contributes to WasteDataFlow-ready reporting, helping Hackney Council monitor and evidence local reuse activity
• Proceeds from rehomed goods support charitable causes and community projects
• Free, convenient access removes the main barrier to responsible disposal for busy Hackney households

Supporting Hackney Council’s reporting and data

Anglo Doorstep Collections provides Hackney Council with WasteDataFlow-ready reuse reporting — giving the council clear, structured data on the reuse activity taking place across the borough. Accurate reuse data matters because it feeds directly into:

• Reuse performance monitoring
• Waste prevention initiatives
• Circular economy reporting
• Environmental impact assessments

This reporting capability is one reason why Hackney Council chose to partner with Anglo Doorstep Collections, and why the service sits firmly within the borough’s waste strategy rather than operating independently of it.

Anglo Doorstep Collections — the national picture

Anglo Doorstep Collections operates one of the largest household reuse collection networks in the UK. Each year the service carries out over 500,000 household collections, rehomes more than 12,000 tonnes of reusable goods, has raised over £460,000 for charitable causes and has contributed to the planting of more than 62,000 trees through environmental initiatives. Hackney Council is part of a growing network of over 67 confirmed council partnerships across the country — stretching from Manchester City Council and Salford City Council in the north, to Eastbourne Borough Council and Chichester District Council in the south — all working toward the same goal of keeping reusable goods in circulation.

Reasons Hackney households keep using the service

• Completely free — no charge at any stage
• No need to travel to a charity shop or donation point
• Online booking available at any time
• Suits busy households — leave items out and carry on with your day
• Directly supports reuse and waste reduction in Hackney
• Helps charitable causes with every collection
• Contributes to Hackney Council’s environmental targets