Refuse and recycling frequently asked questions

• When is my next rubbish and recycling collection?

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• What materials can I recycle in my green box?

  Put all glass bottles and jars, cans, tins, plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, food trays, ice cream and margarine tubs. Plastic carrier bags, straws and bottle caps (all plastic and metal) as well as Tetra-pack foil lined drinks cartons and clean and dry aluminium foil. Place household batteries (in the plastic bag provided) on top of the items in your green box. This box needs to be set out at the kerbside in a clearly visible location by 7am on your collection day. We can provide you with small battery bags that, once full, can be sealed and deposited into your green box

• What materials can I recycle in my purple box?

  You can put all types of paper in your purple box, including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, directories & catalogues (please tear into thinner booklets), office & printer paper and card.

• Where should I put my kerbside boxes?

  Please make sure that you put your boxes on the kerb outside your house by 7.00am on the morning of your collection. Please ensure they are visible on collection day to our crews.

• What should I do if my kerbside boxes are not emptied?

  If it was, did it have the correct materials in the box? If it did, please try and see whether it was just your box that was missed or the entire road in which you live, and then please contact us, using the details at the bottom of this page, to report the problem. Sometimes entire streets are missed as a result of residents parking their cars in the road and blocking access. Please consider our kerbside collection vehicle when parking on the evening before or the morning of your collection.

• My kerbside box has been stolen/damaged/lost

  We can provide a new box free of charge, please come down to the Recycling and Cleansing Depot on Woking Road to collect one. However, if this isn't possible we can arrange a delivery directly to you. Some Parish Councils also hold stock. Please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page to make the arrangements.

• How often are boxes collected?

  Boxes are collected every week on a specified day. If you are unsure on what day your collection takes place, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page. You can also use "your Guildford" our online checking service which will give you collection details for your property.

• Do I need to remove labels on bottles, jars and tins?

  There is no need to spend time removing labels, as the paper will be burnt off in the recycling process. However, if you want to remove the labels they can be put into your purple box for mixed paper.

• Where can I take other materials - books etc?

  Located around the borough are banks for shoes, books, music (tapes, CDs, records and videos) and printer cartridges. For their exact locations please see the Bring Sites and Recycling Directory in our related pages.

• My cardboard is too big to fit in my box, what can I do?

  Large pieces of cardboard can be broken down into smaller pieces to fit in your purple box. Alternatively it can be taken to one of our recycling centres, please check it has a cardboard container before making a journey there, by using the Bring Sites and Recycling Directory in our related pages.

• I have a lot of recyclables and would like a second box. I would also like to know if I can I get a lid for my box?

  You can pick up additional boxes free of charge. We offer lids for the recycling boxes which cost £1.18. Please remove the lid before collection. Both items can be collected or purchased from the Recycling and Cleansing Depot on Woking Road, which is open 8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am - 4.00pm on Friday. Some of our Parish Councils also have stocks of some recycling equipment. If it is more convenient to collect from your parish council, please contact us using the details below and we can check which stock they hold.

• I have difficulty taking my containers out for collection. Can you help?

  If you have difficulty taking out your refuse and recycling containers because of a disability or because you are elderly, you can request an assisted collection. Our crew will collect your containers directly from your door or a convenient location specified by you, and then return them. You will be given a yellow poster which must be visible to our crews on collection day. If you are interested in this service, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page and we will make appropriate arrangements.

• What can I do with my green garden waste?

  Home composting is the best way of getting rid of green garden waste and kitchen food waste. To find out more please see home composting pages. You may be interested in our garden waste kerbside collection service. If you would like more information about this service see garden waste pages. Alternatively, you could take your green garden waste to your local community recycling centre (the tip), where it is collected for composting.

• What happens to the service on Bank Holidays and at Christmas?

  During a week with a bank holiday, your collection day will be one day later for that week only. For example if your collection should be a Friday(except Good Friday as we will collect as scheduled Friday 6th April), it will occur on a Saturday. For Easter, Christmas and New Year, we will give you details of any changes. Please look out for full details of collection dates in our adverts in the local press before each bank holiday and on our website. Alternatively you can sign up to our text service which will give you current collection day information the night before the collection which is available to sign up for on "Your Guildford" in our related pages.

• I live in a flat and am not covered by the kerbside recycling collections, do you have any plans to help residents in flats to recycle?

  We provide mini recycling points for flats across the borough. The convenient and easy scheme is based on five wheeled bins for newspapers and magazines, tins and cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles & jars. If you live in a flat which does not have any recycling facilities, please contact using the details below for more information.

• What happens to all of the recyclables collected?

  All of the material collected from your kerbside boxes is taken to a transfer station on the Slyfield Industrial Estate where it is bulked to be transported on to various reprocessors for recycling.

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• How is the recycling, composting and home composting rate calculated?

  We use guidance from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

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• What are the dimensions of the kerbside recycling boxes?

  335mm (13in) wide x 350mm (14in) deep x 450mm (18in) long

• Why is my refuse collected fortnightly and not weekly?

  In November 2009, the Council improved the recycling service provided to residents. We now collect all food waste, paper, card, glass, cans, plastic bottles, textiles and household batteries from the doorstep every week. In addition, residents can have their garden waste collected every fortnight. This represents over 80% of the average Guildford dustbin. If residents make full use of all of our recycling services, they should have very little left to put in their wheeled bin, making a weekly collection unnecessary.

• Why does the council supply wheeled bins instead of black refuse sacks?

  Wheeled bins keep refuse safe and secure and reduce the risk of injury from sharp objects.

• Do the wheeled bins have computer micro-chips fitted?

  No. Our wheeled bins do not have micro-chips fitted.

• Does everyone have a wheeled bin?

  No. Some properties are unsuitable for wheeled bins, such as those with steps, steep garden slopes and properties with no front garden or no side access. Residents in unsuitable properties will use refuse sacks for non-recyclable rubbish, which will be collected every fortnight. A total of 104 sacks will be delivered to these households (52 every six months) free of charge. If you cannot fit all of your waste into two sacks per week, please contact us and a member of our Recycling Team will visit you to offer advice and assistance.

• Can I have more than one wheeled bin?

  One wheeled bin will be large enough for nearly all households. However, if your household contains five or more permanent residents or if you or other residents have a medical condition which creates extra waste, your household may also be eligible for an additional bin. Please contact us to find out more.

• What if I can't fit all my waste in the bin?

  If you recycle and compost everything in the green and purple boxes and your food waste container, you should have very little waste left over. Please contain all of your waste inside the bin with the lid closed. This will help us to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill, stop the spread of litter from split sacks and protect the health and safety of our crews. If you can't fit all of your waste in your bin on special occasions - for example, at Christmas or parties - please put the rest in a black sack, tied shut, by the side of your wheelie bin. If you can't fit all of your waste into your bin on a regular basis (after using food waste and recycling collections), please contact us and a member of our Recycling Team will visit you to offer advice and assistance.

• I would like a different size of wheeled bin. How do I order one?

  We have two sizes of wheelie bin available for domestic residents they are the same height but are different in widths. Our smaller of the two wheelie bins is 140ltr bin and the larger one is 240ltrs in capacity, this is the biggest domestic bin available. The size of the bins is imprinted on the corner of the lip of the bin nearest the front opening of the bin lid. If you would like to swap your bin for the alternative size please contact us to arrange a swap.

• Will I get flies and maggots in my wheeled bin if it is only collected every fortnight?

  No. Flies and maggots are caused by rotting food waste. Please remember that we collect your food waste every week separately.

• We have a baby and use disposable nappies. How do we prevent our bin from smelling?

  Double-wrap nappies in a plastic bag or newspaper to stop smells. Alternatively, modern washable nappies are now available in a wide variety of colours, materials and styles. Modern washables are easy to use, can save money and are better for the environment.

• Where should I leave my wheeled bin on collection day?

  By 6am, your bin should be left just inside the boundary of your property nearest to the road in a position where it can be seen clearly by our crews as they drive along the road. Your bin will be returned to this position once it has been emptied. Green and purple boxes, food waste containers, garden waste sacks and bags of textiles should be set out at the kerbside by 7am.

• What should I do to prevent rubbish sticking to the bottom of the bin?

  We recommend that you use a plastic refuse sack before you put waste in the bin, particularly if you are disposing of wet or damp items.

• What can't I put in my wheeled bin?

  Please do not load your bin with soil, stones, rubble or building materials. These materials should be taken to your local Civic Amenity site. Do not place hot ashes in your wheeled bins. Garden waste will not be collected from wheeled bins. Hazardous waste such as asbestos, paint, fluorescent tubes and engine oil should be taken to your local Civic Amenity site. Please put all recyclable materials in the appropriate recycling containers.

• I have already purchased my own wheeled bin. Can I use it to have my refuse collected?

  No. Only Guildford Borough Council issued wheeled bins fit onto the lifting device on our collection vehicles. Please do not use any other type of wheeled bin or container.

• Do I take my wheeled bin if I move house?

  No. Bins must be left at your property if you move house.

• What happens if my wheelie bin is damaged or stolen?

  If a bin is damaged or stolen through no fault of the householder the Council will, at its discretion, provide a free replacement. If we believe a bin has been misused, damaged or lost by a householder, the Council may charge the householder for a replacement. Even when a charge is paid by the householder, the bin remains the property of the Council. Before reporting a missing or stolen bin to the Council, please ensure that you have had a good look around first.

• Why can't I use an ordinary plastic bag to line my food waste caddy?

  Plastic bags will not rot down in the composting process. The start-up roll of liners we supply you with are made from corn starch which will compost. You can also use newspaper to wrap up your food waste. If you decide to purchase replacement liners, please ensure that they are British standards compliant and marked as BSEN 13432. Please see our related pages for food waste liner stockists.

• What happens if the council fails to empty my bin on collection day?

  Please check that you have the correct collection day, that you have presented your recycling waste kerbside and that any refuse waste is clearly visible and accessible for our crews to collect at the boundary of your property. In addition, please check that the contents in your containers are correct. You can use our related pages to check when your collection day is or to check whether the items you have put out are correct. If, after checking our web pages, there appears to be nothing wrong with your waste, then please contact our customer services.

• What time does our waste collection take place?

  Domestic refuse collections take place from 6am, Domestic recycling collections take place from 7am and commercial refuse and recycling collections take place from 5.30am

• Where can I recycle water filters?

  We currently do not offer a recycling service for water filters. Please contact the product manufacturer or use an online search engine which may help you to find a suitable solution.

• What are the dimensions of the indoor and kerbside food waste caddies?

  Indoor 7 ltr food waste caddy: 252mm (10in) wide x 229mm (9in) deep x 252mm (10in) high; kerbside 23 ltr food waste caddy 320mm (12in) wide x 345mm (13 in) deep x 405mm (16in) high.