Find out when we clean main roads

We clear litter on stretches of the A3, A31 and A331. Each road has a different litter picking schedule.

All three roads are high speed and have health and safety issues, which have been risk assessed. A programme is in place to ensure the safety of staff and motorists.

We work together with Surrey County Council (opens new window) and the Highways Agency (opens new window).

We use planned traffic management and lane closures.

Slip Roads

Slip road cleaning will take place during the main lane closures for the A3, A31 and A331.

We clear litter on the A3 between the Ripley turn-off (at the junction with the B2039) and Milford. The Department for transport (opens new window) clear litter north of the Ripley junction to the borough boundary.

Cleaning takes place on a scheduled basis. We cover the whole length of the A3 twice a year. The central reservation is cleaned as part of these planned closures. This operation takes place at night to minimise disruption to motorists.

The A3 is only cleaned with traffic management in place. Regular litter picking and bin emptying is scheduled for lay-bys.

Planned litter clearing dates

Monday 22 June to Thursday 25 June 2026

Monday 24 August to Thursday 27 August 2026

Monday 21 September to Thursday 24 September 2026

Completed Litter Clearing

Monday 20 April to Thursday 23 April 2026

We collected:

• 2,220kg of litter 
• Our sweeper collected 8,220kg of debris

This was the total weight collected over these three days.

We clear litter on the A31 from Guildford to the junction with the A331. We can only litter pick with traffic management in place. Litter picking is scheduled around three to four times a year with Surrey County Council (opens new window) We may arrange other road closures if necessary.

The roadside verges are cut twice a year.

Planned litter clearing dates

• Friday 14 Aug 2026
• Wednesday 19 Aug 2026
• Friday 21 Aug 2026 and Monday 24 Aug 2026
• Monday 12 Oct 2026(tbc)

Completed litter clearing

Wednesday 4 March to Friday 6 March 2026 

We collected: 

• 1,060kg of litter
• Our sweeper collected 6,340kg of debris

This was the total weight collected over these three days.

We litter pick part of the A331. This is from the junction with the A31 up to the Basingstoke Canal aqueduct. We can only litter pick with traffic management in place. This takes place three to four times a year with Surrey County Council (opens new window). We may arrange more road  closures if needed.

The roadside verges are cut twice a year.

Planned litter clearing dates

• Monday 7 Sept 2026

Completed litter clearing

Monday 2 March and Tuesday 3 March 2026 

We collected: 

• 1,100kg of litter
• Our sweeper collected 7,700kg of debris

This was the total weight collected over these two days.

Littering by motorists is a problem. We aim to reduce this through our education campaigns. We are working with Surrey County Council and other companies to address this problem.

All major roads in Guildford are patrolled by council staff. We will take action against those who litter, with a view to prosecution.

Report litter