Find out when we clean main roads
Clearing litter
We clear litter on stretches of the A3, A31 and A331. Each road has a different litter picking schedule.
There are four major roads in the borough. The M25 enters the borough at Wisley at the junction with the A3. The A3 runs from north to south through the borough and provides road links to both London and the south coast. The A31 runs along the top of the Hog's Back. It joins with the A331 Blackwater Valley road at the western end of the borough.
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.
A3
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
Future litter clearing dates will be added here when confirmed.
Completed litter clearing
Monday 16 October to Wednesday 18 October 2023 (three nights)
Thursday 19 October was cancelled due to poor weather.
We collected:
- 760kg of litter
- our sweeper collected 7,580kg of debris
Monday 4 September to Thursday 7 September 2023 (four nights)
We collected:
- 920kg of litter
- our sweeper collected 5,160kg of debris
Monday 10 July to Thursday 13 July 2023 (four nights)
We collected:
- 880kg of litter
- our sweeper collected 11,600kg of debris
Monday 22 May to Thursday 25 May 2023 (four nights)
We collected:
- 1,060kg of litter
- our sweeper collected 5,900kg of debris
Monday 17 April to Thursday 20 April 2023 (four nights)
We collected:
- 1,280kg of litter
- our sweeper collected 5,260kg of debris
Monday 27 February to Thursday 2 March 2023 (four nights)
We collected:
- 1,460kg of litter
- our sweeper collected 11,060kg of debris
A31 Hogs back
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
Future litter clearing dates will be added here when confirmed.
Completed litter clearing
Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th February 2024
We collected:
- 2,467kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 35,520kg of debris
Monday 12 June, Tuesday 13 June, Monday 26 June, Tuesday 27 June 2023 and Monday 10 July 2023
We collected:
- 1,200kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 16,720kg of debris
Wednesday 15 February to Friday 17 February 2023
We collected:
- 1,000kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 17,360kg of debris
The totals above are combined with litter clearing on the A331 in February 2023.
A331 Blackwater Valley Road
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
Future dates will be added here when confirmed.
Completed litter clearing
Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th February 2024
We collected:
- 2,467kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 35,520kg of debris
Wednesday 7 June and Thursday 8 June 2023
We collected:
- 480kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 11,640kg of debris
Monday 13 February to Tuesday 14 February 2023
We collected:
- 1,000kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 17,360kg of debris
The totals above are combined with litter clearing on the A31 in February 2023.
Slip Roads
Slip road cleaning will take place during the main lane closures for the A3, A31 and A331.
Education and enforcement
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.