Help us to recycle more

Did you know that last year in Surrey, 298 tonnes of recyclable material were rejected? This happened because non-recyclable items contaminated the recyclable materials, making them unusable.

We all know recycling is the right thing to do, and small changes can make a huge difference!

Here are a few top tips to help you to recycle. 

Other recyclables

These are items that are recyclable but must be kept separate for collection. This includes food waste, Clothes/home textiles, Garden waste, household batteries & small electricals.

Items that are not recyclable

Wet, dirty, or soiled items must be put in the refuse bin. This includes nappies, greasy takeaway pizza boxes, takeaway coffee cups, plastic bags/wrapping, expanded polystyrene, cling film & crisp packets.

Bulky items

Oversize items such as plastic laundry baskets, large children’s toys, push chairs and infant car seats cannot be put in the recycling bin and need to be taken to the local community recycling centre. 

Follow these steps to reduce contamination and maximize recycling

It's important to know what items are incorrectly placed in the recycling bin because it costs local council's money, reduces Surrey's recycling rate, and harms the environment. Here are some quick tips:

  • Make sure items are clean, dry, and loose in your recycling bin
  • Flatten cardboard boxes and remove any expanded polystyrene
  • Check the Recycling Search Tool if you are unsure!
  • Check our Reduce, reuse, recycle section on our website

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