Your wheeled rubbish bin

What size is the standard rubbish bin?

It is 180 litres which is approximately 1080mm height x 485mm width x 725mm depth.

The standard blue lidded recycling bin holds 240 litres.

How can I swap my rubbish bin for a smaller/larger one?

If you find you regularly fill up your bin, please check the items you can recycle to make sure you are recycling everything you can. Over 50% of items put in rubbish bins can be recycled, saving space in your rubbish bin.

If you are recycling correctly and you still need to exchange your council rubbish bin with a smaller or larger one, please complete the request a container for your recycling or rubbish form.

You will be charged if you want to exchange your current bin for a larger one. If you exchange your bin for a smaller one you will be charged, however, if we are able to re-issue your first bin to another resident, we will refund you.

We will consider your request for a replacement rubbish bin and when we are ready to deliver your new bin, we will e-mail you the delivery date and ask you to make the payment online.

You’ll then need to leave your current council wheeled bin at the edge of your property on this date because we’ll collect it and exchange it for your new one.

In the meantime, you can take excess rubbish to a community recycling centre or store it until you are able to fit it in your wheeled rubbish bin.

Can I have more than one rubbish bin?

No, each property can only have one general wheeled rubbish bin.

You can put out additional bags of rubbish next to your bin on your rubbish collection day only after Christmas Day.

I don't have room for a bin, what do I do?

If you don't have any room for a bin, or have access issues, you can request council bin bags by completing the coloured sack request form and we will assess your request.

Please remember:

• We will only collect your rubbish from these bin bags.
• We will collect up to five bin bags each fortnight.
• Put them at the edge of your property by 6am on your rubbish collection day, unless you have an assisted collection.
• Please do not put broken glass or sharp objects into your rubbish bin bags.
• Please put your food waste in your green caddy, not in these bags.

To avoid danger of suffocation, keep these bags away from babies and children.

Once a year we will deliver all your council bin bags for the following year.

How do I order more bin bags?

We’re confident residents will have enough bags for one year. You can use up to five bin bags a fortnight. If you have used them all before your next delivery, you can order more bin bags, at a charge of £10.50 for 20 bin bags.

I have had a party and I have too much rubbish for the bin, what can I do?

Please check to see if any of the items could be recycled instead. Otherwise you can take the extra bags to a community recycling centre, or store them until you are able to fit them in your wheeled rubbish bin.

How will excess uncollected rubbish be dealt with?

Excess rubbish will not be collected and will be recorded by the crews. You can take excess rubbish to a community recycling centre or store it until you are able to fit it in your wheeled rubbish bin.

If you find you regularly fill up your bin, please check the items you can recycle to make sure you are recycling everything you can, to save space in your rubbish bin. 

I have filled up my bin, but the lid won’t close, will it still be collected?

We can’t collect your rubbish unless the bin lid is closed. If the bin lid is closed, we can empty it safely and it won’t be damaged by the collection vehicle. A closed lid also prevents littering and your rubbish being spread by rodents and other pests.

I am a childminder with lots of nappies to dispose of. How should I manage this rubbish?

If you run a childminding service from home, this would be treated as business waste. You would have to arrange for a commercial rubbish collection with a contractor of your choice. Visit Surrey County Council's website for more information on business and commercial waste.

My bin is broken, please can I have a new one?

We will either fix your current bin or exchange it for a bin the same size as your broken one. To advise us of a broken bin, please complete the request a container for your recycling or rubbish form. We will repair or replace your bin within 21 days.

My bin has been stolen please can I have a new one?

If your bin has been stolen please complete the request a container for your recycling or rubbish form. You will be charged for the new bin. When we deliver your new bin you may want to write your house name or number on it, but please don’t cover our logo.

I have just moved to a new home and the previous owner has taken the rubbish bin, how do I order a new one?

Please complete the request a container for your recycling or rubbish form and we will deliver a new wheeled rubbish bin. You will be charged for the bin.

When we have delivered your new bin, you may want to write your house name or number on your new bin, but please don’t cover our logo.

The table below explains the circumstances in which you’ll be charged for requesting a new bin:

We will consider your request for a replacement rubbish bin and when we are ready to deliver your new bin, we will e-mail you the delivery date and ask you to make the payment online.

You’ll then need to leave your current council wheeled bin at the edge of your property on this date because we’ll collect it and exchange it for your new one.

If you find you regularly fill up your bin, please check the items you can recycle to make sure you are recycling everything you can. Over 50% of items put in rubbish bins can be recycled.

You can take your excess rubbish to a community recycling centre or store it until you are able to fit it in your wheeled rubbish bin.

When we deliver the new larger/smaller bin we will collect your current one.

What bins do I use if I live in a flat?

If you live in a flat, but do not share bins and have your own access, you can use the Council's general wheeled rubbish bin or you can apply for our green bin bags.

If you live in a flat you may share bins, which you should use.

Assisted collections are available to residents with a disability or medical reason, which means they cannot take their recycling and rubbish to the edge of their property for collection and have no one to put it out for them.

Residents eligible for an assisted collection can have their recycling and rubbish bin emptied and returned to an external storage area on their property.

To apply, please complete the assisted collection application form.

I have an assisted collection, but they have left a note on my bin and left it on the pavement and not returned it to its normal place, what should I do?

Please call our Customer Services team on 01883 722000 and press 2.  We will check to see if your address is on our assisted collection list.

I can’t manage the bin as I am disabled/elderly

If you are physically unable to move a wheeled bin or bin bags and have no one to put it out for you, you can apply for an assisted collection.

The bin/bags must always be put in the same location with clear and safe access for the crew to get to them.

What should I do if the access to my property means I can’t use a wheeled bin?

Some properties may not be able to use a wheeled bin because of access issues such as steps. If this applies to you, please complete our contact us form letting us know about access issues which prevent you from using a wheeled bin.

I have steps up/down to my property, will I still be given a bin?

If you don’t have anywhere at the edge of your property to store the wheeled bin and only have steps up/down to your property you can request our green bin bags by completing the coloured sacks request form.

I have a steep slope up/down to my property, will I still be given a bin?

If you don’t have anywhere at the edge of your property to store the wheeled bin and only have a steep slope up/down to your property, you can request our green bin bags by completing the coloured sacks request form.