What goes in your rubbish bin

You can put the following items in your black wheeled rubbish bin or green sacks:

• Bubble wrap.
• Cling film.
• Coat hangers (metal and plastic).
• Crisp packets and other confectionary packaging such as chocolate and biscuit wrappers.
• Expanded polystyrene.
• Incontinence pads.
• Nappies.
• Pet litter (max 10kg weight).
• Sanitary products.
• Wet/used kitchen paper, tissues and wipes.

You cannot put the following items in your black wheeled rubbish bin or green sacks.

• Batteries.
• Bricks.
• Building waste such as plasterboard, fibreglass and tiles.
• Carpet
• Electrical items.
• Garden waste.
• Gas canisters and helium bottles.
• Hot ash (it can go in once cooled).
• Large items such as furniture.
• Rubble.
• Sharp items or broken glass unless it is well wrapped. Please also put a note on the bin/bag warning the collectors.
• Soil.

You can recycle some of these at a community recycling centre.

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.

Can I swap my rubbish bin for a smaller one?

Yes, if you do not fill up your rubbish bin regularly you can exchange it for a smaller one, please complete the request a container form.

Can I swap my rubbish bin for a larger one?

Over 50% of items put in rubbish bins can be recycled, saving space in your rubbish bin. There shouldn't be much rubbish left after you have recycled:

• Your food waste into your green caddy or green wheeled bins at flats.
• Your mixed recycling into your blue lidded recycling bin.
• Your clothes, shoes, home textiles, small electrical items, and household batteries in separate plastic carrier bags next to your green caddy.

If you are recycling correctly and you still need to exchange your council rubbish bin with a larger one, please complete the request a container form. 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. You can also take additional rubbish to a community recycling centre.

I can’t physically move a wheeled bin to the edge of my property, what do I do?

If you can’t physically move your recycling and rubbish wheelie bins to the edge of your property due to a disability or medical reason, and have no one to put them out for you, you may be eligible for an assisted collection. This is where your wheeled bins are left near your front door and the crew collect and return your bins to this point.

To apply, please complete the assisted collection application form and we will assess your request.

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

In certain circumstances, such as when the access between your assisted collection point and the road is covered in gravel, you may also need to use council issued sacks instead of a wheeled bin.

I can’t physically place items into wheeled bins, what do I do?

If you are unable to lift items into wheeled bins, and have no one to do this for you, please complete the green sack request form and we will assess your request.

In certain circumstances, such as where you cannot move these sacks to the edge of your property, you may also need an assisted collection.

I have an assisted collection and the bin was not returned after the collection took place, what should I do?

Please complete the report a collection issue form.

I don’t have room for wheeled bins at the edge of my property, what do I do?

If you don't have any room for wheeled bins at the edge of your property, please complete the green sack request form and we will assess your request.

I have steps up/down to my property, and nowhere to store the wheeled bins at the edge of my property, what do I do?

Please complete the green sack request form and we will assess your request.

I have a steep slope up/down to my property, and nowhere to store the wheeled bins at the edge of my property, what do I do?

Please complete the green sack request form and we will assess your request.

Can I use black bin bags?

No, if you are eligible to use sacks instead of a wheeled bin, we will only collect from council issued green sacks.

How many green sacks can I put out each fortnight?

We will collect up to five green sacks each fortnight. You can put out additional bags of rubbish on your rubbish collection day only after Christmas Day. You can also take additional rubbish to a community recycling centre.

How often do you deliver the green sacks?

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

Can I order more green sacks?

You should have enough green sacks for one year, we will collect 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 £12 for 20 bin bags. Please complete the green sack request form.

I 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?

No, the lid needs to be closed to ensure it can be emptied safely and that 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 commercial waste. You cannot put this waste into your council issued bins and need to arrange for a commercial 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, what do I do?

Please complete the request a container form and we will either fix your current bin or exchange it for a new one.

My bin has been stolen, what do I do?

Please complete the request a container form. When we deliver your new bin, please write your house name or number on your wheelie bin, in the white rectangle, 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 form and we will deliver a new wheeled rubbish bin. When we deliver your new bin, please write your house name or number on your wheelie bin, in the white rectangle, but please don’t cover our logo.

I am a developer; how do I order bins for new property/properties?

Please complete the contact us form with details of the property addresses, type of properties, date the properties will be occupied, and whether you have planned to put in individual or communal wheeled bins. We will then advise which bins the Council can provide for a charge and which bins you will need to provide.

I am building my own property; how do I order bins?

If you are doing a self-build of one property, you will need to pay for bins before your property is occupied. Please complete the contact us form with details of the property address and date it will be occupied from. We will then provide a quote for the bins needed.

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

If you live in a flat, you may have communal bins in a shared bin store area which you should use. These are the responsibility of the managing agent or property owner to provide and maintain.

If you live in a flat and do not have communal bins you can use the council issued rubbish bins or, if you have nowhere to store a wheelie bin, you can apply for green sacks.

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