Simpler recycling

Currently, bin collections across England vary between areas, which can create confusion and misinformation among residents. The changes are designed to make recycling the same across all households, reducing confusion and improving recycling rates.

The reforms shift costs to producers to fund improved local authority waste and recycling services and are also expected to lead to the production of fewer hard-to-recycle items.

The new rules mean that, where possible, from 31 March 2026 local authorities should collect the following from households and workplaces separately:

• residual (non-recycled) waste
• food waste
• paper and card, plastic, metal and glass 

In Tandridge all properties, where feasible already have a food waste collection service. We already collect some of the core mixed recycled items that are being added to the list of items to be collected as recycling.

From 31 March 2026, the following items can go in blue lidded recycling wheelie bin or clear recycling sacks in addition to those that you can already recycle:

• cartons such as juice and plant based milk cartons.
• empty aerosol cans.
• foil.
• foil trays.
• non-black plastic plant pots.
• squeezy metal tubes such as tomato puree tubes.
• squeezy plastic tubes such as toothpaste tubes.

How should I recycle the new items?

The new items should go in blue lidded recycling wheelie bin or clear recycling sacks in the following way:

• cartons should be clean and empty.
• empty aerosol cans should be fully empty.
• foil should be clean and scrunched into a ball no smaller than the size of a tennis ball.
• foil trays should be clean.
• non-black plastic plant pots should be clean.
• squeezy metal tubes should be empty.
• squeezy plastic tubes should be empty.

Material collected from a blue lidded recycling bin is separated into material types such as glass, metal, plastic and paper, at material recycling facilities, run by external suppliers under contracts managed by Surrey County Council (SCC). If there is an onward market for the material, it is then passed on to organisations (material reprocessors) to be recycled and turned into something new. If there is no onward market for the material, it is possible that some items will be turned into energy instead.

The introduction of these new materials will pose some challenges for material reprocessors, as recycling markets establish. However, the aim of extended producer responsibility (EPR) is that, over time, it will become more costly for producers to put items that are hard to recycle onto the market. If products are deemed to be hard to recycle, producers will have to pay increased fees under the scheme. Funds generated by EPR will be handed back to local councils to help pay for the increase in costs of waste collection and disposal.

There has been some speculation and misinformation online and from media outlets about what the changes will mean for residents. Residents should only trust information from Tandridge District Council about the changes. Some of the key areas of misinformation are covered below.

Will the changes mean that I need new bins?

No, Tandridge residents will not need new or more bins because of the changes. The only changes for residents will be the addition of the new materials listed on this page which can be placed in their existing blue lidded recycling bins.

Will waste collections be affected due to the changes?

No, residents current collection schedules will not be affected by these changes.

Will the changes affect the list of items that should not be put into blue lidded recycling bins?

No. The changes will mean that there is an increase in the number of items that can be put into blue lidded recycling bins. However, there will remain some items that are not allowed to be put into blue lidded recycling bins, such as food, packaging with food in or on it, textiles, electricals and nappies.

To find out more about which items go in which bins resident should check the Surrey Recycles Tool.

Will the changes mean that I can be fined for putting the wrong items in the wrong bins?

No. The introduction of Simpler Recycling will not affect how local councils can act against residents for incorrectly disposing of items. Existing legislation means that local councils can issue fixed penalty notices of between £60 and £80 if someone is deliberately and consistently placing items that cannot be recycled in their recycling bins and this can only be done once a written warning has been issued.