Bins…sorted!
Do you want to be sure that you get the right bin every time? You might want to save space in your rubbish bin, guarantee your bins are emptied every week or do your bit for your community. Your councils in Surrey are working together to improve recycling and with our tools to help you, getting the right bin couldn’t be easier.
- Check the A-Z list below to find out what to do with some common items of waste. Click on an icon for information on how to dispose of each item.
- If it’s not on the list, it will be on the Surrey Recycles search tool – just enter your postcode and your item and get all the info you need.
- Download our one-page guide to your bins (PDF, 158KB) – stick it on the inside of your cupboard door or by your bins…sorted!
- Think you’re the boss of your bins in your household? Take our recycling quiz and find out!
- If there’s an item of waste you would like us to add, let us know.
Ask us a question
Ask us anything about waste including what to do with an item you’re not sure about.
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Download our guide to your bins (PDF, 158KB)
Our one-page guide to which bin to use. Stick it inside your cupboard door or by your bins. (PDF, 158KB)
Aerosol cans
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Blister packs
Bubble wrap
Cardboard
Mixed recycling bin except Reigate and Banstead (paper bin)
Put this in your mixed recycling bin. If you live in Reigate and Banstead, it goes in your paper and card bin instead.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Compost at home
This breaks down in a home compost bin. It does not need to leave your garden.
Find out moreAccepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Carpet
Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreBulky waste collection
Your council will collect this from your home for a fee. Book it with them before you put it out.
Find out more
Cartons
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Accepted at some CRCs
Some community recycling centres take this, but not all of them. Check your nearest before you travel.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Clothes
Kerbside textiles collection in some areas
Some Surrey councils collect textiles from the kerbside. Check whether yours does before you put them out.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Donate to charity
Charity shops and clothing banks take this if it is clean and still usable.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out moreAccepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out more
Cream pots
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Some recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Crisp packets
Cushions, duvets and pillows
Accepted at all CRCs (non-recyclable waste)
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this, but it goes in with non-recyclable waste. It is not recycled.
Find out more
Drinks cans
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Electrical items with a plug
Kerbside electricals collection in some areas
Some Surrey councils collect small electricals from the kerbside. Check whether yours does before you put them out.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreDonate to charity
Charity shops and clothing banks take this if it is clean and still usable.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Electrical items with batteries
Remove batteries
Take the batteries out first and recycle them separately. Never put them in with the item.
Find out moreKerbside electricals collection in some areas
Some Surrey councils collect small electricals from the kerbside. Check whether yours does before you put them out.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreDonate to charity
Charity shops and clothing banks take this if it is clean and still usable.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Foil (clean)
Scrunch
Scrunch it in your hand. If it stays scrunched it can be recycled; if it springs back it cannot.
Some recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Foil (dirty)
Food past its use by date
Garden waste
Garden bin
Put this in your garden waste bin. Most Surrey councils charge a subscription for the service.
Find out moreCompost at home
This breaks down in a home compost bin. It does not need to leave your garden.
Find out moreAccepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out more
Glass bottles and jars
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Mixed recycling bin except Epsom and Ewell (glass bin)
Put this in your mixed recycling bin. If you live in Epsom and Ewell, it goes in your glass bin instead.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Accepted at some CRCs
Some community recycling centres take this, but not all of them. Check your nearest before you travel.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Greasy pizza boxes
Rubbish bin, except Reigate and Banstead (paper and card container)
Put this in your rubbish bin. If you live in Reigate and Banstead, it goes in your paper and card container instead.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.
Household batteries
Kerbside battery collection in some areas
Some Surrey councils collect batteries from the kerbside. Check whether yours does before you put them out.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out more
Lids (made of scrunchy / soft plastic)
Lightbulbs
Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Margarine tubs
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Some recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Mattresses
Donate to charity
Charity shops and clothing banks take this if it is clean and still usable.
Find out moreAccepted at some CRCs
Some community recycling centres take this, but not all of them. Check your nearest before you travel.
Find out moreBulky waste collection
Your council will collect this from your home for a fee. Book it with them before you put it out.
Find out more
Meat trays
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Some recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Paper
Mixed recycling bin except Reigate and Banstead (paper bin)
Put this in your mixed recycling bin. If you live in Reigate and Banstead, it goes in your paper and card bin instead.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Compost at home
This breaks down in a home compost bin. It does not need to leave your garden.
Find out moreAccepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Paper (shiny)
Mixed recycling bin except Reigate and Banstead (paper bin)
Put this in your mixed recycling bin. If you live in Reigate and Banstead, it goes in your paper and card bin instead.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Paper towel
Peelings
Compost at home
This breaks down in a home compost bin. It does not need to leave your garden.
Find out more
Plant pots (black)
Plants pots (non-black)
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Some recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Plastic bottles
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Accepted at some CRCs
Some community recycling centres take this, but not all of them. Check your nearest before you travel.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Plate scrapings
Compost at home
This breaks down in a home compost bin. It does not need to leave your garden.
Find out more
Polystyrene
Accepted at all CRCs (non-recyclable waste)
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this, but it goes in with non-recyclable waste. It is not recycled.
Find out more
Saucepans
Accepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out more
Soft plastic food packaging
Squeezy metal make-up tubes
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Some recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Takeaway coffee cups
Textiles (towels, sheets etc.)
Kerbside textiles collection in some areas
Some Surrey councils collect textiles from the kerbside. Check whether yours does before you put them out.
Find out moreRule varies by area. Check the search tool for your postcode.Donate to charity
Charity shops and clothing banks take this if it is clean and still usable.
Find out moreSome recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out moreAccepted at all CRCs
Every community recycling centre in Surrey takes this. Find your nearest on our zero waste map.
Find out more
Tins
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Some recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
Tissues
Toothpaste tubes
Empty
Empty before recycling.
Some recycling banks
Can be taken to some recycling banks in Surrey, often located at supermarkets and car parks.
Find out more
No items match that search. Try the Surrey Recycles tool above.