Laws and Regulations concerning rubbish disposal

The most important regulations concerning rubbish disposal within Guildford that you need to be aware of when disposing of your waste are the Environmental Protection Act of 1990 and the Separation of Waste Regulations of 2024.

• The Environmental Protection Act emphasises that rubbish or waste produced by organisations or companies must be safely and legally handled and disposed of.
• The Separation of Waste Regulations require rubbish to be separated into three categories: Organic, Recyclable, and General Waste. This regulation has been enforced to make the recycling process more efficient and improve waste management practices.

The combination of these regulations makes an increasingly important rule to follow when disposing of your own rubbish.

Different disposal options

Local Council collection services:

The Guildford Borough Council offers weekly bin collection services within the borough. To find your bin day, click here.

However, the Council only collect bins issued by them, including:

• Garden Waste 240L Bin
• Recycling 240L Bin
• Food Waste 23L
• Refuse 240L Bin

You must put your bins in the appropriate collection point, which is commonly outside your property, close to the road. Additionally, if you dispose of electronic waste, you must ensure it is placed neatly next to your bins in a suitable carrier bag.

Special Collections for bulky items service

Guildford Borough Council offers a bulky waste collection service for larger items, including large furniture, fridges, etc., which they operate through a local Guildford Charity called Furniture Helpline.

The fees include:

Number of items	Price
One item	£49
Two-Four Items	£84
Five-Ten Items	£130

To arrange a collection, fill out their online form here.

Local Recycling Points and Centres

In and around Guildford, there are multiple recycling points where you can dispose of your recycling.

There are two recycling points in the centre of Guildford:

• One is in the Portsmouth Road Car Park next to the George Abbot Pub
• The second one is in the Bright Hill Car Park, located behind the Royal Grammar School buildings

Alternatively, the Slyfield Community Recycling Centre accepts a wide range of materials and waste.

Address: 

Slyfield Community Recycling Centre (Tip)
Moorfield Road
Guildford
GU1 1RU

What can you dispose of at a recycling centre?

You can dispose of many items at your local recycling centre, including:

• Garden Waste
• Cardboard
• Carpet
• Electrical items
• Wood
• And more

However, if you dispose of commercial or business waste, it will be weighed, and you will be charged for its disposal. Additionally, recycling centres do not hold the appropriate licence to accept or store fuel, therefore you cannot dispose of petrol/fuel at your local recycling centre.

For more information, including chargeable and non-chargeable items, please visit their website.

Reuse options in Guildford

If you have furniture or household items you no longer need, you can donate them to charities or a reuse centre. To donate an item to the reuse network, click here.

Other organisations that accept second-hand furniture and large items in the Guildford area:

• Furniturelink Surrey
• Paint Reuse Shop Guildford at Slyfield Recycling Centre
• Phyllis Tuckwell Furniture and Home Store
• British Heart Foundation Guildford

Using Private Rubbish Removal Services

Alternatively, you can hire a professional rubbish clearance company such as EnviRecycle for rubbish removal. Based in Surrey, EnviRecycle is a fully licenced and insured company that offers a fast and reliable waste removal service.

EnviRecycle provides an excellent alternative to council removals. They respond far quicker, with same-day collections available. They also offer a full-service rubbish removal service and are a more affordable option, with 20 bags of rubbish removal costing only £50!

To get a free quote, click here.