Garden waste

How to deal with garden waste while the collection service is suspended.

Garden waste collection service

Due to the national shortage of HGV drivers, the garden waste collection service is suspended for the foreseeable future. You can find out more about the issue here.

In the meantime, garden waste can be taken to your local Community Recycling Centre for free. You could also start composting your garden waste at home. You can find details of these options below.

Please also remember:

  • Garden waste cannot be put into your rubbish bin. If this happens the volumes will be such that the crews will not be able to complete the rubbish collections.
  • It is against the law to fly-tip waste and burning garden waste will cause pollution and a nuisance to neighbours.
  • Compacting more waste into an already full bin will make it difficult to empty, and the bin might be damaged.
  • Street cleaning crew are unable to clear leaves or garden waste from your property.

Home composting

Home composting is the most environmentally-friendly way to deal with garden waste as it rots down to produce a nutritious compost which you can then use on your garden. You can read advice on what to compost and how on the Surrey Environment Partnership website.

Recycling centres

Garden waste can be taken to your local Community Recycling Centre for free. For full information on opening dates and times, and waste types accepted at each site, please check Surrey County Council’s website.

We are working with SCC to monitor queueing times and will consider extending opening hours if there is increased demand.

Let your lawn grow

It might sound untidy, but the The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds say that mowing your lawn less, and letting parts of it grow long, saves you time and helps give nature a home.  Visit the RSPB’s website for more hints and tips.

See also