Recycling rules for Guildford
Based on Guildford published guidance · Last verified October 2026
Under Simpler Recycling, councils across England are standardising collections. Here's what currently goes in each bin in Guildford.
Search what goes in your bins →Quick answers for Guildford
Polystyrene: Not accepted in Guildford's recycling bin
Glass bottles and jars: Goes in your recycling bin
Food waste: Not accepted in Guildford's recycling bin
Aerosols: Goes in your recycling bin
Batteries: Not accepted in Guildford's recycling bin
Your bins in Guildford, by colour
Container colours as published by Guildford. Some homes get a different container. See the notes.
What goes in each bin
Recycling
Accepted
Green recycling bin, yes please:
- Paper, card, newspapers and magazines
- Glass bottles and jars
- Empty tins, cans and cartons
- Empty aerosol cans
- Clean foil and foil trays
- Plastic bottles, tubs, pots and trays
- Plastic carrier bags
- Plastic and metal lids, caps and bottle tops
Not accepted
Green recycling bin, no thanks:
- Black bags
- Expanded polystyrene
- Hard plastics, cling film or bubble wrap
- Food waste, crisp packets or sweet wrappers
- Textiles or nappies
- Drinking glasses, crockery or Pyrex
- Paint tins, garden waste or wood
- General waste
- Batteries and Vapes
Garden Waste
Accepted
Apply, renew or amend a garden waste collection, what we collect?:
- Grass cuttings
- Garden prunings
- Hedge trimmings
- Leaves
- Small twigs and other woody waste
- Dead plants and weeds
- Branches no larger than 7.5cm (3 inches) in diameter
Not accepted
Apply, renew or amend a garden waste collection, what we do not collect:
- Flower pots and seed trays
- Soil and turf
- Rocks, stones and pebbles
- Animal/pet bedding
- Kitchen or food waste
- Timber
- Household waste or metal objects
We don't have checked food waste guidance for Guildford yet.
See Guildford's own guidanceWhen are bins collected in Guildford?
This page covers what goes in each bin. Collection days are set by the council and vary by street. See how to find your bin collection day, or browse streets by postcode to see schedules your neighbours have added.
Check with the council over bank holidays. See the council’s page →
No streets in Guildford on BinBosh yet — be the first to add yours, and your neighbours can adopt it instead of setting up their own.
Frequently asked questions
What bin does polystyrene go in Guildford?
In Guildford, expanded polystyrene can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin do glass bottles and jars go in Guildford?
In Guildford, glass bottles and jars go in your recycling bin.
What bin does food waste go in Guildford?
In Guildford, food waste, crisp packets or sweet wrappers can't go in your recycling bin.
What bin do aerosols go in Guildford?
In Guildford, empty aerosol cans go in your recycling bin.
What bin do batteries go in Guildford?
In Guildford, batteries and vapes can't go in your recycling bin.
What goes in the recycling bin in Guildford?
Guildford's recycling bin accepts paper, card, newspapers and magazines, glass bottles and jars, empty tins, cans and cartons, empty aerosol cans, clean foil and foil trays, plastic bottles, tubs, pots and trays, and more.
What goes in the garden waste bin in Guildford?
Guildford's garden waste bin accepts grass cuttings, garden prunings, hedge trimmings, leaves, small twigs and other woody waste, dead plants and weeds, and more.
What can't be recycled in Guildford?
Items not accepted in Guildford: black bags, expanded polystyrene, hard plastics, cling film or bubble wrap, food waste, crisp packets or sweet wrappers.
Helpful guides
Source: Guildford council website. Check your council's site for the latest updates.
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