We all create rubbish — but how does it get taken away and where do you put it? When you move into your new UK home you might be surprised by the number of bins you have in your garden or in the basement of your apartment block. Not only are there up to five bins to choose from, but you may be confused by what goes where.
At this point you may be tempted to call a friend. Stop. First ask yourself — does your friend live in the same council as you? The chances are they don't, in which case your best point of call is your local council website. Every council is different.
★ 2026 Update — Simpler Recycling
Big changes to recycling have taken effect from 31 March 2026
The Government's new Simpler Recycling legislation is now in effect. Its aim is to end the postcode lottery and standardise recycling across England. Two major changes affect Surrey households directly:
1. Weekly food waste collections are now a legal requirement. All councils in England must now collect food waste separately from households on a weekly basis. If you haven't received a food caddy yet, contact your council.
2. New items in your recycling bin from 31 March 2026. Woking and many Surrey councils have expanded what goes in the dry recycling bin — see below for the full list.
Your Bins —
What Goes Where
Look up your waste and recycling page on your council website and find out which bin colour is for general waste, recycling, garden and food waste. Some are trying to standardise their bins within a county council, which will be helpful. Always check your bin colours and collection schedule — otherwise you may find you are left with a full bin for the next 2 weeks or more.
New Items Now Accepted
in Your Recycling Bin
As part of the national Simpler Recycling changes, Woking Borough Council confirmed from 31 March 2026 that the following items can now be added to your dry mixed recycling bin — in addition to what was already accepted:
✓ Now accepted in your recycling bin from March 2026
- Aerosol cans — empty only
- Food & drink cartons — juice, soup, stock (rinse and remove lids)
- Non-black plastic plant pots — clean only
- Squeezy metal & plastic tubes — tomato purée, toothpaste (empty)
Please recycle all items empty, clean and loose — not inside plastic bags or liners. Remember to rinse and dry cartons before putting them in the bin.
Surrey's recycling rate is the joint second highest of comparable areas in England — every item you recycle correctly makes a difference.
"Every council is different. Always look up your local waste and recycling page — your collection day and bin colours may not be what you expect."
Larger Items & Furniture
If you have larger items like furniture or electrical appliances that you no longer need, you have several options:
- Take them to your local recycling centre (tip) — find yours at gov.uk/find-local-council and search for household waste recycling centres.
- Request a bulky item collection from your council — usually for a small fee. Book online through your council website.
- Donate to a local charity shop or furniture re-use organisation — many will collect for free if items are in good condition.
- List on Freecycle, Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree — someone local may collect for free, saving it from landfill entirely.
How to Find Your Local Council Rules
Woking example
The waste and recycling page for Woking is at woking.gov.uk/bins-waste-recycling. Not sure what to do with a specific item? Use the Surrey Recycles search tool — enter any item and it will tell you exactly how to dispose of it.
Find your council
Find your local council website — and your bin collection calendar — at gov.uk/find-local-council. Just enter your postcode. You can also download the Surrey Recycles app (Android & Apple) to check your nearest recycling centre and what you can recycle there.
Settling In?
Our settling-in service covers everything — bin registration, utilities, council tax, schools and GP registration — all arranged before you arrive.