Domestic Refuse collection is carried out by the Council's own 

directly employed Cleansing Services team.  We have set out below 

the most frequently asked questions about the refuse collection service.  

If you need more information about this service, please call our Cleansing Hotline on 01483 444499 or e-mail us at [email protected]

What day is my refuse collected?

Please phone the Cleansing Hotline 01483 444499 or email [email protected]

Where should I put my refuse to be collected?

In most cases, we will collect your refuse bags from outside the front of your home.  We can, of course, collect bags from your back door. This may involve our cleansing crew coming onto your property and collecting your refuse from your garden. 

It is helpful to let us know where you are going to store your refuse and to also ensure it is stored in one location,which is the same each week. 

Is there anything else I need to know about the service?

To help us offer you a quality service, please remember the following:

• All refuse should be in bags, which are tied tightly. Please don't put refuse in small plastic shopping bags which are very difficult for our crews to handle.
• Please do not put too much in each bag. 
• We cannot collect the refuse if it is loose inside a dustbin.
• Please make sure that any sharp objects (for example, borken glass or razor blades) are double wrapped in newspaper. Mark clearly what is in the bag. Paint should not be placed inside your refuse bags. Please see below for guidance on how to deal with this type of waste.
• If the refuse collectors need to come into your garden, please make sure the gate is unlocked and there are no dogs running free.
• You must make sure that your refuse is ready to be collected from 6am on the day of your collection. Please don't place bags outside your property any earlier than 8pm the evening before your collection day. 

What happens to the service on Bank Holidays and at Christmas?

For normal Bank Holiday Mondays, your collection day will usually move forward one day for that week. For example, if your collection day is Wednesday, after a bank holiday, your collection day will be Thursday for that week.  The collection day will then go back to the Wednesday for the following week. 

For Easter, Christmas and New Year, we will give you details of any changes.  Please look out for full details of collection dates in our adverts in the local press before each Bank Holiday and on our website. 

What do I do if my refuse wasn't collected?

If you have not had your collection, please ring the Cleansing Hotline on 01483 444499 or email [email protected]. We will sort out the problem as soon as we can. 

Does the Council supply dustbins?

No, but we do supply one roll of thirty bags, twice a year.  In the case of blocks of flats, larger wheeled bins are supplied. Please call the Cleansing Hotline for further information.

Why don’t we have wheelie bins in Guildford?

Although there are many benefits to this system (storage, clean and tidy, operational advantages, long term financial savings) there are also many arguments as to why this system should not be implemented into the borough (aesthetics, terraced housing, vehicle implications, cost).  However, wheelie bins, and other related issues, will no doubt be discussed further as the Council reviews and develops its waste services.  Also, in consultation, residents have indicated their wish to have kerbside recycling services and these have now been introduced to most residents in the Borough.

Does the Council collect bulky household items like wardrobes and tables?

Yes – this service is provided for a modest fee.  Please ring the Cleansing Hotline 01483 444499 or email [email protected] for details of the scheme.

Alternatively you can print off the attached form and sent it to us with your payment as detailed in the form - Special Collections Form