A new report published by the Surrey Environment Partnership shows that Surrey is one the best performing counties in the country when it comes to waste. 

Councils publish figures that show how much waste is recycled, how much is sent to landfill and how much is produced per household.

Surrey is in joint 2nd place for recycling

Surrey recycles 54.5% of its waste, which puts the county in joint 2nd place out of 29 similar authorities in England. The national recycling rate is 42.3%. Find out more about what happens to your recycling. 

Almost no waste is sent to landfill

Only 0.2% of Surrey’s waste is sent to landfill, which usually only happens because the waste contains hazardous substances that can’t be treated in any other way. That puts Surrey in 6th place in England. The average national rate is 5.5%.

Surrey homes waste less

The county also does well when it comes to how much we throw away. Households in Surrey throw away an average of 444.8kg of rubbish, which puts us in 8h place and is significantly lower than England’s average of 511kg. 

We keep most of your waste in the UK

85% of your waste ends up being treated in the UK. When it's sent abroad, Surrey’s waste is treated properly, and is transported to reputable, licensed organisations with world-leading facilities. 

Help Surrey stay at the top! 

There are some simple ways to help Surrey stay one of the top counties for waste:

• Don’t listen to what you read in the media or on packaging, instead use the Surrey Recycles search tool to find out which bins your waste should go into.
• Keep your food waste from going smelly in the rubbish bin and use a food waste caddy to make sure it gets recycled.
• Turn your waste into a brand-new resource by putting all your clean and dry paper, card, glass bottles and jars, metal tins and cans and plastic pots, tubs, bottles and trays into your recycling bin.

To find out more, read the Surrey Waste Tracker now.

On 12 November 2025, Hale Community Hub was delighted to welcome the High Sheriff of Surrey and his consort, Suzanne. Their visit captured the spirit of our Hub - a hive of activity where seniors enjoyed games of rummy, neighbours shared lunch, and preparations were underway for craft sessions.

The High Sheriff toured our community larder and fridge, stocked thanks to Fareshare, and heard about the adjoining youth centre, which offers weekly sessions, holiday trips, and summer clubs for young people. Trustees and staff explained how the Hub thrives without state funding, relying instead on local supporters, grants, and volunteers.

His words of appreciation affirmed the Hub’s role in fostering belonging, resilience, and joy across generations.  You can read the High Sheriff’s reflections on his visit here.