Join us for Recycle Week 2025: let’s rescue more recyclables together 

This week is Recycle Week 2025, the UK’s biggest annual recycling campaign led by WRAP and Recycle Now. Now in its 22nd year, Recycle Week runs from 22 to 28 September. 

Why Recycle Week Matters 

Recycle Week is all about encouraging everyone to recycle more of those everyday items that often get overlooked. While Surrey recycled 54% of its waste in 2022–23, making it one of the top-performing counties in England, there’s still more we can do, especially as around half of what ends up in the average rubbish bin could actually be recycled. 

By working together, we can make a difference in tackling the climate emergency.  

What you can rescue 

Many common household items are still being missed. Here are some examples you might not realise can go in your recycling: 

• Toilet roll tubes
• Empty aerosols
• Old toothpaste tubes
• Trigger sprays
• Shampoo bottles
• Clean kitchen foil and foil trays
• Yoghurt pots
• Aftershave and perfume bottles 

All of these can be recycled in your regular kerbside waste collections across Elmbridge. 

Make recycling even easier 

Not sure what goes where? The Surrey Recycles search tool is here to help. Simply enter your postcode and the item you want to recycle, and the tool will tell you whether it can be repaired, donated, or which bin or recycling centre skip it belongs in. You’ll find the tool on the council’s website. 

What goes in your blue bin 

Your blue recycling bin accepts: 

• dry paper 
• dry cardboard 
• metal tins or cans 
• foil 
• some plastic items: bottles, trays, pots, tubs 
• glass bottles and jars 

And don’t forget those often-missed items listed above! 

Top tip: remember to wash and squash your recyclables before putting them in the bin. This helps keep the recycling process efficient and effective. 

Every item counts 

With busy lives and so many different types of packaging, it’s easy to be unsure about what’s recyclable. But if each of us rescues just one more item from general waste, we’ll make a big impact across Elmbridge and Surrey. 

Find out more information on recycling in Elmbridge.