Changing behaviour

Promoting and achieving high recycling rates 

Over recent years, Surrey Heath has been consistently in the top 6 local authorities in the country for our recycling rates, thanks to the amazing recycling work of our residents. In 2019, under the new joint waste contract with Joint Waste Solutions, we extended our recycling service to include weekly food waste, textiles, small electricals and batteries recycling collections.  

The latest figures for 2021/22 ranked SHBC at an impressive 16th in England, with a recycling rate of 59.2%. 

Reducing single use plastics 

Alongside all of Surrey’s Boroughs and Districts, SHBC signed Surrey County Council’s agreement to reducing single use plastics (SUP) in March 2019. This commitment builds on the work that the Council has already taken to reduce the use of SUP in Council owned buildings and services: 

• Camberley Theatre has been plastic free since 2019.  
• In Community Services, water dispensers are used at Windle Valley Centre with no plastic bottles used or sold. The majority of the Meals at Home service come in recyclable foil containers, and sandwich packaging is recyclable. 
• At the Council offices in Surrey Heath House, water coolers have long been in place on every floor for staff to use, with reusable cups. A water dispenser has also been installed in the Council Chamber, eliminating the use of bottled water in meetings. 

Partnership work 

SHBC is part of the Surrey Environment Partnership (SEP) which is made up of Surrey County Council and the 11 district and borough councils in Surrey. It aims to manage Surrey’s waste in the most efficient, effective, economical and sustainable manner.