Guildford Landfill Waste and Recycling Statistics 2025

Guildford produces one of the highest amounts of waste in Surrey, ranking 2^nd out of the 11 local authorities, according to the latest government data. That’s why it’s important to understand where this waste goes and how residents and businesses can take simple steps to recycle more and reduce what ends up in landfills.

We’ve taken a closer look at Guildford’s latest landfill and recycling statistics, exploring how the town compares to other areas in Surrey and across the South East.

How much waste does Guildford produce?

According to recent government data from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, in the year ending March 2024:

• Guildford Borough Council collected 55,684 tonnes of waste — the 2^nd highest among Surrey’s 11 local authorities, and equivalent to the weight of 81,595 cows!
• Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is the only council ahead, with 56,378 tonnes of waste.
• The year before, Guildford generated the highest amount of waste in Surrey, topping Reigate and Banstead with 55,219 tonnes of waste.
• This also means that, compared to the year ending March 2023, there has been a slight increase in how much waste Guildford generated in the year ending March 2024.

How does Guildford compare to other areas in Surrey & the South East?

The table, based on government data, below shows the total amount of waste generated by the 11 local authorities in Surrey and members of the Surrey Environment Partnership in the year ending March 2024.  

• Out of 70 local authorities in the South East of England, Guildford ranks 27^th  for total waste generated in the year ending March 2024.
• Kent County Council collected the most waste, with a total of 663,366 tonnes.

Guildford recycling statistics: Where is most of the waste coming from – and where does it go?

The latest government figures show how much is being recycled and how much still ends up in black bins.

• Guildford Borough Council recycled 30,629 tonnes of waste — around 55% of the total waste collected.
• For comparison, Brighton and Hove Council recycled 31,400 tonnes, while Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council recycled 31,532 tonnes.
• Of the 55,684 tonnes of waste collected in Guildford in 2024, 92% (53,851 tonnes) came from households, showing that residential waste is the primary contributor.

To break this down further:

• Each household generated an average of 5 kg of non-recyclable waste, and 343.9 kg of total household waste per person (including recyclable and non-recyclable materials).
• 58% of household waste was sent for recycling, reuse, or composting.
• In contrast, 42% of household waste — approximately 17,065 tonnes — was not recycled and ended up in black bins, likely for landfill or incineration
• 31% of household food and garden waste was composted.
• 24% of paper, plastic, metal, and other dry recyclables were sent to recycling facilities or charities.

How does Guildford’s recycling rate compare year-on-year?

A 2024 report from Guildford Borough Council revealed that:

• Guildford’s recycling rate reached 59.1%, exceeding the target of 58% for the year ending March 2024.
• This marked an improvement from the previous year (March 2023), when 54% of waste was recycled. 

Similarly, based on the latest government data, there has been a slight increase in the amount of waste recycled in Guildford from March 2023.  

The graph below shows how much waste Guildford Borough Council sent for recycling, composting, and reuse compared to waste not recycled from March 2020 to March 2024.

The yellow line shows waste that was recycled. The black line shows waste that was not recycled. 

Guildford’s Waste & Recycling Challenges

Not all local authorities report how much of their waste goes to landfills. Fortunately, Guildford is part of the Surrey Environment Partnership, which provides recent data. Their latest report found that:  

• 47.5% of household waste in Surrey could have been recycled, but ended up in general waste bins in 2021.
• Items most commonly thrown away were paper and cardboard (15.1%) & food waste (27.3%).
• In the same year, Guildford ranked the 3^rd highest in Surrey for household waste, with each household generating an average of 389kg of rubbish.
• Only Epsom and Ewell (447 kg per household) and Elmbridge (469 kg per household) produced more.  

This suggests that Guildford faces a clear challenge in improving household recycling, particularly for materials like paper, cardboard, and food waste, to help reduce overall waste levels across the county.

What’s being done to reduce waste sent to landfills in Guildford?

Given that Guildford is one of the highest waste-producing areas in Surrey, more needs to be done to prevent recyclable materials from ending up in general waste bins.

To tackle this, the Surrey Environment Partnership (SEP) has introduced waste prevention and recycling policies for 2025, which apply to all Surrey councils, including Guildford. These policies include aims to:

• Reduce household waste to 446 kg per household by 2025–26, with a focus on cutting food waste.
• Increase food waste recycling to 48% by 2025–26.
• Cut landfill waste below 3% by 2024–25.
• Improve recycling quality, keeping contamination under 8%.

In 2024, Guildford expanded food waste collections to 1,653 more homes, including flats and houses, and introduced outdoor food waste wheelie bins to boost recycling.

Interested in learning how you can avoid contaminating your recyclables? Our blog about wishcycling delves into the importance of properly disposing of your waste for the environment.

What can residents do to help reduce Guildford’s waste statistics?

While Guildford is taking action to improve recycling, proper waste disposal remains a challenge for many households and businesses. That’s where our professional waste removal services can help.

Whether you’re decluttering, moving, or need a reliable way to dispose of household or commercial waste, HIPPO offers sustainable and hassle-free rubbish removal solutions, ensuring your waste is handled responsibly and efficiently.

By making the right waste choices, Guildford residents can play a key role in reducing landfill waste, improving recycling rates, and creating a greener town for the future.