Waste disposal issues
It is not currently possible to dispose of business waste in Surrey due to operational issues at waste plants where business waste is processed.
It is hoped that the waste transfer stations in Epsom, Guildford and Leatherhead will resume accepting business waste (apart from wood) by the beginning of July 2025, with wood accepted from November 2025.
For alternative methods of disposing of business waste, please see below.
Businesses are responsible for disposing of the waste they produce. For more details of businesses’ responsibilities when it comes to waste, please read the government's guidance on how to dispose of business or commercial waste.
Businesses can dispose of waste in one of the following ways:
- Using one of Suez’s three waste transfer stations in Surrey.
- Paying for a collection from their district or borough council.
- Procuring a waste disposal service from a private contractor.
It is illegal for businesses to dispose of their waste through local authority kerbside collections, street bins, local recycling banks or community recycling centres (CRCs).
What is business waste?
Business waste is any waste that comes from a commercial activity. If you use part of your home to run your business, then any waste from that part is business waste.
Business waste also includes any waste that comes from:
- Construction
- Demolition
- Industry
- Agriculture
Disposing of business waste at one of Surrey’s waste transfer stations
Surrey has three waste transfer stations, at which businesses can dispose of business waste. They are located at the following community recycling centres:
To use them, businesses must be registered as a waste carrier, broker or dealer and all waste disposed of will be weighed and charged for.
Registering as a waste carrier, broker or dealer
To dispose of business waste, you must register as waste carrier, broker or dealer. To do so, visit the government's page on how to register as waste carrier, broker or dealer.
When visiting a waste transfer station to dispose of business waste, you will need to provide proof that you have registered as a waste carrier, broker or dealer.
Surrey councils that collect business waste
Some borough councils in Surrey collect waste from businesses in their area for a fee. For details, contact:
- Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
- Guildford Borough Council
- Reigate and Banstead Council
- Runnymede Borough Council
- Spelthorne Borough Council
For residents
If you are redirected from a CRC to a waste transfer station because of the type of waste are disposing, you will not require a waste carriers licence, providing the waste has come from your own home. You will be asked to complete and sign a household waste declaration form to confirm that this is the case.
