Excess waste
Slough Borough Council has in place a "no side waste" and "closed bin lid" policy. We do not collect excess waste as part of the waste collection service.
Please note side waste may be treated as fly-tipping or littering of which both are a criminal offence and carry fines.
What is side waste or excess waste?
Excess or side waste is any additional waste put out for collection next to or on top of your wheeled bin. This includes overflowing or extra bagged, boxed or garden waste that doesn't fit in your bin, sometimes larger items such as a fridge or commercial waste.
Why is excess waste not collected?
To encourage waste reduction and reuse, increase recycling activities, cut costs and improve collection efficiency; collection crews are not equipped to collect loose waste or heavy bins. Excess waste is also unsightly can often cause an obstruction, attracts vermin and broken bags could result in litter being spilt onto the street.
What should you do?
You are required to make sure the waste you produce is disposed of responsibly and in accordance with the law.
- Make sure all your waste is separated for recycling as much as possible; sorting your waste will reduce excess waste and help you to recycle more.
- Contain all your waste inside the correct bin.
- Ensure the bin lid is fully closed flat for collection.
If you have any additional waste or recycling that will not fit into your bins, you should take it to the Household Waste Recycling Centre or you can arrange a bulky waste collection.
Tips to avoid excess waste
- If your grey bin is overfull; keep back any items that won't rot or smell until your next refuse collection.
- Where possible, squash any non-recyclable items to save space in your grey refuse bin.
- Check there is nothing that could go in your red recycling or green garden waste bin instead.
- Flatten cardboard to save space in your red recycling bin.
- Minimise waste by buying goods with less packaging.
- Re-use certain items, such as glass jars, bottles and biscuit tins.
- Home compost food and garden waste.
- Use a Household Waste Recycling Centre.