Reigate and Banstead’s waste collection team has been making sure all household bin collections comply with the Government’s new Simpler Recycling requirements.

What is Simpler Recycling?

Simpler Recycling aims to increase recycling by making it easier and reducing confusion across the country. By 31 March 2026 everyone should be able to recycle the same materials wherever they live in England.

All households should have containers for kerbside collections of:

• food waste – which must be collected at least weekly
• paper and card
• other mixed dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass)
• non-recyclable waste

Helping everyone in the borough recycle even more

Since 2012, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s household collection service has fit the Simpler Recycling model. However, some properties, particularly flats, had been difficult to access, due to vehicle restrictions or limited bin storage.

Cllr Hannah Avery, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, says: “As a borough, our household collection service has fit the Simpler Recycling model for many years, including our weekly food waste collections. I’d like to thank the Recycling and Waste team for their hard work to make sure any remaining properties without the full service can now have all four waste streams collected from home.

“We currently recycle more than 54% of the waste we collect, but we know that there is still much more that could be recycled. The introduction of Simpler Recycling is a great opportunity for us all to make sure we’re putting everything we can recycle (including some new items) into the right containers.

“Sorting and recycling your household waste makes a big difference by reducing rubbish and pollution, protecting the earth’s natural resources and saving energy.”

From 31 March 2026, there will be some new items that residents will be able to put in their mixed dry recycling bin:

• squeezy metal tubes, such as tomato puree
• squeezy plastic tubes, such as toothpaste or cosmetics
• plastic non-black plant pots

The popular garden waste service remains and is available to all residents as a paid for service on request. From April 2026, the cost for collecting garden waste will be £79 per bin per year.

Anyone who is unsure which bin to put an item in, can easily check online using the Surrey Recycles search tool: reigate-banstead.gov.uk/recycling-checker

Two senior members of staff at South East Coast Ambulance Service have been dismissed for sexual misconduct.

Both had positions that brought them into contact with student paramedics.

Secamb chief executive, Simon Weldon said in a letter sent to staff, it was “particularly disappointing” as both individuals held leadership roles.

A spokesperson for Secamb, “We take the safety of colleagues extremely seriously”.

A major programme to upgrade approximately 64,000 streetlights to energy‑efficient LED technology is due to begin in West Sussex.

The £24 million programme, which begins this month, will take place over the next 4 years.

It will also introduce a new Remote Monitoring System, enabling improved management of street-lighting performance, quicker fault detection and reduced maintenance requirements.

It is expected to reduce annual energy consumption by more than 10.7 million kWh, cut carbon emissions by around 1,633 tonnes of CO₂ and generate significant financial savings.

Double amputee Billy Monger has announced he’s getting ready to compete in the 2028 Paralympic Games.

The 26-year-old former racing driver from Charlwood is aiming to enter the triathlon, where competitors battle out a gruelling swimming, cycling and running event.

In 2021 he raised over three million pounds for Comic Relief by walking, cycling and Kayaking across the UK, proving that having a disability doesn’t stop you from achieving great things.