Find out when we clean main roads
Clearing litter
We clear litter on stretches of the A3, A31 and A331. Each road has a different litter picking schedule.
All three roads are high speed and have health and safety issues, which have been risk assessed. A programme is in place to ensure the safety of staff and motorists.
We work together with Surrey County Council (opens new window) and the Highways Agency (opens new window).
We use planned traffic management and lane closures.
Slip Roads
Slip road cleaning will take place during the main lane closures for the A3, A31 and A331.
A3
We clear litter on the A3 between the Ripley turn-off (at the junction with the B2039) and Milford. The Department for transport (opens new window) clear litter north of the Ripley junction to the borough boundary.
Cleaning takes place on a scheduled basis. We cover the whole length of the A3 twice a year. The central reservation is cleaned as part of these planned closures. This operation takes place at night to minimise disruption to motorists.
The A3 is only cleaned with traffic management in place. Regular litter picking and bin emptying is scheduled for lay-bys.
Upcoming litter clearing dates
Monday 19 April 2027 to Thursday 22 April 2027.
Monday 21 June 2027 to Thursday 24 June 2027.
Monday 23 August 2027 to Thursday 26 August 2027.
Monday 20 September 2027 to Thursday 23 September 2027.
Completed Litter Clearing
Monday 22 June to Thursday 25 June
We collected:
- 2,640kg of litter
- our sweeper collected 8,910kg of debris
This was the total weight collected over these four days.
Monday 21 to Thursday 24 September
We collected:
- 1,620kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 6,600kg of debris
This was the total weight collected over these four days.
A31 Hogs back
We clear litter on the A31 from Guildford to the junction with the A331. We can only litter pick with traffic management in place. Litter picking is scheduled around three to four times a year with Surrey County Council (opens new window) We may arrange other road closures if necessary.
The roadside verges are cut twice a year.
Planned litter clearing dates
Wednesday 3 March 2027 to Friday 5 March 2027.
Completed litter clearing
Monday 12th October
We collected:
- 720kg of litter
- our sweeper collected 3,280kg of debris
A331 Blackwater Valley Road
We litter pick part of the A331. This is from the junction with the A31 up to the Basingstoke Canal aqueduct. We can only litter pick with traffic management in place. This takes place three to four times a year with Surrey County Council (opens new window). We may arrange more road closures if needed.
The roadside verges are cut twice a year.
Planned litter clearing dates
Monday 1 March 2027 to Tuesday 2 March 2027.
Completed litter clearing
Tuesday 15 September
We collected:
- 300kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 3,820kg of debris
This was the total weight collected.
Tuesday 13 October
We collected:
- 820kg of litter
- Our sweeper collected 5,260kg of debris
This was the total weight collected.
Education and enforcement
Littering by motorists is a problem. We aim to reduce this through our education campaigns. We are working with Surrey County Council and other companies to address this problem.
All major roads in Guildford are patrolled by council staff. We will take action against those who litter, with a view to prosecution.