FAQs about the changes to your bin collection days
Why have we made these changes?
Following a routine pause of collections on Wednesday, 25 December 2024 and Thursday, 26 December 2024, collection days for both waste and recycling have moved permanently by two working days across the borough.
These are permanent changes to collection days throughout 2025.
We’ve done this to make sure we can provide the smoothest possible collection services at our busiest time of year. By shifting collection days, we prevented the backlog of 40,000 collections that has previously been created over Christmas, by allowing our teams to continue to collect as they would have previously, just two working days later.
From Wednesday, 25 December 2024, if your bin collection day was:
- Monday - your new collection day will be Wednesday
- Tuesday - your new collection day will be Thursday
- Wednesday - your new collection day will be Friday
- Thursday - your new collection day will be Monday
- Friday - your new collection day will be Tuesday
What if I put my bin out on my old collection day?
If you put your bin out on the old day, it won’t be collected until your new collection day. As of 25 December 2024, this is two working days later.
This is now your permanent collection day. You can find your collection day by entering your postcode into the rubbish and recycling collection days look up tool.
Will this guarantee no delays to my collection over New Year?
Christmas and New Year are the busiest times of year for our teams, so there could still be some delays. Moving the collection days by two working days should help reduce any possible delays.
Remember, these changes are not just for Christmas and New Year.
Has my garden waste collection day changed?
No, garden waste collection days have stayed the same. There will be the usual break from Monday, 23 December 2024 to Friday, 3 January 2025, over Christmas and New Year, as stated in the service terms and conditions.
Has my assisted collection day changed?
Yes, all assisted collections have now moved by two working days. If you have an assisted collection, please make sure your bins are ready as usual on your new collection day.
You can find your collection day by entering your postcode into the rubbish and recycling collection days look up tool.
Have clinical waste collections changed?
No, clinical waste collections are continuing as usual on your regular collection day.
How do I recycle my Christmas tree?
We will only collect real Christmas trees from our garden waste subscribers. If you don’t have a garden waste subscription, you can take your tree to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (the tip).
Will this be implemented again every year?
As with any new system, we will be taking it one year at a time. If this change proves to be the most effective way to ensure a smooth collection service, this may be a system we implement annually.
Can I put out additional waste and recycling?
You are able to place any additional recycling out for collection following the guidance below, but we cannot take any extra black bin refuse.
- Paper and card recycling: If you have large sheets of cardboard that do not fit in your recycling box, we will collect them as long as they are bundled and tied together with string. The cardboard bundle should be no taller than the height of two recycling boxes or wider than one recycling box (approximately 65cm by 65cm).
- Glass, metal and plastics: These must be separated correctly (plastic and metal together) and can then be placed into a sturdy container for collection.
Our normal guidance for additional refuse applies. This means that all general waste must fit inside your wheelie bin with the lid closed. Additional bags placed next to your wheelie bin will not be collected.