Important changes to waste and recycling Christmas and New Year collections

There will be no waste and recycling collections on Friday, 25 December 2020 and residents are advised to put their waste and recycling out, including food waste for those who receive collections, by 6.30am a few days earlier than scheduled on Monday, 21 December 2020 and leave it out until it is collected.

There will also be no waste and recycling collections on Monday, 28 December 2020 and residents should put their waste and recycling out, including food waste for those who receive collections, by 6.30am on Tuesday, 29 December 2020 and leave it out until it is collected.

Food waste collections due to take place on Friday, 1 January 2021 will now be collected from Monday, 4 January 2021 instead. Residents are asked to leave their food waste out until it is collected.

All other New Year’s Day waste and recycling collections will take place as normal.

Residents who receive food waste collections are reminded not to dispose of any bones from meat, poultry or fish in their caddies. Bones aren’t recyclable and must be put in the black wheelie bin/blue bag.

There will be no blue bag collections on Friday, 25 December 2020 and residents should put their waste out by 6.30am on Friday, 1 January 2021. Those whose usual blue bag collection day falls on Monday, 28 December 2020 are advised to put their blue bags out by 6.30am on Monday, 4 January 2021. Both days will receive a double collection of up to four bags.

There will be no changes to clinical waste collections over the festive period.

Garden waste collections will be suspended for two weeks between Monday, 21 December 2020 and Friday, 1 January 2021 as per the service terms and conditions. Collections will resume on Monday, 4 January 2021.

Bulky waste collections will not be available on Friday, 25 December 2020, Monday, 28 December 2020 or Friday, 1 January 2021.

All residents who are affected by the changes to collections will be notified in advance.

Real (not artificial) Christmas trees will be collected between Monday, 4 January 2021 and Friday, 29 January 2021. Christmas trees must be visible from the road with all decorations and lighting removed. Larger Christmas trees must be cut down into manageable pieces.

From Monday, 21 December 2020 to the end of January the recycling crews will be collecting additional recycling, providing it is presented in sturdy containers. Excess cardboard must be broken down into manageable pieces and bundled neatly next to recycling boxes ready for collection.

Additional recycling may be collected by a second vehicle at a different time. The crews will not be collecting additional non-recyclable waste.

The Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) will be closed on Friday, 25 December 2020, Saturday, 26 December 2020, Friday, 1 January 2021 and every Wednesday as normal. Anyone with excess waste or recycling who is unable to store it between collections, can pre-book a visit to the HWRC on the Council’s website.

Councillor Maureen Penny, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Maintenance and Waste Services, said: “Over the Christmas period we produce up to 30 per cent more waste than usual and dispose of more than 270,000 tonnes of food.

“I’d like to take this moment to encourage all our residents to limit the amount of waste they are producing over the holidays, only buy what you need and recycle as much as possible.

“To make this easier, we are pleased to be offering additional services over the festive holiday to help you recycle more. Please make use of these services and enjoy a greener Christmas.

“Don’t forget to give our crews a wave if you see them out over the holidays and spread some Christmas cheer.”

For more information on Christmas and New Year waste and recycling services please visit swindon.gov.uk/christmaswaste.