Christmas and New Year waste collections

Residents will now experience up to a three-day delay on their collection prior to normal service resuming on 11 January. 

Changed collection dates

Please be aware rounds will be starting earlier during the festive period so put bins out the night before. The changes, which allow our crews to spend time with their families at this time of year, are as follows:

Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: “These small changes to our schedules mean our waste teams can spend some time at Christmas having some well-earned rest with their families. 

“The festive season is a time when residents really can make the most of our range of recycling services, making sure all food peelings and offcuts go into their caddies to be turned into energy or breaking down cardboard boxes and keeping them dry so they can be recycled. We’ve put together some easy tips for residents to help them do their bit.”

Recycling centre opening times

Longshot Lane, Bracknell, and Smallmead, Reading, recycling centres will be open for most of the Christmas period, with the only changes being closure on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, as well as shutting early at 4pm, rather than 8pm, on Christmas Eve. Residents are required to book if they are visiting, using the click and tip service.

Recycling tips for Christmas

• Make the most of the food recycling service by putting your turkey bones, potato peelings and any leftovers into your caddy
• Use paper-based wrapping paper, rather than plastic or metallic-based wrapping paper, as this can go into the black recycling boxes (scrunch it, and if it stays scrunched, it can be recycled)
• Buy loose fruit and vegetables
• Write your shopping list and stick to it
• Use your leftovers from Christmas lunch for meals in the following days or make a plate for a friend, family member or neighbour who is on their own this year
• Recycle your plastic bottles, paper/card, aerosols and food/drink tins
• If still in doubt please check our re3cyclopedia app to see what can and what cannot be recycled
• Don’t miss out on our recycling incentives. Register for GreenRedeem to enjoy our fun and informative activities on waste and recycling
• Break down cardboard boxes to save space and ensure they fit into the recycling box (and keep it dry to make sure it can be recycled)
• Old, unwanted electrical items can be recycled at re3 recycling centres
• Chop up your real Christmas tree, put it into your garden waste bin or take it to our household recycling centres.