Swindon refuse and recycling collections over the Christmas holiday period

Swindon Borough Council’s waste and recycling crews will be out collecting as normal, providing the weather conditions ensure it is safe to do so. Only two days will be affected by the changes and tags have been put on the relevant bins to notify residents of the alternative collection arrangements.

There will be no collections on Christmas Day (Tuesday, 25 December) and residents are advised to put their waste and recycling out by 6.30am on Thursday, 27 December and leave it out until it is collected. The crews are expected to have cleared all the waste by Saturday, 29 December.

Those whose usual collection day falls on Boxing Day (Wednesday, 26 December) are advised to put their waste and recycling out by 6.30am on Saturday, 29 December. Crews will be working as normal on New Year’s Day so there are no changes to this collection day.

Residents are encouraged to keep their general rubbish to a minimum and recycle as much as possible. Excess recycling can be put out providing it is sorted into suitable, sturdy containers.

Excess cardboard should be folded and bundled neatly next to recycling boxes and, if necessary, any excess cardboard will be collected by a second vehicle at a different time.

Real (not artificial) Christmas trees will be collected between Monday, 7 January and Friday, 1 February. Christmas trees must be visible from the road with all decorations and lighting removed. Larger Christmas trees must be cut down into manageable pieces.

All Swindon Libraries will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. For full details of individual Library opening hours over the festive period visit their individual pages on the Council’s website.

The opening hours for the Council’s Customer Services will be affected between Friday, 21 December and Wednesday, 2 January.

On Friday, 21 December, Thursday, 27 December, Friday, 28 December and Wednesday, 2 January the services will be available from 9am until 5pm. On Christmas Eve (Monday, 24 December) and New Year’s Eve (Monday, 31 December) Customer Services will be open from 9am until 3pm. Customer Services will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day (Tuesday, 1 January).

Residents are reminded that online services will be available 24/7 over the Christmas and New Year period.

Shopmobility will be operating on reduced opening hours over the Christmas period. On Christmas Eve the service will be available from 9am until 2pm. Shopmobility will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Thursday, 27 December, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Wednesday, 2 January. However, the service will be available from 9am until 3pm on Friday, 28 December and Saturday, 29 December.

Lydiard Park is open daily throughout the festive period, excluding Christmas Day. For more information on the park’s opening hours over Christmas visit https://www.lydiardpark.org.uk.

Coate Water will remain open over Christmas with limited facilities. Barbury Castle and Stanton Park will both be open daily from 8am until 4pm including Christmas Day.

In the event of severe weather, the Council will be posting updates to service changes on social media.

Residents are advised to sign up to the Your Swindon newsletter for regular updates and alerts on service changes throughout the festive period via: www.swindon.gov.uk/newsletter.