No changes to waste and recycling collection days over Christmas

Residents are advised to put their waste and recycling out, including food waste and clinical waste (for those who receive collections), by 6.30am on their usual collection day and Swindon Borough Council’s waste and recycling crews will collect it as normal.

Residents can remind themselves of their usual collection day by visiting www.swindon.gov.uk/rubbishcollectiondays.  

As per the service terms and conditions, garden waste collections will be suspended for two weeks from Monday, 20 December while the crews concentrate on collecting all the additional waste created over the Christmas period. Garden waste collections will resume on Monday, 3 January.

Bulky waste collections will not be available on Monday, 27 December, Tuesday, 28 December and Monday, 3 January.

Real (not artificial) Christmas trees will be collected from Monday, 3 January up until Monday, 31 January. Christmas trees must be visible from the road with all decorations and lighting removed. Larger Christmas trees must be cut down into manageable pieces.

If residents have any extra recycling that won’t fit in their recycling boxes, they can use sturdy containers from around their home to put additional recycling out on their collection days throughout January.

The containers do not need to be council-branded, however, residents are being encouraged to help the crews by grouping paper and card together in one container, and glass, metals and aerosols together in another container.

Larger pieces of cardboard must be broken down into manageable pieces and bundled neatly next to recycling boxes ready for collection.

The crews will not be collecting additional non-recyclable waste.

The Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) will be closed on Saturday, 25 December, Sunday, 26 December, Saturday, 1 January 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 Kevin Parry, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Service Delivery, Waste and Transport, said: “I’m sure residents will be very glad to hear that there will be no changes to waste and recycling collection days over the Christmas and New Year period. Please continue to leave your waste and recycling out on your usual collection day and our crews will come and get it.

“To make it even easier for you to recycle as much of your waste as possible, we will be offering additional recycling services throughout January. Please make use of these services and enjoy a greener Christmas.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the collection crews for working so hard over the last year. Despite the many challenges posed by the pandemic, the team continue to deliver a great service for our residents.”

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