Changes to waste and recycling collections over Christmas

Wiltshire Council is reminding residents to check their waste collection calendars, as festive schedule changes are coming up.

There will be no collections after Christmas Eve until Monday 29th December, revised collection dates will be in place to ensure services continue smoothly throughout the festive season.

Residents are encouraged to check their updated online collection calendar, which now reflects their revised collection dates. This will help avoid missed collections and ensure waste is presented on the correct day.

Garden waste collections will cease for two weeks over Christmas from Monday 22nd December to Friday 2nd January. Residents are advised to check their online collection calendar to view their new collection dates.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate and Waste, Cllr Paul Sample JP, said, “We appreciate the efforts of our collection crews throughout the year, which contributes to a successful collection rate of over 99%.

We hope they enjoy a well-deserved festive break and thank residents for their support. Please check your collection calendar for any changes and help us keep Wiltshire clean and tidy over the holidays.”

Recycling centres usually open on a Wednesday will be closed from 1pm on 24th December. All recycling centres will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. All other days will operate under normal opening hours on their specified opening days.

Residents can also follow these tips to reduce their household waste and recycle as much as possible:

Gift bags: Paper or card gift bags can be recycled in residents blue-lidded bin. Others can be reused next year.

Packaging: Avoid putting plastic bags and polystyrene in the recycling bin, they damage recycling machinery.

Keep it dry: Wet paper and cardboard can’t be recycled. Make sure they’re placed inside the blue-lidded bin to stay dry.

Christmas trees: Residents with a garden waste collection can leave their Christmas tree next to their garden waste bin on their first collection in January.

Electricals: Small items (smaller than a shoebox) can be placed in a supermarket carrier bag next to the blue-lidded bin for collection. Large electrical items: take to a Household Recycling Centre (HRC).

Batteries: Never put batteries in any bin as this can cause fires, instead residents can place dead batteries in a clear sealed bag on top of the blue-lidded bin for collection

Residents can see what they can recycle at home by visiting https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/recycling. Residents can view their updated collection dates by visiting the online collection calendar here https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/9844/Collection-calendar