Christmas and New Year waste collections
During the Christmas and New Year period, there may be changes to your normal bin collection dates. This includes refuse, recycling, glass, garden waste, food waste, clinical, bulky waste and bin deliveries.
We’ve put everything here in one place, so you can be sure not to miss a collection. Remember, you can also check all your bin collection dates online at Find out your waste collection day or on your printed calendar.
If it would be helpful to get a regular reminder of which bin/s to put out for collection on which day, you can Sign up to receive bin day reminders by email .
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Christmas waste and recycling collections
The table shows the revised dates for each service.
Note: If your weekly food waste recycling collections have started, they will be continue to be on the same day as either your refuse (black bin) or recycling (green bin) collections during the festive period.
Scheduled collection day
REFUSE OR RECYCLING
(incl. batteries & small electrical items in separate bags)
GLASS
(recycling week only)
GARDEN WASTE
(if a refuse week)
CLINICAL WASTE BULKY WASTE Bin deliveries CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING
(on scheduled garden waste day)
Street cleaning Grounds maintenance
Monday 22 December 2025 No change No change No change No service No change No change No service No change No change Tuesday 23 December 2025 As usual No change No change No service No change No change No service No change No change Wednesday 24 December 2025 As usual No change No change No change No change No change No service No change No change Thursday 25 December 2025 Saturday 27 December Saturday 27 December Saturday 27 December Saturday 27 December No service No service No service No change No service Friday 26 December 2025 Monday 29 December Monday 29 December Monday 29 December No service No service No sevice No service No change No service Monday 29 December 2025 Tuesday 30 December Tuesday 30 December No service No service No change No change No service No change No service Tuesday 30 December 2025 Wednesday 31 January Wednesday 31 January No service No service No change No change No service No change No service Wednesday 31 December 2026 Friday 2 January Friday 02 January No service Friday 02 January No change No change No service No change No service Thursday 1 January 2026 Saturday 3 January Saturday 03 January No service Saturday 03 January No service No change No service No change No service Friday 2 January 2026 Monday 5 January Monday 05 January No service No service No change No change No service No change No change Monday 5 January 2026 Tuesday 6 January Tuesday 06 January No service No service No change No change No service No change No change Tuesday 6 January 2026 Wednesday 7 January Wednesday 07 January No service No service No change No change No service No change No change Wednesday 7 January 2026 Thursday 8 January Thursday 08 January No service No change No change No change No service No change No change Thursday 8 January 2026 Friday 9 January Friday 09 January No service No change No change No change No service No change No change Friday 9 January 2026 Saturday 10 January Saturday 10 January No service No service No change No change No service No change No change Monday 12 January 2026 No change No change No change No service No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Tuesday 13 January 2026 No change No change No change No service No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Wednesday 14 January 2026 No change No change No change No change No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Thursday 15 January 2026 No change No change No change No change No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Friday 16 January 2026 No change No change No change No service No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Monday 19 January 2026 No change No change No change No service No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Tuesday 20 January 2026 No change No change No change No change No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Wednesday 21 January 2026 No change No change No change No change No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Thursday 22 January 2025 No change No change No change No change No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change Friday 23 January 2026 No change No change No change No service No change No change Christmas tree collection No change No change -
Christmas tree collections
We can collect your real Christmas tree for recycling with our garden waste collections between Monday 12 January and Friday 23 January. You do not need to have a garden waste subscription for this.
Check the garden waste collection date for your area at Find out your waste collection day or on your printed calendar.
Please remove any decorations, and if your tree is more than five feet tall, please cut it into smaller pieces so the crew can fit it in the collection vehicle.
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Electrical and battery recycling
Small electrical items can be left in a plastic carrier bag and placed on top or alongside your bin every week.
Household batteries can be secured in a small, tied plastic bag on the lid of your bin every week.
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Bring Site Glass Bottle Recycling Banks
There are plenty of places where you can take your household waste to be recycled, either at a large Household Waste Recycling Centre or a local recycling site. Many of the local sites will accept glass bottles and jars and some will accept other materials such as textiles and clothing, books, cardboard, tinfoil and batteries. You can find a full list of bring sites on our waste and recycling web page - all sites will be open during the festive period.
At this time of the year, our network of recycling sites is in great demand. We have increased our frequency of emptying bottle banks to meet the demand over this period. If you do have any issues at any of the sites listed, these can be reported by visiting our Waste and Recycling webpage, or by telephoning 0300 300 0013.
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Beverage carton (Tetrapak) Bring sites
You can recycle beverage cartons (Tetrapaks) at the following locations:
- Alresford train station car park
- Colden Common Community Centre
- South Wonston Pavilion
- Kidmore Lane car park
- Worthy Lane car park
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Recycling tips
Unsure about what you can and can’t recycle this Christmas? Here are some festive tips:
Item
Recycled?
How?
Christmas cards
Some
Most can be added to your recycling but when it comes to cards with foil or glitter, it’s best to put them in your waste bin.
But you can recycle your envelopes, TV listings and Christmas catalogues!
Wrapping paper
Best not to
Unfortunately most wrapping paper cannot be recycled as they often contain foil or glitter elements, so please don't put it in your recycling bins. Instead the paper will go to one of Hampshire’s Energy Recovery Facilities, where the energy generated from Hampshire’s waste powers local homes.
Better still, re-use the wrapping paper for next year!
Real Christmas trees
Yes
We can look after this for you! All you need to do is remove all your decorations (and cut it down if it’s over 5ft) then leave it to be collected with your first scheduled garden waste collection. If you don’t receive a garden waste collection, you can take your Christmas tree to your local household waste recycling centre.
Paper plates and cups
Best not to
It’s tempting to avoid the washing up by using paper plates. But once they have food or grease on them paper plates aren't recyclable, so it’s best to use real plates.
Christmas crackers
Some
We all love a Christmas cracker, but what do you do with it once the Christmas dinner is over? If it’s not glittery or foil, it can be recycled.
Chocolate wrappers
No
As tasty as they are, unfortunately their wrappers can’t be recycled, so they need to be put in your normal waste bin.
Advent calendars
Most
The majority of calendars can be recycled but check the packaging and make sure you eat all the chocolate first and remove any toys.
Bottles and jars
Yes
Rinse them and remove the lids then add them to your glass bin for collection.
Foil roasting trays
No
These need to go in your waste bin as they’re usually left with fat or oil from your Christmas dinner.
Serviettes and kitchen roll
No
As they’re usually damp or food-stained, they need to go in your waste bin.
Boxes and food packaging
Sometimes
Check the packaging for the recycling logo and make sure you rinse it before it goes in the recycling bin. Be sure to remove any sellotape from your boxes.
Plastic bottles
Yes
All plastic bottles including shampoo, fizzy drinks and milk bottles can be recycled with the lids and labels left on. Just be sure to empty any liquid, rinse them and squash them down before putting the lid back on.