Christmas recycling and waste collection

Published: 09 December 2025

Collection date changes

Recycling & waste collections over the festive period will change as crews are not working Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Please note that collections will take place on Sunday 28 December to help with the catch up.

All collections will return to normal from Monday 12 January. Collection dates can be checked here: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/calendars and anyone with the North Somerset Council app will receive tailored reminders for when to put their bins out.

I have attached a pdf of the collection dates poster for you. We’d be very grateful if you could print and include on notice boards, upload onto your webpages and publicise across your area wherever you can.

Put wrapping paper in the black bin

No wrapping paper of any kind can be put out for recycling. Wrapping paper is difficult to recycle because there are so many varieties and most are mixed with unrecyclable items such as foil, glitter, ribbon, and tape. Please put wrapping paper in the black non-recyclable waste bin. There are lots of eco-friendly alternatives to wrapping paper including brown paper which can be decorated with stamps - this can be recycled with cardboard if the tape is removed.

Recycling collections

Additional crews will be helping with collections over the festive period. Last year we saw a 30% increase compared to an average week of collections. Some collections of individual materials such as cardboard or glass may be done using different vehicles and at different times.

We ask residents to wash and squash their recycling to fit as much in their containers as possible. All cardboard should be flattened and folded to the size of a recycling box. This helps crews complete their rounds and collect from each property.

Food Waste

Christmas is also a time of high food waste. Advice on reducing food waste and some fantastic Christmas recipes can be found at: www.lovefoodhatewaste.com A reminder that food waste for recycling should be wrapped or bagged using any plastic bag.

Real Christmas Trees

After the festive season there are lots of opportunities for residents to recycle or repurpose their real Christmas tree. Those with a garden waste subscription can place their tree out, minus pot and decorations on their January collection date next to their garden waste bin. I have also attached information about this year’s charity ‘treecycling’ schemes.

See our Christmas webpage for more information.