Christmas and New Year Bin Collection Changes Across Cornwall

Households across Cornwall are being reminded that bin collection days will change over the Christmas and New Year period.

Cornwall Council has confirmed that there will be no collections on Christmas Day or Boxing Day so waste crews can spend time with their families. This means many people will see their usual collection day move.

When collections will not take place

No food waste, recycling, rubbish or garden waste collections will take place on:

• Thursday 25th December

• Friday 26th December

If your normal collection falls between 25th December and 2nd January, it will be collected on a different day.

Christmas and New Year collection dates

Here is how collections are changing over the festive period:

• Monday 22nd December: Normal collection

• Tuesday 23rd December: Normal collection

• Wednesday 24th December: Normal collection

• Thursday 25th December: Collected Saturday 27th December

• Friday 26th December: Collected Monday 29th December

• Monday 29th December: Collected Tuesday 30th December

• Tuesday 30th December: Collected Wednesday 31st December

• Wednesday 31st December: Collected Thursday 1st January

• Thursday 1st January: Collected Friday 2nd January

• Friday 2nd January: Collected Saturday 3rd January

• Monday 5th January: Back to normal

A new collection calendar will be posted to every household. People are advised to check it carefully once it arrives.

You can also check and download your collection dates online using the My Area page.

Clinical waste collections

Anyone with a clinical waste collection due on Christmas Day or Boxing Day will be contacted directly to arrange an alternative collection.

Food waste over Christmas

Food waste continues to be collected separately from rubbish. Items such as turkey bones, vegetable peelings and leftovers can go in the food waste caddy and will be recycled into fertiliser and energy.

Food waste can build up quickly at Christmas, so planning ahead and only buying what will be used can help reduce waste and save money.

If your outdoor food caddy becomes full, extra food waste can be placed in a bag or liner and put out alongside the caddy on collection day.

Recycling tips for the festive period

Christmas cards, envelopes and wrapping paper should go in the orange recycling bag. Decorations such as ribbon, foil, glitter, plastic film, tinsel and bubble wrap must be removed as they cannot be recycled.

If you have extra recycling:

• Cardboard: Flatten, tie into a bundle and leave with recycling

• Plastics, cans and tins: Put in a carrier bag and leave out

• Paper: Put in a carrier bag and leave out

Extra recycling can also be taken to a local Household Waste and Recycling Centre. Households that regularly run out of space can order additional recycling bags and boxes.

Do not put batteries out for collection

Batteries should never be placed in rubbish bins as they have caused fires in collection vehicles.

Residents are advised to:

• Reduce battery use where possible

• Use rechargeable batteries instead of single use

• Recycle used batteries at a Household Waste and Recycling Centre or supermarket recycling point

Christmas tree collections

Christmas trees will only be collected from households that subscribe to the garden waste collection service. Trees should be placed beside the bin or bag on the usual garden waste collection day.

Some local charities may also collect trees. Christmas trees can also be taken to a Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Household Waste and Recycling Centres opening times

Household Waste and Recycling Centres will be open from 9am to 4pm throughout the festive period, except on:

• Christmas Day

• Boxing Day

• New Year’s Day

Commercial waste reminder

Businesses, including holiday lets, must not use household waste and recycling services for commercial waste. It is a legal requirement for holiday let owners to pay a licensed waste carrier to collect and dispose of commercial waste.

This applies whether a property is rented out for part or all of the year.

More information is available on the Commercial Waste Services page.