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Waste and recycling collections - Christmas and New Year

Check your festive waste and recycling calendar as some dates are changing over Christmas.

  • If your collection would fall on Wednesday 25 December – it will be collected on Monday 23 December
  • If your collection would fall on Thursday 26 December – it will be collected on Saturday 28 December
  • If your collection would fall on Wednesday 1 January – it will be collected on Saturday 4 January
    All other collection days remain the same.

Please help our crews collect as much recyclable material as possible and reduce contamination by taking a moment to check items are in the appropriate container:

Recycling at Christmas

We can collect & recycle

  • Tin foil and foil trays. Please rinse them first
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Food waste and cooking oil. For tips on how you can reduce food waste this Christmas visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com  Why not start composting food waste next year? Learn how to get started here Compost bins
  • Some wrapping paper and Christmas cards. To check whether wrapping paper is recyclable try the scrunch test – if it returns to its original shape after being scrunched in a ball it’s not recyclable and should be reused or placed in your general waste. Cards with glitter on cannot be recycled. Please remove all bows and ribbons (you can reuse them next year)
  • Most plastics, such as food containers. If in doubt, please refer to the guide on our website Types of plastic and how to recycle them

We can’t recycle:

  • Soft plastics such as the wrapping on turkeys and ready meals, bread bags etc. Many supermarkets have collection points
  • Flexible foil packaging such as crisp packets and coffee pouches. Many supermarkets have collection points
  • Batteries and vapes. Many supermarkets have collection points
  • Small electricals, such as broken toys or Christmas lights. Some electrical retailers have collection points. If toys are in working order they can be donated to a charity shop; if they are broken why not take them to a repair cafe?
  • Broken baubles and broken glass. Please place inside your general waste bin or well wrapped in your beige bag
  • Blister packs, such as empty paracetamol or ibuprofen packets. Some stores including Superdrug and Boots will collect these
  • Polystyrene or foam packaging. Please place in your general waste bin. Polystyrene can be used in the bottom of plant pots to reduce the amount of compost needed
  • Empty balloon gas canisters. Please take these to the collection point at a Household Recycling Centre. Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) | Gloucestershire Recycles
  • Corks. Why not use them for crafting or send them to Recorked to be recycled? Recorked UK | UK Wine Cork Recycling Scheme | Buy Used Wine Corks
  • Real Christmas trees. But we have partnered with Longfield Hospice who will collect your tree for a donation and recycle it  https://longfield.org.uk/our-event/christmas-tree-recycling-2024-25
  • Clothing. Please donate to a charity shop, or a charity collection bin – you can find these in many supermarket car parks.

Household Recycling Centre opening times

All visits to Household Recycling Centres must be pre-booked. For the latest information view www.gloucestershirerecycles.com

Bad weather

If your waste or recycling is not collected due to snow or icy conditions, please leave it at the kerbside for two days (including Saturday but not Sunday)

If we do not return within this period, please take it back in and wait until your next scheduled collection.