‘Tis the season to recycle: Christmas bin arrangements

30 November 2023

With the festive season fast approaching, we are advising residents of the arrangements for waste and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year period.

Waste and recycling collection crews will be working throughout the festive season to make sure services are delivered on time and with no delays.

You can keep on top of bin collections throughout the year by downloading the West Northamptonshire Council app from Google Play or the Apple App Store

You can also download a bin calendar with information about waste and recycling arrangements for your area

Collection day changes

Due to the public holidays, some properties will have a change in the day of their collections over the festive period. 

• Daventry area collections due to take place on Monday 25 December will instead take place on Saturday 23 December, while collections due on Tuesday 26 December will take place on Sunday 24 December. Collections due on Monday 1 January will take place on Saturday 30 December. All other collections will take place on their normal days. 
• Northampton area collections due on Monday 25 December will instead take place on Saturday 30 December. All other collections will take place on their normal days. 
• South Northamptonshire area collections due on Tuesday 26 December, will instead take place on Saturday 23 December. All other collections will take place on their normal days.   

Garden waste

Those subscribed to the service are advised there will be a short break in collections from 23 December until 5 January.

Real tree collections  

Crews will collect real Christmas trees between 8 and 19 January. You do not need a garden waste subscription to take advantage of this.  

Residents in the Daventry and South Northants areas should put real Christmas trees out on the day garden waste is due to be collected in their area.  

In the Northampton area trees should be put out next to recycling bins, while those on sack collections can present trees beside their recycling boxes on their collection day.  

Please ensure trees over 6ft tall are cut in half so they fit in the lorries safely. They can also be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre

Food waste  

Please continue to make good use of your regular food waste collection. Remember you can recycle leftover raw and cooked foods, including veg peelings, egg shells, out-of-date food, plate scrapings, solid fats, meat and fish bones. Do not put any liquids in the caddy. Read our top tips for reducing your food waste this Christmas

Household Waste Recycling Centres  

These are open as usual throughout the festive period except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, when they will be closed. Centres will also close early on Christmas Eve, at 2pm.  

Additional recycling  

If you have more recycling than your bin can handle, you can put it in clear plastic bags or boxes and present it alongside your recycling bins or boxes. You can also take this to your nearest HWRC.  

Find out more

Find more information about collections together with top tips for reducing your waste and making the most of your recycling service this Christmas