Waste and recycling collection arrangements for the festive season in West Northants

05 December 2025

With the festive season fast approaching, residents are advised on 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 that residents can continue to recycle and dispose of their Christmas waste. West Northamptonshire Council is encouraging residents to familiarise themselves with the information below: 

Collection changes
The public holidays will affect households on a Thursday or Friday bin collection this year, as follows: 

Daventry area (collected by West Northamptonshire Norse) 

• Collections due Thursday 25 December will take place on Saturday 27 December
• Collections due Friday 26 December will take place on Sunday 28 December
• Collections due Thursday 1 January will take place on Saturday 3 January.

South Northants area (collected by WNC’s in-house service)

• Collections due Thursday 25 December will take place on Saturday 27 December
• Collections due Friday 26 December will take place on Monday 29 December
• Collections due Thursday 1 January will take place on Saturday 3 January.

Northampton area (Collected by Veolia)

• Collections due Thursday 25 December will take place on Saturday 27 December

Downloadable bin calendars that detail the collection arrangements for the year ahead are now available on the Council’s website and residents can also download the free West Northamptonshire Council app from the Apple or Google Play stores    to check collections, what goes in which bin and set regular reminders.
Additional recycling  
If residents have more recycling than their bin can handle, please put it in clear plastic bags or boxes and present it alongside their recycling bins or boxes. This can also be taken to their nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre by booking in advance on the online booking system.

 Residents are reminded batteries of any kind should never be put into bins. Instead place your used batteries in a plastic bag and recycle in the following way:

• In the former Daventry area - place on top of your black bin
• In Northampton - place on top of your recycling bin
• In South - place on either bin

Alternatively they can take used batteries to a Recycling Centre or back to the retailer.

Household Waste Recycling Centres  
WNC recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, and will close early on Christmas Eve, at 2pm. 
With those exceptions they will be open from 10am to 4pm as usual, offering a great way to dispose of a range of materials, from excess household waste, to recycling and larger items that can’t be collected as part of your kerbside collection service.
Please remember you must book a slot in advance on our booking system

Garden waste
Garden waste will be suspended from Monday 22 December through to Sunday 4 January across the whole of West Northamptonshire. 

Real tree collections  
Crews will collect real Christmas trees for composting from Monday 5 January through to Friday 16 January, on the normal garden bin collection round. Please note, you do not need to subscribe to the garden waste subscription service to have your real Christmas tree collected.  

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

Food waste  
Food waste bins will continue to be collected on their usual weekly schedule. Please 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. 

“A big thank you to our collection and street cleaning crews, as well as the dedicated staff at our waste and recycling centres. Their commitment ensures residents receive an essential service all year round, whatever the weather.
"At this time of year, recycling and waste levels often increase, so I ask everyone to please dispose of items responsibly, whether through household recycling bins or at one of our six recycling centres. Please remember to book ahead before visiting an HWRC, and if you’re unsure about how to correctly dispose of your waste, check our website or the WNC app for guidance."Cllr Nigel Stansfield, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste at West Northamptonshire Council

For more information about collections together with top tips for reducing your waste and recycling more this Christmas on our waste and recycling pages