Changes to Christmas and New Year bin collections across the borough

Wednesday, 24 December 2025 12:32

By David Murphy

Residents are being reminded that bin collections will follow a revised schedule over Christmas and New Year, with garden waste services paused and most other collection days temporarily moved.

Brown bin collections will be suspended from 22 December to 4 January due to lower levels of garden waste at this time of year. The pause allows crews to focus on grey, green and blue bins, which often fill more quickly during the festive period.

For most households, collection dates for other bins will change as follows.

Tuesday 23 December will move to Monday 22 December
Wednesday 24 December will move to Tuesday 23 December
Thursday 25 December will move to Wednesday 24 December
Friday 26 December will move to Monday 29 December
Tuesday 30 December will remain unchanged
Wednesday 31 December will remain unchanged
Thursday 1 January will move to Friday 2 January
Friday 2 January will move to Saturday 3 January

Residents are asked to place bins at the usual collection point by 7am on the revised day, with all waste fitting inside the bin and lids fully closed. Extra bags left alongside bins will not be collected.

Household waste and recycling centres will remain open throughout the festive period, with the exception of 25 December and 1 January. Any additional waste that does not fit inside bins can be taken to these sites.

Residents are also encouraged to make the most of bin space by flattening cardboard and recycling and squeezing air out of bagged rubbish. Plastic pots, tubs and trays can now be recycled in the blue bin rather than placed in the grey bin.

Councillor Alan Quinn, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change at Bury Council, said crews would be working to the revised timetable throughout the festive period.

He said collection teams would do everything possible to keep services running but warned that winter weather or illness could still cause disruption. If this happens, residents are asked to leave bins out so they can be emptied as soon as possible.

To help crews complete rounds efficiently, residents are asked to put bins out with the handles facing the road and to park vehicles where they do not block access for collection wagons.

If an entire street is missed, crews will already be aware and will return as soon as possible. Individual missed bins can be reported online through the council website.