Christmas and New Year bin collections 2026/2027

When will my bin be collected over Christmas?

Your rubbish and recycling collections over the festive period will be different from your usual day of the week. Our collection days will return to normal from Monday 11 January.

Remember:

• we will collect up to two extra sacks of rubbish beside your bin on your first rubbish collection after Christmas Day
• no garden waste collections will take place from Christmas Day until Friday 8 January 2027
• household recycling centres are open from 9am to 4pm daily, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
• extra recycling, including glass and food, will be collected on your recycling collection day, provided it has been separated correctly and placed in a suitable waterproof sturdy container (no bags or cardboard boxes) that can be easily lifted by one person
• please help our crews by putting your glass out for collection before Christmas. This ensures you have as much space as possible in your glass box, helping prevent over spilling containers, and reduces the amount of extra glass we collect over the busy festive period

Festive recycling

Many households produce extra waste over the festive period, but much of it can be recycled using your kerbside Recycle for Dorset service. Remember that you can recycle:

• cooked and uncooked food, using your food waste bin
• wrapping paper, Christmas cards (no glitter paper)
• plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays 
• glass bottles and jars (please keep glass separate)
• cardboard and recyclable packaging (not polystyrene)
• carton and foil

See what items can be recycled.

Christmas trees

Dorset Council does not collect Christmas trees of any kind with rubbish or recycling at the kerbside.

You can recycle your real Christmas tree by:

• home composting it
• cutting it up and placing it in your garden waste bin
• taking it to a household recycling centre
• booking a Christmas tree collection with a Dorset-based charity or service