Say hello to Sandy our eco elf!

We’d like to introduce Sandy – our cheeky elf who Santa has sent to check we all 'recycle right'.

He’ll report back to the man in red and, if we follow Sandy’s tips below, we shouldn’t end up on the 'naughty list'!

Sandy has also made all the boys and girls a poster they can colour in and display on their bins – download the colouring in poster today.

Christmas bin collection dates

There are changes to bin collection days over the Christmas and New Year period.

All bins over the Christmas week will be collected two days later than usual and New Year’s week will see all bins collected one day later than usual.

The changes mean that bin collections will operate on Wednesday 27 December through to Sunday 31 December, then Tuesday 2 January through to Saturday 6 January.

All bin collections will go back to their usual collection date from Monday 8 January.

More details on Christmas bin collections

Blue lid bin recycling From empty chocolate tubs to the bottles of fizz, you can put a wide-range of items in your blue lid bin this Christmas. Avoid buying metallic and glittery wrapping paper as it can’t be recycled. Find out what else you can and can’t recycle in Sandwell. To make more room in your bin, flatten, cut or rip up your cardboard boxes and crush your cans and plastic bottles. Also, pop your recycling loose in the bin – no bags please.

Food waste Sandy says the UK discards a whopping 54 million platefuls of food over the festive period! As the run-up to Christmas starts, think about the food you are buying and how much might go to waste. Make a list and check it twice so that you don’t buy food you don’t need. We have food waste saving tips on our website. Any avoidable food waste, such as veg peelings and turkey bones, can be recycled in your food waste bin. Find out what types of food can be recycled. Sign up to free weekly food waste collections.

Visit the tip Did you know that each year enough Christmas lights are thrown away to wrap around the earth almost 12 times? Any lights that can't be fixed should be recycled. You can take them, and other old electricals, to the tip in Oldbury. Never put electricals or batteries in your bins at home. Find out what can be recycled at the tip The centre, in Shidas Lane Oldbury, is open from 8am-4pm every day. The only days it will be closed are Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Book a visit to the tip online.

Garden waste

If you’re subscribed to garden waste collections for 2023, they will be finishing soon for the winter. 

Depending on where you are in borough, your last collection will be either the week beginning 18 December or the week beginning 25 December. If your collections are due the Christmas week, please remember that your bin day is two days later than usual.

You will be able to register for garden waste collections in the New Year ready for when bin collections restart over a two-week period from 18 March 2024.

Find your collection dates and answers to frequently asked questions about garden waste.

Christmas Treecycling

A number of local charities are offering to collect real Christmas trees in return for a donation. Volunteers collect the trees and the charity provider will vary across the borough.

Check if your area is covered for Christmas Treecycling.

Your donation will help hospice charities provide specialist palliative care to people living with life-limiting illnesses, and their families, across the region.

Alternatively, take your real Christmas tree to the tip for free. Find out the tip opening hours and book a slot.

Or you can cut it up and put it in your green waste bin ready for your first garden waste collection in the spring.