 Bin collection schedule adjusted over festive period
The regular waste collection dates will be adjusted temporarily over the festive period, from 25 December 2023 to 12 January 2024. Please note:
- There will be no collections on Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing Day (26 December) and New Year's Day (1 January).
- Our crews will work on Saturdays during this period (30 December, 6 January and 13 January), and start earlier at 5.30am.
- Garden waste collections will follow the same revised schedule.
- Normal collections will resume from Monday 15 January.
Check the revised collection schedule on our website.
 Recycling is everyone’s priority
In 2021, we asked what matters most about household waste collections. More than 2,000 of you responded:
- 54 per cent said environmental benefits are most important
- 98 per cent said it's important to reduce our waste
- 86 per cent are willing to recycle more
We know the environmental impact is your biggest concern, you want to produce less waste and you’re willing to recycle more, so this was our priority in developing these changes.
We consulted again in late 2022, this time asking your views on the system we’re adopting. Out of more than 9,000 responses:
- 74 per cent either liked, could accept or were neutral about it
- 78 per cent either liked, could accept or were neutral about wheeled rubbish bins
Reducing and reusing come first
While it’s important to recycle more and throw away less, it’s essential to create less waste in the first place or find new uses for items. This includes:
- only buying things you need and then using them
- avoiding single-use items or excess packaging
- using refillable bottles and other containers
- buying second-hand goods including clothes
- repairing clothes, electrical goods and more instead of replacing them
You can find out more on the Recycle Now website, from the Love Food Hate Waste campaign and on the Love Your Clothes website. There are also two repair cafés in the borough, both in Spencers Wood – find out more here and here.
 Reduce festive food waste
The holiday season is upon us! It is a time for friends and families to come together, meaning there will be an increase in cooking and the number of people we're cooking for.
Here are some tips to cut your food bills and reduce food waste this festive season:
Use a portion calculator
Don't overbuy or cook more than you need! If you want to know how much food you actually need, the food portion calculator is a great place to start. It will tell you how much you’ll need for each food type, in grams as well as other ways of measuring, such as slices or handfuls.
Use your freezer
Your freezer can be your best friend at this time of the year!
Many people throw away food that is close to the use-by date without realising they could freeze it and keep it for later. Food Standards Agency advises that it is safe to freeze food right up until the use-by date.
You can freeze most food. This includes raw and cooked meats, fruit, potatoes (after boiling for five minutes), grated cheese, and eggs. Love Food Hate Waste website has an A-Z on food storage including how to freeze many different types of food.
Reuse your leftovers
Save these creative recipes for reinventing your Christmas leftovers.
If you want to use them later, put them in your freezer within one to two hours after they're cool. A quick tip - splitting them into smaller portions makes it easier to store and defrost.
Watch this video by the environmental charity Hubbub to have your questions about freezing food answered.
 Last repair café for the year
Don't miss the final chance to have your faulty Christmas lights or household items fixed before the year draws to a close!
The last repair café for the year will be held this Sunday (17 December), from 10am to 1pm, at Lambs Lane Primary School (RG7 1YG).
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