Christmas and New Year waste and recycling collections

Christmas is a time when many of us produce more waste and recycling from wrapping paper, cards, and other gift packaging. You can recycle these materials yourself at home, or by making use of our waste and recycling services.

Cllr Paul Baker, cabinet member for waste, recycling and green open spaces, said: “Christmas often brings extra waste, but it’s also a great opportunity to recycle more and support those in need. The more we recycle, the more donations our service provider Plan-B makes to Cheltenham’s foodbanks, which is especially important at this time of year, and it reduces the cost of waste going to the incinerator.

“Wrapping paper, cards and packaging from gifts can quickly fill up our bins, but many of these items can be recycled or even reused. Of course, some items are non-recyclable and will have to go into the general waste, but if we can, let’s remember to recycle as much as possible.

“Please make sure brown paper goes into the blue bag with cardboard, not with paper recycling, and check that wrapping paper passes the scrunch test. If it stays scrunched when squeezed, it doesn't contain foil and can be put into the kerbside recycling box. If it springs back, it contains foil and cannot be recycled.

“I’d also remind residents to check their collection dates carefully, especially residents who would normally have a collection on Thursday 25 December 2025, as this has been brought forward by five days and will take place on Saturday 20 December 2025. Once again this year we have tried to keep changes to collection dates to a minimum.”

Christmas and New Year revised waste and recycling collection dates

Please note that in some areas refuse and recycling collections take place as early as 7am so please make sure that your bins and boxes are presented at the kerbside by this time.
Full information is available on our recycling webpages.

Christmas and new year bank holiday collection changes 2025/26:

Normal collections resume Monday 5 January 2026.

Garden waste collections will be suspended at the end of Friday 12 December 2025 and will resume from Monday 12 January 2026. Please note the above dates are subject to change.

Find out information about how to recycle Christmas trees (either through Sue Ryer's Christmas treecycling collection service, at the kerbside or drop-off points), Christmas lights, cards, wrapping paper and other Christmas items.

Excess recycling can be taken to one of the bring bank sites located around the town or to Wingmoor Farm recycling centre.

For media enquiries, contact: communications, telephone 01242 264231, email [email protected].