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Christmas 2025

Please read this information carefully as your waste and recycling collection day may change for the Christmas period

Remember, whilst your black bin collection day may change over the Christmas period, it is still a fortnightly (alternate weeks) collection. Please therefore check whether or not it is your black bin collection week when looking at which dates apply to your household for domestic waste collections.
If your black bin is collected w/c 8 December your next black bin collection will be w/c 22 December.
If your black bin is collected w/c 15 December your next black bin collection will be w/c 29 December.

The closed lid and no side waste policy still applies to all households in Gloucester throughout this time.

From Monday 1 December, the domestic waste crews will be hanging a Christmas information leaflet on your black bin or sack. The leaflet is also available to view here.

Black refuse sack collections

If you present your waste in a black refuse sack, please see information below:

If your collection was due on: Revised black refuse sack collection date: Revised recycling and food waste collection date:
Monday 22 December No change No change
Friday 26 December Monday 29 December Saturday 3 January 
Monday 29 December Tuesday 30 December No change
Friday 2 January Saturday 3 January Saturday 3 January


Additional recycling

We ask residents to hold onto recycling and spread it across collections where possible. However we will accept additional recycling from Monday 29 December until Saturday 3 January 2026.

If you have extra recycling over the Christmas period, please see below how to present it. The sorted recycling policy still applies:

  • Glass:
    Use recycling box(es) only (do not overfill, as heavy boxes will not be emptied)
  • Plastic trays and bottles, cans, tins, foil and empty aerosols:
    Inside clear plastic bag (such as a carrier bag)
    *no black plastic, plastic wrappings or film
  • Paper and thin card:
    Use your blue sack.     We only accept cards and wrapping paper that do not contain glitter or foil/plastic style. Some charities collect Christmas cards. Think about reusing wrapping paper and turning cards into gift tags.
  • Cardboard:
    Cut it down to the size of the sack and bundle or tie it up neatly. Please keep it dry until it is collected.
    *no polystyrene or other non-paper-based packaging
  • Food waste:
    Either present both (kitchen and outdoor) caddies, or double bag food waste in clear bags and place it on top of your outdoor caddy.
  • Small electrical items (WEEE):
    Please present items on the lid of your recycling box - w    e will make every effort to collect small electrical items, but will be prioritising the collection of other recycling. If your small electrical item is not collected, please don't contact us. Re-present it on your next collection.


Real Christmas trees 

Robinswood Hill

From Monday 5 January until Sunday 11 January 2026, between 8.30am to 5pm, you can take your real tree (all decorations must be removed) to Robinswood Hill car park, GL4 6SX where you'll be able to leave it in an allocated location (do not leave it in any other place as this will be classed as fly-tipping).

Eastern Avenue Depot

From Monday 5 January until Friday 9 January 2026 between 9:00am to 3:30pm (excluding weekends), you can take your real tree (all decorations must be removed) to our Depot (Ubico) at Eastern Avenue, GL4 6PG.  Trees should be left in the designated area in the visitors car park. 

Any trees that are left at either location will be chipped, composted and used in parks and open spaces across the city.

Longfield Community Hospice tree collection

Longfield Community Hospice will collect and recycle your real tree for a donation to their hospice care. They will be collecting trees between 10 January and 13 January 2026. Have a look at their website for more information and to see whether your postcode is covered - you can also take a look at their information leaflet.

Garden waste

If you subscribe to the garden waste service, you can chop up your real Christmas tree and put in your green garden waste bin (please make sure all decorations are removed and the lid of your bin is closed). 
Note that collections are suspended in December and January - the service will resume from 1 February 2026.


Artificial Christmas trees

If you have an artificial Christmas tree, please store it to use next year. 


Bulky item collection

Collections are suspended from Monday 22 December until Friday 2 January.

The service will resume from Monday 5 January 2026. You can still call or book online during this time to arrange a collection once they resume.