With Christmas and New Year bank holidays fast approaching, London's waste collection schedules are set for their annual festive shake-up. Refuse crews, like everyone else, are taking a well-earned break on the public holidays, meaning collection days will be altered across the capital's boroughs.
Key Changes for the Festive Period
There will be no collections on Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day), Friday 26 December (Boxing Day), or Thursday 1 January 2026 (New Year's Day). This means residents whose usual collection falls on these dates must take note of the revised schedules to ensure their bins are emptied. The changes affect general waste, recycling, and often garden waste services too.
While the specific alterations vary from council to council, the disruption typically lasts for several weeks, with normal service resuming by mid-January. Many local authorities are also offering special Christmas tree recycling collections, either via garden waste services or at designated drop-off points.
Borough-by-Borough Schedule Breakdown
Below is a summary of the key changes for London boroughs. Residents are advised to check their local council's website for the most precise information.
North & East London
In Barnet, collections from Monday 22 to Thursday 25 December are brought forward, with Christmas Day pick-ups moving to Christmas Eve. In Hackney, Christmas Day collections move to Saturday 27 December, and Boxing Day to Sunday 28 December. Waltham Forest follows a common pattern: Thursday 25 December moves to Saturday 27 December, Friday 26 December to Monday 29 December, with subsequent delays through early January.
Redbridge sees extensive changes running until 17 January, while Havering and Newham have similar multi-week revised timetables. Barking and Dagenham has published a detailed list, with Christmas Day collections shifting to Monday 29 December.
Central & West London
Westminster will have a special Saturday collection on 27 December for those who usually have a Thursday service. In Kensington and Chelsea, Christmas Day collections are delayed until Monday 29 December. Hammersmith and Fulham has published a full list, moving 25 December to 27 December and 26 December to 28 December.
Ealing and Hounslow have complex schedules with multiple delays. In Hillingdon, Christmas Eve collections come forward to 23 December, while Christmas Day moves to Christmas Eve.
South London
Croydon and Merton have identical changes: Christmas Day collections move to Saturday 27 December, Boxing Day to Monday 29 December, with further adjustments into the New Year. Lambeth has simpler changes, with Thursday and Friday collections in holiday weeks moving to the following day.
In Wandsworth, Christmas Day moves to Boxing Day, and Boxing Day to 27 December. Sutton is offering a free Christmas tree collection from 30 December.
Christmas Tree Disposal and Other Services
Many councils are facilitating real Christmas tree recycling. For example, Camden has recycling points open from 2-11 January, while Hackney lists several park drop-off sites. Bexley and Greenwich will collect trees via the garden waste service for subscribed residents, provided decorations are removed and trees are prepared correctly.
Residents should also note that bulky waste collections, recycling centres, and other services like clinical waste may be suspended or altered over the bank holidays. The overarching message from all boroughs is to check the specific details for your area and ensure bins are put out by 6am on the correct revised day.
