Changes to bin collections this Christmas

South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge residents are being asked to check their bin collection dates for the Christmas period.

Bin collections from 26 December to 29 December will be one day later than usual due to bank holidays. However, there will be no changes to collections in January caused by New Year’s Day since it falls on a non-collection day due to the four-day week collection arrangements.

Collections return to their regular scheduled days from Tuesday 2 January.

As usual for this time of year when less garden waste is generated, collections of green bins will switch from their usual fortnightly collection pattern to monthly collections between 19 December until 5 March.

Bin collections across Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire are carried out by the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service (GCSWS), a partnership between Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils. GCSWS collects an average of 400 tonnes of additional waste and recycling after Christmas – the equivalent of 33 double-decker buses.

Executive Councillor for Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity at Cambridge City Council, Cllr Rosy Moore said: “There are lots of small things each of us can do to reduce this extra waste. For example, re-using wrapping paper and gift bags from last year, or using reusable fabric for wrapping gifts instead can cut out some of the 1000 miles of new gift wrap due to be used and thrown away in our area this Christmas.”

Real Christmas trees can be booked in for a charity recycling collection by Arthur Rank Hospice Charity in January at www.arhc.org.uk, taken to Household Recycling Centres around the county, or in Cambridge, dropped off at Cherry Hinton Hall car park. If you can chop yours up, you can also put it in your green bin (as long as the lid closes).

When it comes to the Christmas clean-up, don’t forget the recycling. Cans, bottles, turkey foil, foil trays from pies and any other food packaging needs to be rinsed clean of food and grease before it goes in the recycling bin, otherwise it might mess up the recycling process.

Food itself is another resource which is wasted more than usual at Christmas.

Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cllr Henry Batchelor said: “While many of us are lucky enough to enjoy meals with friends and loved ones at this time of year, let’s remember how precious food is and ensure none of what we have goes to waste. Make space in your freezer for leftovers if you can’t use them up right away and check www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for freezing tips, recipes and portion calculators. Please support the food hubs and foodbanks we have in our area to help feed everyone this Christmas and beyond.”

For more information about waste and recycling including which festive items can be recycled and how, and to see tailored bin collection calendars, Cambridge residents can visit www.cambridge.gov.uk/bins and South Cambridgeshire residents can visit www.scambs.gov.uk/bins