Residents across Tameside are being advised of important changes to their household waste and recycling collections over the upcoming Christmas and New Year period. While bin crews will continue their hard work throughout the holidays, several temporary adjustments to the schedule will be in place to accommodate the public holidays.
Revised Collection Dates for Christmas and New Year
The council has confirmed there will be no brown bin (garden waste) collections from Thursday, December 25 until Wednesday, January 7 inclusive. This measure is designed to ensure enough staff are available to manage the backlog following Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.
For other bins, the following specific changes apply:
Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day) – No collections. If your green (general waste) bin was due, it will now be collected on Monday, December 29. Black (commingled recycling) and blue (paper recycling) bins will be collected on Wednesday, December 31.
Friday, December 26 (Boxing Day) – No collections. Affected green bins move to Tuesday, December 30. Black and blue bins will be collected on Friday, January 2.
Thursday, January 1 (New Year's Day) – No collections. Green bins will be emptied on Monday, January 5. Black and blue bins will be collected on Tuesday, January 6.
All other scheduled green, black, and blue bin collections during the festive period are expected to run as normal.
Christmas Tree Recycling and Extra Waste
Residents with real Christmas trees have two eco-friendly disposal options. Firstly, they can register for a charitable collection in aid of Willow Wood Hospice, running from January 5 to 9, 2026. Registration must be completed via the Just Helping website by 11.59pm on January 4.
Alternatively, trees can be chopped up and placed in the brown bin for collection when services resume from January 8. The council reminds everyone to remove all decorations first.
Households with additional recyclable materials over the busy period can leave them out in a clear or clearly labelled bag beside their black or blue bin for collection.
Council Thanks Residents and Crews
Councillor Laura Boyle, Tameside Council’s executive member for environmental services and neighbourhoods, commented on the arrangements. She stated that despite the holiday changes, disruption should be minimal provided residents check the revised dates.
“I want to thank all the residents who protect the environment by recycling,” said Cllr Boyle. “Their efforts mean the amount of waste we send for disposal is as small as possible. Finally, I want to extend my thanks to our bin crews who work so hard not only over Christmas, but throughout the year and in all conditions.”
The council also requests that residents park considerately to ensure waste collection vehicles can access all roads and areas without obstruction.
For the most up-to-date information, residents are encouraged to download the free Tameside bin app or visit the council's recycling webpage. The app allows users to check collection dates, set reminders, and report any issues.
