This festive season in Leeds, bin collection days will shift from 22 December to 5 January, with services paused on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, while residents can enjoy increased recycling options for glass in green bins. Additionally, local hospices, St Gemma’s and Sue Ryder, will offer convenient Christmas tree collection services in early January, helping to support community care.
What are the Leeds Christmas bin collection schedule changes and recycling reminders?
During the festive season, Leeds bin collection days will change from 22 December to 5 January. Services are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day but extended on other days. Glass recycling is now accepted in green bins. For Christmas tree disposal, St Gemma’s and Sue Ryder offer collection services in early January. Check the Leeds Bins app or council website for specifics.
Bin Collection Changes During the Festive Season
The holiday season is a bustling time, and Leeds City Council is committed to ensuring that waste services continue with as little disruption as possible. In light of the forthcoming Christmas period, changes to bin collection days have been announced, affecting the usual schedule from Sunday 22 December to Sunday 5 January. All residents are advised to take note of these changes to avoid any inconvenience. The Leeds Bins app and the council’s website provide updated collection day information. Additionally, residents can expect to receive a leaflet with all the necessary details.
During the Christmas holidays, bin collection services will be closed on three specific days: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. On all other days, including Sundays, the crews will be operational. This extended service is part of the council’s effort to manage the increase in waste production during the festive season and ensure that bins do not remain full for extended periods.
To accommodate any excess waste, household waste recycling centres will be open daily, barring the three public holidays mentioned above, from 8am to 4pm. It’s a good opportunity for residents to dispose of any additional non-recyclable waste accumulated during the holiday festivities.
The Push for Glass Recycling
This Christmas, Leeds City Council is putting a spotlight on glass recycling. A significant update for Leeds residents is the integration of glass recycling into the green bin collection. The move has led to a notable increase in glass being recycled – from 43% to 68%. In October alone, nearly 900 tonnes of glass, equating to around two million wine bottles or 5.5 million beer bottles, were collected and recycled. Over 82% of this glass has been melted down into new bottles and jars right here in Yorkshire.
Despite these impressive figures, a considerable amount of glass – 32% – is still improperly disposed of in the black general waste bins. With the festive season typically generating more glass waste, the council is keen to encourage residents to redirect all their glass bottles and jars to the green bin or make use of one of the 700+ bottle banks scattered across the city.
The successful recycling of glass not only supports the environment; it also contributes to carbon savings. By recycling glass locally, over 100 tonnes of carbon are saved monthly – a critical step towards a more sustainable city.
Support Local Hospices with Christmas Tree Collections
Post-Christmas waste does not just include packaging and leftovers; there’s also the issue of what to do with Christmas trees. In a generous collaboration to support local hospices, St Gemma’s and Sue Ryder hospices are offering Christmas tree collection services in early January. Residents can book online to have their trees collected from their doorstep, making the disposal process convenient and contributing to a good cause.
St Gemma’s Hospice, with its Treecycling service, will be available for bookings covering various Leeds postcodes from 9-16 January. Meanwhile, Sue Ryder’s collection service runs from 9-14 January and covers an extensive range of postcodes not just in Leeds but also in the surrounding areas. Their booking site can be found at Sue Ryder Christmas Treecycling Leeds.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment, and green space, is urging residents to remain conscientious about bin days and recycling during this festive period. “We hope everyone in Leeds has a fantastic and enjoyable Christmas period to come,” he says, reminding us that while it is “the most wonderful time of the year,” it is also when “household bins get full.” Councillor Rafique expresses gratitude to the staff working tirelessly over the holidays to manage waste and keep recycling sites operational. After the celebrations, he encourages households to support local hospices by utilizing their Christmas tree collecting services.
The council’s dedication to maintaining waste services during this busy time, the new glass recycling initiative, and the support for local hospices all reflect the broader commitment to sustainability and community support that are hallmarks of Leeds City Council’s work.
For media enquiries regarding this press release, please contact Leeds City Council’s communication team via email at communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk or by phone at 0113 378 6007.
- Leeds bin collection days will change from December 22 to January 5, with services closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
- Glass recycling is now accepted in green bins, resulting in an increase in glass recycling rates from 43% to 68%.
- Household waste recycling centres will remain open daily, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, from 8 am to 4 pm.
- St Gemma’s and Sue Ryder hospices are offering Christmas tree collection services in early January to support community care.
- The council emphasizes the importance of proper recycling during the festive season to reduce waste and support sustainability efforts.