TAMESIDE households are being advised to double check their bin schedules over the festive season as alterations come into effect across Christmas and New Year.
Bin crews will continue working throughout the holidays but several rounds are being shuffled to compensate for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day falling on collection days.
Brown bins won’t be collected at all between December 25 and January 7, with staff redeployed to help keep the service on track during the busiest time of year.
Across the three bank holidays, no collections will take place, and households will instead see their bins emptied on alternative days.
Thursday, December 25
Green bins – Monday, December 29
Black or blue bins – Wednesday, December 31
Friday, December 26
Green bins – Tuesday, December 30
Black or blue bins – Friday, January 2
Thursday, January 1
Green bins – Monday, January 5
Black or blue bins – Tuesday, January 6
All other scheduled collections will run as normal.
Residents who regularly find themselves forgetting collection days can download the free Tameside bin app – which includes reminders, calendars and a reporting tool for missed bins.
Support Willow Wood by recycling your Christmas tree
Anyone who has a real Christmas tree can help raise money for Willow Wood Hospice, by making a donation and leaving your tree outside your home for it to be collected and recycled.
Trees can be collected between January 5 and 9 by registering online at www.just-helping.org.uk/register-tree before 11.59pm on January 4, 2026.
For those preferring to handle it themselves, chopped-up trees can go straight in the brown bin once collections resume on January 8 – as long as all decorations have been removed.
Crews will also take extra recyclable waste over Christmas as long as it’s left in clear or clearly-labelled bags next to blue or black bins.
With narrow streets often causing issues at this time of year, residents are being urged to park considerately so wagons can reach every household.
Councillor Laura Boyle, Tameside Council’s executive member for environmental services and neighbourhoods, acknowledged the effort involved in keeping things moving throughout winter.
“Despite the holiday changes, people shouldn’t see too much disruption over Christmas, but please make sure you check the dates so you know the right day for the right bin,” she said.
“In addition, and on behalf of the council, I want to thank all the residents who protect the environment by recycling. 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.”
Further details on local recycling services can be found on Tameside Council’s website.