Bank holidays that move bin day (England and Wales)
| Bank holiday | Date | Day | What usually happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | 25 Dec 2026 | Friday | Friday collections move to Saturday 26 Dec or Monday 28 Dec |
| Boxing Day (substitute) | 28 Dec 2026 | Monday | the whole week runs a day or two late |
| New Year's Day | 1 Jan 2027 | Friday | Friday collections move to Saturday 2 Jan |
| Good Friday | 26 Mar 2027 | Friday | many councils collect as normal, some move to Saturday |
| Easter Monday | 29 Mar 2027 | Monday | many councils collect as normal, some run a day late all week |
| Early May bank holiday | 3 May 2027 | Monday | usually collected as normal |
| Spring bank holiday | 31 May 2027 | Monday | usually collected as normal |
| Summer bank holiday | 30 Aug 2027 | Monday | usually collected as normal |
Scotland and Northern Ireland have different bank holidays (for example 2 January in Scotland). Your council's published dates always win.
The usual patterns
- Catch-up days: from the bank holiday onwards, every round moves one day later and Friday's round goes to Saturday.
- Two-week shuffle: over Christmas and New Year some councils move both weeks, by up to two days.
- Business as usual: more councils now collect on most bank holidays, except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Recycling bins fill up fast after Christmas. Flatten boxes and wrapping paper (no foil or glitter) so the lid closes. Many councils take extra recycling in clear bags at the first collection after Christmas.
Christmas trees
Councils usually collect real trees in the first two weeks of January, either with the garden waste bin (cut into pieces) or on special dates. Take off decorations and the stand.
Keep the changed dates in your calendar
A printed schedule only shows the regular days. On Garbage Center you add each change as a day exception (for example *25 December → 28 December, general waste*). The printout, the shared link and the reminder the evening before then show the real date. Step by step in printable bin calendar.
FAQ
Are bins collected on Christmas Eve?
Yes, almost everywhere – Christmas Eve is not a bank holiday. Put the bin out early, crews often start sooner before Christmas.
Are bins collected on bank holidays?
Many councils now collect on most bank holidays. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day are the usual exceptions.
Where do I find my council's Christmas dates?
On the council website (search "bin collections Christmas" with your council name) or in its app. Most publish them in November.
Do I put the bin out again on the new day?
Yes. On the replacement day the usual times apply – out by 7 am in most areas.