If you live in Epsom & Ewell, it’s key to know how your household rubbish collections, recycling and waste services change over the Christmas and New Year holidays — especially when bins tend to be fuller than usual. Here’s the latest guidance to keep your waste collection running smoothly and avoid missed collections.

🎄 Christmas Week Bin Collection Dates

During Christmas week, normal collection schedules are affected by the holiday break:

• There are no refuse (black bin) collections during Christmas week.
• Only these bins should be put out on your usual day:
  Recycling (green bin), glass recycling and food waste.
• Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall in the week of usual collections, so your bin day will shift — check your Christmas collection label or online calendar for exact revised dates. epsom-ewell.gov.uk

👉 The council will place a label on your bin handle in November/December with your specific collection dates.

🥂 New Year’s Week Collections

Good news — in New Year’s week, collections restart:

• Refuse collections (black bins) start again as normal.
• Recycling, glass and food waste continue.
• However, some collection days may still be adjusted around New Year’s Day — so double-check the dates on your bin label or at the council’s recycling and waste webpage.

🌿 Garden Waste & Bulky Waste Services

If you subscribe to the council’s garden waste collection service, be aware:

• No garden waste or bulky waste collections take place during Christmas week or New Year’s week.
• Normal services for these bins resume on Monday 5 January 2026.

♻️ What Goes in Your Bins?

Here’s a quick guide to what you can recycle and when:

🟢 Recycling bin (weekly):
Paper, cardboard, cans, plastics (pots, tubs, trays), metal tins.
Always put recycling in the bin loose, not bagged — bags can cause loads to be rejected. epsom-ewell.gov.uk

🟦 Glass recycling: Glass bottles and jars in your separate recycling box. epsom-ewell.gov.uk

🟡 Food waste caddy: Food waste is collected weekly — please line and contain food in your caddy. epsom-ewell.gov.uk

⚫ Refuse bin: General household waste in your black bin — put it out on your usual day unless altered by the Christmas/New Year schedule. epsom-ewell.gov.uk

🌳 Garden waste (brown bin): Fortnightly collections resume after New Year’s week for subscribers only.

🎄 Real Christmas Tree Recycling

In January, the council offers free real Christmas tree recycling as part of the fortnightly service — just:

• Remove all decorations
• Leave the whole tree next to your bins on your scheduled tree recycling day

Check your bin label or online schedule for the correct date for your street.

📍 Reminders & Tips

📌 Put bins out by 6:30am on your collection day and leave them visible at the edge of your property. epsom-ewell.gov.uk
📌 If weather or holidays affect your collection, the council may make adjustments — always check the online bin collection calendar before the holidays. epsom-ewell.gov.uk
📌 If a bin is missed, you should report it promptly via the council’s waste collections today portal so crews can return when possible.

🔍 Where to Find Exact Dates for Your Road

Because the Christmas and New Year schedules vary by street, the council advises residents to:

➡ Visit the official online Christmas and New Year collections page
👉 https://epsom-ewell.gov.uk/residents/recycling-and-waste/christmas-and-new-year-collections epsom-ewell.gov.uk

For Banstead & Reigate dates and information, please visit here:

https://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/recycling-refuse

There you can view any updates, collection changes and details of what to put out and when.

🗣️ Final Note

Getting your recycling and rubbish collections right over the Christmas and New Year period helps crews work efficiently and ensures your neighbourhood stays clean and tidy during the festive season. Planning ahead now — checking your bin label, knowing what goes in each bin, and understanding the adjusted schedule — will save you stress when the holidays arrive!