Your bin collections
Bin collection days for most residents will be different over Christmas. Click on your normal collection day below to find out more.
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Christmas
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- Waste and recycling at Christmas
Waste and recycling at Christmas
My collection day is...
Tuesday
Your collection days will not change.
If your recycling is due to be collected on 31 December, we'll also take your rubbish if you put your black bin out. This is only over the Christmas period.
Wednesday
Your collection days will be different.
The collection due on 25 December will take place on Friday 27 December instead.
The collection due on 1 January will take place on Thursday 2 January instead.
On the week your recycling is due to be collected, we'll also take your rubbish if you put your black bin out. This is only over the Christmas period.
Thursday
Your collection days will be different.
The collection due on 26 December will take place on Saturday 28 December instead.
The collection due on 2 January will take place on Friday 3 January instead.
On the week your recycling is due to be collected, we'll also take your rubbish if you put your black bin out. This is only over the Christmas period.
Friday
Your collection days will be different.
The collection due on 27 December will take place on Sunday 29 December instead.
The collection due on 3 January will take place on Saturday 4 January instead.
On the week your recycling is due to be collected, we'll also take your rubbish if you put your black bin out. This is only over the Christmas period.
Getting rid of your real Christmas tree
You can have your real Christmas tree collected for the cost of a donation to Teesside Hospice. Your donation will help the hospice to care for local people living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.
Enter your postcode on the Just Helping website to find out if Christmas tree collection is available in your area.
You can arrange a collection online on the Just Helping website. Your tree must be registered by Sunday 5 January 2025.
Trees will be collected between Thursday 9 January 2025 and Saturday 11 January 2025.
Household Waste Recycling Centre
Middlesbrough residents can use the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at Haverton Hill to get rid of excess waste.
You'll need to book an appointment before you go. If you do not have an appointment, you will not be allowed in.
The HWRC opening times are available on the Christmas changes to opening hours page.
Find out more on the HWRC page, including which materials can be recycled.
What to recycle this Christmas
Black bin
Use your black bin for all the general festive waste which you cannot recycle.
Blue lid recycling bin
Wrapping paper: plain wrapping paper which does not contain foil or glitter can be recycled. Don't forget to do the scrunch test - if you scrunch up the paper and it stays scrunched, it can be recycled!
Cardboard: squash or fold all your cardboard flat to make more room in your recycling bin.
Tins and cans: rinse and put in your recycling bin.
Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, and trays: rinse and put in your recycling bin.
Glass bottles and jars: empty out, rinse, and put in your recycling bin. Please put the lid back on when you've rinsed them out.
Christmas recycling tips
Fold larger cardboard boxes flat and keep hold of them until the new year - you'll have more space in your recycling bin after the Christmas period!
Take unwanted Christmas gifts to a charity shop or sell them online - one man's trash is another man's treasure!
Recycle your cardboard crackers, paper hats, and paper tablecloths. They can go in your blue lid bin along with any other paper and cardboard.
Save money and paper by sending a Christmas e-card. There are lots of free versions available online, and some of them even include some cheery festive tunes for the ultimate Christmas experience!
If you have toys which are no longer played with, give them to charity for another child to enjoy. This also helps to make space for any new toys which Santa might be bringing!
Love food, hate waste
More food is thrown away at Christmas than at any other time of year. With some creative thinking, careful planning, and making room in your fridge or freezer, there's loads of ways to use up all the leftovers, from the turkey to the sprouts!
For recipe inspiration and more tips on using up leftovers:
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