Birmingham City Council has confirmed a series of important changes to household waste and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year period. The adjustments are designed to help residents manage increased festive waste while accounting for reduced staffing on public holidays.
Revised Collection Dates for Christmas and Boxing Day
The council has confirmed that collections scheduled for Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be rescheduled. No pickups will take place on these two bank holidays.
If your normal collection day is Wednesday, 25th December (Christmas Day), your bins will instead be emptied on Friday, 27th December. Residents are asked to place their bins out early to assist the waste teams.
For households with a Thursday, 26th December (Boxing Day) collection, the new pickup date will be Saturday, 28th December. The council strongly advises residents to verify their specific street schedule using the online council portal to prevent any missed collections.
Rules for Extra Festive Waste and Recycling
Recognising the surge in packaging and general waste, the council will allow a temporary concession. On the first collection after Christmas, up to two extra bags of general waste will be collected alongside the standard grey bin. These bags must be securely tied and placed directly beside the bin.
Excess cardboard can also be left for recycling. To help the crews, residents should flatten or cut down large boxes, bundle them neatly, and place them beside their green-lid recycling pod or blue bin.
How to Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree
Once the festivities end, real Christmas trees can be recycled through the council's dedicated service. Residents have two main options: they can book a slot at a Household Recycling Centre or use designated local "drop-off" points. This ensures the trees are composted properly.
All Household Recycling Centres across the city will be closed on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. For visits on other dates during the busy period, an advance booking is mandatory.
The council has reiterated that the allowance for extra side waste is a temporary exception only for the first post-Christmas collection. At all other times, the standard rules apply, and extra bags will not be taken. This policy helps to keep streets tidy and protects the safety of collection staff.
All other collection dates during the festive period, including those on New Year's Day, are expected to run to the normal schedule.
