Festive Bin Collections 2025-26

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Collections

  • Monday 22nd  – Wednesday 24th December 2025
  • Monday 29th – Wednesday 31st December 2025

All household, recycling, and commercial waste collections will run as normal.

Some collection dates change over the Christmas and New Year public holidays. Expand the sections below to find the details for your service.

Household Bin Collections (Grey bins, Blue bins & Food Waste Caddies)

Collections scheduled for Thursday and Friday will run one day later:

Christmas Week

  • Thursday will be carried out on Friday 26th December 2025
  • Friday will be carried out on Saturday 27th December 2025

New Year Week

  • Thursday will be carried out on Friday 2nd January 2026
  • Friday will be carried out on Saturday 3rd January 2026
     
Household Burgundy Bin Collections (Metals, Plastics & Cartons) 

Collections scheduled for Christmas and New Year Thursdays & Fridays will be collected on the next scheduled date:

  • 25th December 2025 will be carried out on 15th January 2026
  • 26th December will be carried out on 16th January 2026
  • 1st January 2026 will be carried out on 22nd January 2026
  • 2nd January 2026 will be carried out on 23rd January 2026

We will accept up to two extra bags of recycling at these uplifts.

Why the change?

Our waste collection service operates on a 4 week cycle covering multiple routes and waste streams across Dundee. Each route is carefully planned to ensure efficient use of vehicles and crews. During the Christmas and New Year period, public holidays mean we must prioritise non recyclable waste collections to manage household waste effectively. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to collect burgundy bins on the Christmas and New Year dates without impacting other priority services.

What you need to know

  • Leave your burgundy bin out for its next scheduled collection date listed above.
  • We will accept up to two additional bags of recycling placed beside your bin at that time.
  • Compact waste and make full use of your recycling bins.
  • Use recycling points located across the city.
     
Communal Bins (Shared Euro & Wheelie Bins)

Collections scheduled for Thursday and Friday will run as follows:

Grey (non-recyclable) bins

Christmas Week

  • Thursday will be carried out on Friday 26th December 2025
  • Friday will be carried out on Saturday 27th / Monday 29th December 2025

New Year Week

  • Thursday will be carried out on Friday 2nd January 2026
  • Friday will be carried out on Saturday 3rd January / Monday 5th January 2026

Blue (paper/card) & Burgundy (metals, plastics & cartons) bins

Collections will also run later than usual. 

Commercial Waste Collections

Commercial waste collections scheduled for Thursday and Friday will run one day later:

Christmas Week

  • Thursday will be carried out on Friday 26th December 2025
  • Friday will be carried out on Saturday 27th December 2025

New Year Week

  • Thursday will be carried out on Friday 2nd January 2026
  • Friday will be carried out on Saturday 3rd January 2026
     
Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

Closed

  • Thursday 25th & Friday 26th December 2025
  • Thursday 1st & Friday 2nd January 2026

Open

Riverside Weighbridge & Composting Facility

Closed

  • Thursday 25th December 2025 – Friday 2nd January 2026

Open: 

  • Monday 5th January 2026

More info about Discovery Compost

Special Collections

Special / Bulky Waste Collections

Last collection accepted 

  • Friday 19th December 2025

Service resumes 

  • Monday 12th January 2026
     
Christmas Tree Recycling

We would like to encourage householders who will be disposing of a "real" Christmas tree to sign up for our free Christmas Tree Recycling Service.

Available to book for a limited time only: 19th December 2025 – 12th January 2026. Any requests made after the 12th January 2026 will require a special collection, which is chargeable.  Alternatively, trees can be taken and recycled for free at our Household Waste recycling Centres (HWRCs).

  • Free collection from your property (when booked before 12th January)
  • Your real tree will be shredded at our Riverside Composting Facility and turned into Discovery Compost
  • Trees Only– please remove all tinsel, decorations, pots, packaging and stands.
  • Artificial trees cannot be recycled as they’re made from mixed materials.

Book before the 12th January to avoid disappointment.

Book a collection Slot

Important Notes

  • Service delays may occur over the festive period. If your bins are not collected, please leave them out and ensure they do not obstruct footpaths, keeping pathways clear and safe for pedestrians.
  • If still uncollected after 48 hours, report it here: Report a Bin Collection Problem.
  • Remember - when you segregate your waste correctly you make recycling easier, reduce contamination and free up capacity in other bins.
  • If bins are full or overflowing, please don't add to the pile.  Where possible, store materials at home until capacity is available.
  • Our recycling centres will be very busy when they reopen following the Christmas and New Year public holidays.


Keep everyone safe - recycle your electricals and batteries

Many popular Christmas gifts – like e-scooters, e-bikes, phones, laptops, and power tools – contain lithium batteries. If these aren’t disposed of properly, they can cause fires, explosions, and serious harm. 

  • Never place these items in your household bins.  
  • Remove batteries where possible and use the battery collection containers at recycling centres.
  • Electrical devices can also be recycled at the recycling centres.


Reuse & Recycling Help