North Devon Council is reminding residents to prepare for changes to waste and recycling collections over the festive period. Adjusted schedules will be in place from Wednesday 24 December through to Saturday 3 January, with normal services resuming on Monday 5 January 2026.

Residents are advised to check the council’s website for their revised collection days to ensure bins are not missed. To help crews manage the busy holiday period efficiently, all bins, boxes and bags should be placed out by 6am on the day of collection. There will be no garden waste collections during the two-week period starting Monday 22 December, with services resuming in early January.

Top tips for recycling this festive season: 

DO

• Ensure your wheelie bins, recycling boxes, and recycling bags are placed out by 6am on the day of collection.
• Flatten and bundle cardboard into your brown recycling bags. If you have excess, visit your local recycling centre or arrange a free bulky waste collection for cardboard only by calling 01271 327711.
• Remove plastic film from cardboard packaging before recycling.
• Scrunch tin foil, including foil mince pie cases, and place it in your black/green recycling box.
• Wash and squash plastic bottles and drink cans and replace the bottle lid securely.
• Opt for brown paper as a recyclable wrapping alternative, removing tape before recycling it in your brown bag.
• Use up leftover food where possible. Dispose of unavoidable food waste in your kerbside caddy.
• Separate glass and place it in your blue recycling box.
• Dispose of real Christmas trees (trunk 5cm or less) in your green wheelie bin if you have a permit. Larger trees can be taken to recycling centres. Alternatively, residents can recycle their tree the easy, green and charitable way through Children’s Hospice South West’s collection scheme.

DON’T

• Place non-recyclable items like black plastic, crisp tubes, or tetra packs in your recycling. Use special collection points at recycling centres or pop in your black waste bin.
• Include shiny or glittery Christmas cards or wrapping paper in your recycling. These often contain non-paper additives and cannot be processed. Please pop in your black bin instead.
• Recycle greasy pizza boxes; place these in your black waste bin.
• Mix carrier bags, cling film, or plastic film with your recycling. Check with supermarkets or local recycling centres for specific recycling options or pop in your black bin.
• Put batteries or vapes in kerbside collections due to fire risks. Use designated drop-off points at supermarkets or recycling centres.

Councillor Julie Hunt, Lead Member for Waste and Recycling, said: “Christmas is a time to celebrate, but it’s also when we produce the most waste. By recycling correctly, reusing where we can, and reducing what we throw away, we can all make a real difference. Please take a moment to check your revised collection dates and make sure your bins are out by 6am to avoid missing your collection. Wishing everyone across North Devon a safe, happy and environmentally friendly Christmas.”

Council offices and phone lines will close at 1pm on Wednesday 24 December and reopen on Friday 2 January 2026. During this time, residents can find full details about collections, recycling advice and other council services on North Devon Council's website, including the online A–Z Recycling Index.