Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire residents are being asked to check their bin collection dates for the Christmas period.
Bin collections due on Thursday 25 December will be brought forward and collected three days early, on Monday 22 December.
Collections due on Friday 26 December will be three days late, on Monday 29 December.
Those due on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 January will be one day late, with Friday’s collection taking place on Saturday 3. All other collections remain the same as usual as the four-day week bin collection schedule helps to minimise changes for residents at this time of year.
| Usual collection day | Revised collection day | Change |
| Wednesday 24 December | Wednesday 24 December | No change |
| Thursday 25 December | Monday 22 December | 3 days EARLY |
| Friday 26 December | Monday 29 December | 3 days late |
| Tuesday 30 December | Tuesday 30 December | No change |
| Wednesday 31 December | Wednesday 31 December | No change |
| Thursday 1 January | Friday 2 January | 1 day late |
| Friday 2 January | Saturday 3 January | 1 day late |
| Tuesday 5 January | Tuesday 5 January | Back to normal |
Collections return to their regular scheduled days from Tuesday 5 January.
As usual for this time of year when less garden waste is generated, collections of green bins will switch from their usual fortnightly collection pattern to monthly collections between 23 December and 2 March.
Bin collections across Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire are carried out by the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service (GCSWS), a partnership between Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.
Executive Councillor for Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity at Cambridge City Council, Cllr Rosy Moore said: “It can be tricky at Christmas to use up all the food we buy, and studies show that 30% more food is thrown away at Christmas. Remember you can freeze most foods right up to the Use-by date. Don’t forget that if you have a green wheelie bin you can already put any food waste in that to be composted.”
Lead Cabinet Member for Environment at South Cambridgeshire District Council, Natalie Warren-Green said: “At this time of year we all have a lot of waste to manage from our usual waste to the addition of wrapping paper, lots of cardboard boxes, and often excess food. Our website gives a clear indication of which waste goes in which bin, which is very useful for residents. Where to put food is a question often searched for and one which I get asked directly. The good news on this is, by this time next year, almost all households in our area will benefit from weekly collections of food waste, which will be turned into fertiliser and electricity. Until then, if residents find they struggle to eat all their food on time, I really recommend meal planning to match eat by dates, freezing food if you have a freezer, offering up food that won’t be eaten on neighbourhood apps like Olio. For more ideas, taking a look at all the resources on the Love Food Hate Waste website which can help people save money as well as stop food going to waste.”
GCSWS is introducing weekly collections of food waste in phases throughout 2026, with some areas receiving new collection caddies from January.
For more information about waste and recycling including which festive items can be recycled and how, and to see tailored bin collection calendars visit www.greatercambridgewaste.org
