Christmas and New Year bin collections and tree recycling
Christmas waste and recycling collections
Choose your local council below to find out when your collections are over Christmas and New Year, and how to recycle real Christmas trees.
Festive recycling tips!
- Most wrapping paper is recyclable, apart from glittery, plastic, or metallic paper. Use the Scrunch Test to check - scrunch the wrapping paper up in your hand, and if it stays scrunched up then its recyclable.
- Ribbons, bows, and other decorations are not usually recyclable, but they can often be removed and saved for next year.
- Make sure you don't run out of space in your recycling bin by flattening cardboard packaging first.
- Make sure any bits of food are removed from foil, paper or plastic packaging before you recycle it.
You can take any extra household refuse or recycling to your local Household Waste Recycling Site. Visit East Sussex County Council's website to find your local site and to check opening dates and times over Christmas and New Year.
Christmas collection changes - Lewes
Recycling, refuse, food waste and garden waste collections
If you are a Lewes District resident, please make sure that your bins out at the boundary of your property by 6am on the day of collection.
All collections will be carried out according to your collection calendar. If you need a new one you can download it from Environment First.
If your refuse or food waste waste is not collected on the day listed, please leave it out for collection the following day. If we don't collect your bin by then, please report it to us as a missed bin within 24 hours.
Recycle your Christmas tree
If you have opted-in to our paid garden waste collection service, you can recycle your real Christmas tree by cutting it up and placing it in your garden waste bin; or leaving it next to your garden waste bin. Garden waste collections pick up again after the Christmas break on Monday
20 January 2025.
Please make sure all decorations, tree stands and pots are removed before recycling.
Alternatively, you can take it to one of the collection points (listed below) across the district by Sunday 26 January 2025.
Where can I recycle my tree?
Lewes: Brook Street car park
Newhaven: Bay Vue car park
Peacehaven: Piddinghoe Avenue car park
Seaford: Richmond Road car park, or The Buckle car park
Christmas collection changes - Eastbourne
There will be no refuse and recycling collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day. The collection days have been changed as follows:
- Wednesday 25 December Christmas Day - Your collection will take place on Saturday 21 December
- Thursday 26 December Boxing Day - Your collection will take place on Saturday 28 December
- Wednesday 1 January New Years Day - Your collection will take place on Saturday 4 January.
To download your 2025 refuse and recycling collection calendar, visit www.environmentfirst.co.uk.
All other collections in Eastbourne are unaffected.
There is also an option to download reminders directly to your smartphone calendar!
If you are an Eastbourne resident, please make sure that your bin is put out at the boundary of your property by 7am on the day of collection.
You can also take extra household waste to the household waste recycling site at St Philip's Avenue.
Recycle your Christmas tree
If you have opted-in to our paid garden waste collection service, you can recycle your real Christmas tree by cutting it up and placing it in your brown bin; or leaving it in manageable chunks (less than 120 cm or 4 feet tall) next to your brown bin. Please make sure all decorations, tree stands and pots are removed before recycling. Garden waste collections resume after the Christmas break on Monday 20 January 2025.
Alternatively, you can take it to one of the many collection points (listed below) across Eastbourne by Sunday 12 January.
Where can I recycle my tree?
Parks
Princes Park - Wartling Road bring site (adjacent to Test Centre car park)
Archery - Churchdale Road in front of disabled toilet
Hampden Park - Decoy Drive Entrance (on your right before you reach the café)
Gildredge Park - Entrance via the Goffs next to Tennis Club café.
Sevenoaks Recreation Ground - Off Sevenoaks Road
Car parks
Atlantic Drive - at sewage works car park off the roundabout
Fishermans Green
Holly Place (near recycling bring site)
Share this page
