Published Tuesday, 15th December 2020
All households should have received their Christmas bin collection calendars. Collection days are changing from 19 December.
So that collection crews can enjoy a break with their loved ones there will be no bin collections in Reigate & Banstead on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Changes to the usual household collection schedule will start on Saturday 19 December and last until Monday 4 January.
Christmas collections calendar postcards have been sent to all households in the borough but the dates can also be checked online using the Christmas Collections 2020 page.
Due to Covid-19 most people have spent much more time at home this year and the volume of rubbish put out for collection has regularly reached the levels usually seen only at Christmas time. In the year to date the Council has collected 2,784 tonnes more household waste (excluding garden waste) than it did in 2019 – enough to fill over five Olympic-sized swimming pools.
With nearly two-thirds of the extra material collected being sent for recycling, the crews are now gearing up for even larger volumes over the holiday period. Residents are reminded to follow the recycling guide sent out at the beginning of November and put their bins out before 6am on their collection day to make sure their rubbish is collected.
Cllr Mrs Natalie Bramhall, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services said: “Our crews have shown amazing dedication and good humour during the pandemic, collecting more waste than ever before. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported them – sent thank you notes, suggested truck names and made sure their bins are put out safely and on time. Please continue to show your support, recycle right and help us keep this essential service running smoothly.”
To help residents go green this Christmas, the Council is supporting Surrey Environment Partnership’s Watch Your Waste campaign. Suggestions for how to recycle more include ditching the glitter, buying recyclable wrapping paper and flattening the boxes from online shopping. There are also hints and tips for planning festive food in order to reduce food waste and for reusing items that might otherwise be thrown out. Visit https://www.surreyep.org.uk/prefestive-and-festive/ to find out more.
Garden waste members are reminded that the service will take its usual two-week break over the Christmas period from Monday 28 December. They will be able to put their Christmas trees out for collection during January once the service resumes from Monday 11th.
Anyone who has not joined our Garden Waste Service, can take old Christmas trees to their local Community Recycling Centre. Information for the Earlswood and Epsom centres can be found at Surrey County Council Community Recycling Centre.