As Christmas approaches, councils across Northern Ireland will be changing some of their refuse collection arrangements in line with the holidays.
Some dates for blue, black and brown bin collections across the 11 areas may differ to the usual day. Some will be collected early, some possibly later than expected.
And without a doubt, most homes will be tight for bin space over the next few weeks, so here's our guide to those important dates.
Antrim and Newtonabbey Borough Council
Bin collections (Antrim)
Bins due to be collected on December 25 will be collected on December 27
Bins due to be emptied on December 26 will be collected on December 28
There will be normal collection days on December 30 and December 31
Bins due to be collected on January 1 2025 will now be collected on January 2
Bins due to be collected on January 2 will now be collected on January 3
Newtonabbey
Brown or black bins due to be collected on December 25 will be collected on December 27. Wheelie boxes will be collected on December 28
Brown or black bins due to be collected on December 26 will be collected on December 28. Wheelie boxes will be collected on December 29
Brown or black bins due to be collected on December 27 will be collected on December 30. Wheelie boxes will be collected as normal on December 27
Brown or black bins due to be emptied on December 30 will be emptied on New Year’s Eve. Wheelie boxes will be collected as normal on December 30
Brown or black bins due to be collected on December 31 will be collected on January 2 2025. Wheelie boxes will be collected as normal on New Year’s Eve
Brown or black bins due to be collected on January 1 will now be collected on January 3 2025. Wheelie boxes will be emptied on January 4
Brown or black bins due to be collected on January 2 will be collected on January 4
Brown or black bins due to be emptied on January 3 will be collected on January 6
Brown or black bins due to be emptied on January 6 will be collected on January 7
Brown or black bins due to be emptied on January 7 will be collected on January 8
Brown or black bins due to be emptied on January 8 will be collected on January 9
Brown or black bins due to be emptied on January 9 will be collected on January 10
Brown or black bins due to be emptied on January 10 will be collected on January 11
Wheelie boxes due to be collected on January 2, January 3, January 6, January 7, January 8, January 9 and January 10 will be collected as normal
The council is reminding residents to leave their bins out by 7am on the morning of their collection.
Ards and North Down Borough Council
Due to the Christmas and New Year Holidays, the following schedule has been arranged.
Please make sure your container is set out for collection on the appropriate day by 7:00am Please always make sure your container is set out for collection on the appropriate day by 7:00am. Please park as responsibly as possible to allow our vehicles to access your street and help us deliver this important frontline service.
REMINDER - be neighbourly on bin collection days!
We would ask all residents for their help and co-operation in returning their emptied bins to their own properties as soon as practicable on collection days. Bins left out on the footpaths can cause an obstruction and is a potential health and safety issue for disabled persons/pram users etc.
If a bin appears to have been permanently left at the kerbside, the Council may have cause to remove it if it is seen to be causing a nuisance or public health problem.
Normal Collection Date Due on | Will be collected on |
Monday 23 December | Monday 23 December |
Tuesday 24 December | Tuesday 24 December |
Wednesday 25 December | Thursday 26 December |
Thursday 26 December | Friday 27 December |
Monday 30 December | Monday 30 December |
Tuesday 31 December | Tuesday 31 December |
Wednesday 1 January | Thursday 2 January |
Thursday 2 January | Friday 3 January |
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Tuesday 24 December 2024 | Collection as normal | Closed |
Wednesday 25 December 2024 | Collection on Sat 21 December | Closed |
Thursday 26 December 2024 | Collection on Sat 28 December | Closed |
Wednesday 1 January 2025 | Collection on Sat 4 January | |
Belfast City Council
Normal collection date: 25 December (Christmas Day)
Rescheduled collection date: Saturday 21 December
Normal collection date: Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day)
Rescheduled collection date : Saturday 28 December
Normal collection date: Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve)
Collections will take place as normal
Normal collection date: Wednesday 1 January (New Year's Day)
Rescheduled collection date: Saturday 4 January
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
There will be no bin collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Bins scheduled to be collected on Christmas Day will be collected on Friday 20th December in the Limavady area and on Saturday 21st December in the Ballymoney, Coleraine and Moyle areas.
Bins scheduled to be collected on Boxing Day will be collected on Saturday 21st December in the Limavady area and on *Sunday 22nd December in the Ballymoney, Coleraine and Moyle areas.
Bins scheduled to be collected on New Year’s Day will be collected on Friday 3rd January in the Limavady area and on Saturday 28th December in the Ballymoney, Coleraine and Moyle areas.
Please set your bin out no later than 7.00am on day of collection.
* Householders scheduled to receive a bin collection on Sunday 22nd December should contact their local Council Depot if this is not suitable. Council will offer an alternative collection option. Any request must be received by Thursday 19th December.
Depot contact details as follows. Ballymoney (028) 2766 0222, Coleraine (028) 7034 3453, Limavady (028) 7776 0305 and Moyle (028) 2076 2225.
Household Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Open as normal at all other times.
Derry City and Strabane District Council
Blue & Brown bin collections due to take place on Christmas Day will be lifted on Saturday 21st December
Blue & Brown bin collections due to take place on Boxing Day will be lifted on Saturday 22nd December
Black & Brown bin collections due to take place on New Year’s Day will be lifted on Saturday 28th December
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
Bin collections will operate as normal over the festive period with the exception of Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December 2024 when there will be no collection.
Bins due to be collected on Wednesday 25 December 2024 will be collected on Saturday 21 December 2024.
Bins due to be collected on Thursday 26 December 2024 will be collected on Saturday 28 December 2024.
Bin collections will operate as normal on Wednesday 01 January 2025.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Date | Bins | Boxes |
Wednesday 25th December 2024 | Alternative collection on Saturday 21st December 2024 | Alternative collection on Saturday 28th December 2024 |
Thursday 26th December 2024 | Alternative collection on Saturday 28th December 2024 | Alternative collection on Sunday 29th December 2024 |
Wednesday 1st January 2025 | Alternative collection on Saturday 4th January 2025 | Alternative collection on Saturday 4th January 2025 |
Household recycling centres:
Date | Opening hours |
Tuesday 24th December 2024 | 9am to 3pm* |
Wednesday 25th December 2024 | Closed |
Thursday 26th December 2024 | Closed |
Tuesday 31st December 2024 | 9am to 3pm* |
Wednesday 1st January 2025 | Closed |
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
Ballymena Alternative Collections
The alternative collection dates for Ballymena town area are as follows:
Wednesday 25 December 2024 | Saturday 21 December 2024 |
Wednesday 1 January 2025 | Saturday 28 December 2024 |
Carrickfergus Alternative Collections
The alternative collection dates for Carrickfergus town area are as follows:
Wednesday 25 December 2024 | Saturday 21 December 2024 |
Thursday 26 December 2024 | Saturday 28 December 2024 |
Wednesday 1 January 2025 | Saturday 4 January 2025 |
Larne Alternative Collections
The alternative collection dates for Larne town area are as follows:
Wednesday 25 December 2024 | Monday 23 December 2024 |
Thursday 26 December 2024 | Saturday 28 December 2024 |
Wednesday 1 January 2025 | Saturday 4 January 2025 |
Mid Ulster District Council
Bin collections:
Bins due to be collected on Christmas day, Wednesday 25 December will be collected instead on Saturday 21 December.
Bins due to be collected on Boxing day, Thursday 26 December will be collected instead on Saturday 28 December.
Bins due to be collected on New Year's day, Wednesday 1 January 2025 will be collected instead on Saturday 4 January 2025.
Remember to leave your bin at the kerb by 7.30am.
Recycling Centres:
All recycling centres will be closed on Christmas day and Boxing day (25 and 26 December). Recycling centres will reopen on Friday 27 December.
Recycling Centres will be closed on New Year's day (Wednesday 1 January).
Newry, Mourne and Down Council
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