Residents in the London borough of Lambeth are being advised of temporary changes to their household waste and recycling collections over the upcoming festive period. The alterations affect standard collection schedules for Christmas and New Year, with a specific service for the disposal of real Christmas trees also announced.
Revised Collection Dates for Christmas and New Year
Lambeth Council has confirmed that the usual timetable for bin collections will be disrupted during the holiday weeks. The changes are straightforward: if your regular collection day falls on a Thursday or Friday, your rubbish will be collected one day later.
This means that households with a scheduled pickup on Thursday, December 25th (Christmas Day) will instead have their bins emptied on Friday, December 26th (Boxing Day). Similarly, for those expecting a collection on Friday, December 26th, the service will move to Saturday, December 27th.
The pattern repeats for the New Year. Collections due on Thursday, January 1st are shifted to Friday, January 2nd, and Friday collections will take place on Saturday, January 3rd. The council has stated that all services will revert to the normal weekly schedule from Monday, January 5th.
How to Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree for Free
In a separate festive initiative, Lambeth Council will operate a free collection service for real Christmas trees. The service begins on Monday, January 5th, coinciding with the return to standard collection rounds.
Residents are instructed to place their real trees next to their bins on their designated collection day. It is crucial to remove all pots, stands, and decorations, as these items cannot be processed through the recycling scheme.
The council has issued a warning that due to the significant space the trees occupy in collection vehicles, crews can only collect a limited number each day. If your tree is not taken on the first attempt, you should take it back onto your property and present it again on your next scheduled collection day.
Alternative Disposal Options
For those living on housing estates, the process is slightly different. Residents can leave their real trees by the communal bin storage areas or designated bulky waste collection points.
Alternatively, Lambeth residents have the option to transport their trees to a council recycling centre. The two sites accepting trees are:
- Smugglers Way Recycling Centre
- Vale Street Reuse and Recycling Centre
A booking is required to use these facilities. A further drop-off point will be available at Clapham Common, off Windmill Drive, for those wishing to dispose of their tree directly.
By planning ahead and using these services, Lambeth households can ensure a tidy start to the New Year while supporting the borough's recycling efforts.
