Residents across the Royal Borough of Greenwich are being advised of significant changes to council services over the Christmas and New Year period. The local authority has released its full schedule for the holidays, detailing adjustments to waste collections, leisure centre openings, and housing support.
Revised Waste and Recycling Collections
Bin collections will run as normal from Monday, December 22 through to Wednesday, December 24. However, households expecting a collection on Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25) or Boxing Day (Friday, December 26) will see these shifted to Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, December 28 respectively.
The regular schedule resumes from Monday, December 29 to Wednesday, December 31. Collections due on New Year's Day (Thursday, January 1) will be pushed back to Friday, January 2. Similarly, bins normally emptied on January 2 will instead be collected on Saturday, January 3.
All waste and recycling services are set to return to their standard timetables from Monday, January 5. The council has confirmed that bulky waste collections and deliveries will pause from December 24, restarting on January 5. Clinical waste collections will continue over the holidays but will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or New Year's Day.
Christmas Tree Recycling and Green Waste
For residents subscribed to the garden waste collection service, real Christmas trees can be disposed of by placing them inside the green bin for collection from Monday, January 6. Alternatively, trees can be taken to the Greenwich Reuse And Recycling Centre on Nathan Way.
The recycling centre's festive opening hours are as follows:
- It will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.
- Normal hours apply on other days: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm; Saturday, 8am to 5pm; and Sunday, 9am to 4.30pm.
All trees must be cut up to fit inside the bin.
Changes to Key Council Services
Several other vital council services will operate on reduced schedules during the festive break.
Council Housing: Repairs and caretaking services for council homes will run normally until December 24. An emergency out-of-hours service will then operate from December 25 to 28, with an additional emergency repair service running from January 1 to 4. Normal office hours resume on January 5. Tenants can report repairs via freephone 0808 175 6915 during office hours or online. A 24-hour emergency housing line remains available on 020 8854 8888.
Leisure Centres and Libraries: Opening times at all Greenwich leisure centres may vary between December 24 and January 1, with residents urged to check ahead. All centres will close on December 22, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
All borough libraries will shut on December 22, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Charlton House Library will close from December 22 to 26 and again from December 28 to 31. Several libraries, including Thamesmere, Greenwich, and Plumstead, will operate reduced hours on December 23, 24, and 30.
Parks and Open Spaces: Specific parks including The Tarn, Fairy Hill Park, and St Mary's Gardens will be closed on Christmas Day. All other parks remain open. Adventure Play Centres will close from December 22 to 26.
Contacting the Council: The Woolwich Centre will open as usual except on bank holidays and weekends. The Eltham Centre will close on December 22 and New Year's Eve, and will shut early at 2pm on Christmas Eve. When centres are closed, the out-of-hours contact number is 020 8854 8888.
Mental health support via Live Well Greenwich (0800 470 4831) will be available Monday to Saturday, 9am to 3pm, but closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day.
