Swindon Borough Council has announced permanent changes to household waste and recycling collection days, aimed at ensuring a smoother and more reliable service for residents.
Starting from Christmas Day, 25th December 2024, all collections will move forward by two working days. This adjustment comes as part of the Council’s efforts to manage the seasonal backlog caused by Christmas bank holidays and avoid similar disruptions in the future.
Why the Change?
Under the current system, households with scheduled collections on Christmas Day and Boxing Day face delays that ripple into the new year. Last year, council crews had to handle a backlog of up to 40,000 collections alongside their usual rounds, creating additional strain during the busiest period of the year.
By implementing this permanent shift, the Council aims to:
- Reduce the backlog of waste and recycling.
- Allow crews to manage increased waste volumes over the festive period more effectively.
- Provide a more consistent collection schedule for residents year-round.
What Does This Mean for Residents?
From Wednesday, 25th December 2024, all Swindon households will need to adjust their waste and recycling schedules, putting their bins out two working days later than their current collection day. For example:
- Collections scheduled for Christmas Day will occur on Friday, 27th December 2024.
- Boxing Day collections will take place on Monday, 30th December 2024.
These new collection days will remain in place permanently throughout 2025 and beyond.
Residents who currently have waste and recycling collected on different days will see both services shift by the same two working days.
Supporting the Change
The Council is working to ensure that residents are informed well ahead of the changes. Updated schedules will be shared via council communications, including their website and social media channels.
A Council spokesperson said: “This change is about providing a more efficient and manageable system for both residents and our crews. By addressing the challenges of Christmas collections permanently, we can deliver a service that is more reliable for everyone.”
Residents are encouraged to plan for the changes and stay updated through official Council announcements. The revised schedule is designed to reduce disruption and maintain high service standards throughout the year.
