With Christmas just around the corner, Somerset Council has announced changes to waste and recycling collections to help residents plan ahead during the festive season.

There will be no collections on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25 December), Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December), or New Year's Day (Wednesday 1 January).

Revised collection dates

• Christmas week changes: Collections move forward by two days for residents with Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday collections.
• Wednesday 25 December → Friday 27 December
• Thursday 26 December → Saturday 28 December
• Friday 27 December → Sunday 29 December
• New Year week changes: Collections move forward by one day for the remainder of the week.
• Wednesday 1 January → Thursday 2 January
• Thursday 2 January → Friday 3 January
• Friday 3 January → Saturday 4 January

Residents with Monday or Tuesday collections are unaffected both weeks.

Recycling sites and garden waste

Recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. They will operate on their regular schedules at all other times—residents are advised to check Somerset Council's waste website for site details.

The Garden Waste Service will take a break from Wednesday 25 December, resuming on Wednesday 8 January.

Subscribers to the Garden Waste Service can leave decoration-free Christmas trees (up to 2 metres or 6ft) out with their first collection of the new year. Trees will not be collected from the kerbside for non-subscribers.

Alternative Christmas tree disposal

Residents can recycle trees by:

• Taking them to any Somerset recycling site for the garden waste skip.
• Checking local charity and community initiatives offering tree collection or drop-off services. Services like Just Helping raise funds for good causes while helping you dispose of your tree sustainably.

For further details on collection schedules and recycling centre hours, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/waste.