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This timetable applies to both recycling and black bin collections. Garden waste collections restart with monthly collections from the week beginning Monday 12 January 2026.
For any extra recycling that does not fit in containers, the council asks residents to separate it into individual materials and place it in carrier bags or another box. For crew safety, all glass bottles and jars should be placed in the recycling box where they will be visible.
Collection vehicles may look a little different over the festive period, and some materials, such as cardboard or glass, may be collected at a different time by a different vehicle as the council deals with the bigger volumes of recycling.
Extra recycling can be held back until the following week’s collection or taken to any of North Somerset’s three recycling centres if people want to dispose of it sooner. The council advises people to check opening times before visiting any of the recycling centres. There is currently no booking system in place.
Which bin should wrapping paper go in?
All wrapping paper, even if the roll says ‘recyclable’, should go in the black bin. Wrapping paper is difficult to recycle because there are many varieties, and most are mixed with unrecyclable items such as foil, glitter, ribbon, and tape.
Better alternatives that are recyclable - such as brown paper - can be decorated with stamps and then recycled with cardboard as long as any plastic tape is removed.
Dealing with cardboard mountains
The council has already started seeing a rise in the amount of cardboard it collects. While Christmas shopping, people are encouraged to consider alternatives such as experience gifts, preloved items and shopping locally.
With any big online purchases, the council asks people to break down cardboard boxes until they are flat and fit into a recycling box. This is important as it means that crews can fit the cardboard into the compartment on the collection vehicle. Vast quantities of cardboard, should be taken to a local recycling centre if possible.
Real Christmas Trees
North Somerset Council collects real Christmas trees (up to two metres high and minus the pot and decorations) from properties signed up to the garden waste service. They should be cut into shorter lengths and put in the garden waste bin or put out alongside the garden waste bin on the first garden waste collection in January. Garden waste customers can check when this will be by downloading their garden waste calendar - Search for your next collection dates
Trees can also be donated for animal enrichment! North Somerset Council and Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm are teaming up for the sixth year in a row to repurpose festive trees and cut back on seasonal waste. Find out more here: Thousands of Christmas trees set for eco-friendly second life | North Somerset Council
Alongside the zoo partnership, the council continues to support the annual charity Christmas tree collections run by Weston Hospicecare and St Peter’s Hospice, which together have raised more than £64,000 since the initiative began.
Trees can also be taken to any of the three recycling centres in North Somerset, at Weston-super-Mare, Backwell and Portishead.
What to do with recycling and waste in severe weather
Severe winter weather could impact recycling and waste collections, especially if crews are faced with icy conditions or snowy roads. Here’s the advice for people to follow if collections are disrupted this winter:
- General waste: black wheelie bin or bags should be put out on collection day. If it’s not collected, it should be left out and crews will be back as soon as possible.
- Food caddy and recycling boxes: these should be put out on collection day. If they’re not collected by 7pm, they should be taken back in and put out again the following week on the normal day.
- Garden waste: green bins should be put out on the normal collection day. If they’re not emptied, they should be taken back in then put out again the following month on the scheduled collection day.
This is how people can help the service run smoothly:
- Download the North Somerset Council app from the app store to get real time notifications about collections.
- Put bins and containers out by 6.30am on collection day.
- Wash, squash and sort recycling.
- Remove all packaging from inside large cardboard boxes and flatten and break up the cardboard to the size of the recycling box.
- Extra non-recyclable waste that doesn’t fit in a black bin won’t be collected and should be taken to a recycling centre or stored until the next collection.
- If collections are missed from a whole street, people can check the missed roads report on the council website to see if they already know about it Report a missed collection | North Somerset Council