Festive season bin collections

Residents are being reminded by Bury Council that over the festive period (25 December to 5 January) collections of grey, green, and blue bins will change to one day later than usual.

Brown bin collections will be on hold during the same period.

Due to very high levels of winter illness, blue bins are cancelled this week (19, 20, 21 and 22 December) but residents affected will be able to put out extra recycling on their first scheduled collection in January. This should be placed in a loosely secured bag next to the blue bin.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “Our bin crews work all year round enduring all sorts of extreme weather conditions throughout the seasons but over the last week or so our workforce has been struck by winter illness, including flu and Covid, which is unfortunately causing delays to collections going in to the festive period.

“With our limited workforce, we are and will continue to do everything we can to empty as many bins as possible but delays are likely in some areas.

“Residents are encouraged to check for the latest advice at www.bury.gov.uk/missedbinand sign up at www.bury.gov.uk/binalertsto receive email reminders and updates.”

The planned changes to collections for blue, green and grey bins are as follows.

• Collections due on Tuesday 26 December will change to Wednesday 27 December
• Collections due on Wednesday 27 December will change to Thursday 28 December
• Collections due on Thursday 28 December will change to Friday 29 December
• Collections due on Friday 29 December will change to Saturday 30 December.

To assist crews with completing collection rounds as efficiently as possible, residents are asked to put bins out by 7am with the handles facing the road and to park vehicles where they won’t obstruct the collection trucks.

Cllr Quinn added: “Efforts over the period 25 December to 5 January will be concentrated on emptying green and grey bins, but crews will also empty blue bins if they can.

“Advice to residents over the festive period is to leave green and grey bins out if they are missed. If a blue collection is missed, the bin should be taken back in and put out on the next scheduled collection day in January.

“Residents can help at this time by saving space in their bins by squashing and flattening their items. Extra waste can also be taken to the household waste and recycling centre any day except 25 December and 1 January.

“We apologise for any inconvenience the current situation may cause and thank residents for their patience during what are unavoidable and exceptional circumstances. Our crews will get all the collections back on track as soon as possible in the New Year.”

Links to useful information:

• Check the latest advice for missed collections www.bury.gov.uk/missedbin
• Sign up for bin alerts www.bury.gov.uk/binalerts
• Check what goes in which bin www.bury.gov.uk/aboutyourbins
• Household waste and recycling centres see www.bury.gov.uk/recyclingcentres
• Top tips to better food habits and saving food from the bin www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

ENDS

Press release issued: 20 December 2023.