Hackney Council's Christmas and New Year bin collection changes and how to get rid of your tree for free
Hackney residents will see various changes to their waste and recycling collections over the Christmas period.
The council does not run a collection service on bank holidays, meaning bags are to be kept indoors until the next collection day. Residents whose usual collection days are Tuesday or Wednesday will not be affected but for those due for a collection on Thursday or Friday on Christmas week, there will be a two-day delay.
The council has asked residents: “Please move your bins and green sacks to the edge of your property by 6am on your collection day.”
The changes are detailed below. Normal collections will resume from Tuesday, January 6.
Usual collection day - Revised collection day
Tuesday 23 December 2025 - Tuesday 23 December 2025
Wednesday 24 December 2025 - Wednesday 24 December 2025
Thursday 25 December 2025 - Saturday 27 December 2025
Friday 26 December 2025 - Sunday 28 December 2025
Tuesday 30 December 2025 - Tuesday 30 December 2025
Wednesday 31 December 2025 - Wednesday 31 December 2025
Thursday 1 January 2026 - Friday 2 January 2026
Friday 2 January 2026 - Saturday 3 January 2026
If residents are subscribed to the council’s garden waste service, Christmas trees will be collected on their scheduled garden waste collection day. The council has asked residents to place their trees on the front boundary of their properties by 6am with all the decorations removed.
Residents living in a block with a garden waste subscription have been asked to put their trees next to their garden waste bin but to make sure they do not block access to the bins.
Real Christmas trees can also be collected using the bulky waste service. Collections start from £23 for up to 5 items, but council concessions for residents apply. Residents can book collections at hackney.gov.uk/bulky-waste. Christmas tree bookings open from December 29.
These trees can also be taken to various drop-off sites in Hackney for free from January 2 to 31. The drop off sites are:
- Clissold Park
- Hackney Marshes
- Haggerston Park
- Millfields Road Depot
- Hackney Downs Park
- Shoreditch Park