Christmas and New Year bin collections and tree recycling
Christmas waste and recycling collections
Choose your local council below to find out when your collections are over Christmas and New Year, and how to recycle real Christmas trees.
Festive recycling tips!
- Most wrapping paper is recyclable, apart from glittery, plastic, or metallic paper. Use the Scrunch Test to check - scrunch the wrapping paper up in your hand, and if it stays scrunched up then its recyclable.
- Ribbons, bows, and other decorations are not usually recyclable, but they can often be removed and saved for next year.
- Make sure you don't run out of space in your recycling bin by flattening cardboard packaging first.
- Make sure any bits of food are removed from foil, paper or plastic packaging before you recycle it.
You can take any extra household refuse or recycling to your local Household Waste Recycling Site. Visit East Sussex County Council's website to find your local site and to check opening dates and times over Christmas and New Year.
Christmas collection changes - Lewes
Recycling, refuse, food waste and garden waste collections
If you are a Lewes District resident, please make sure that your bins out at the boundary of your property by 6am on the day of collection.
All collections will be carried out according to your collection calendar. If you need a new one you can download it from Environment First.
If your refuse or food waste is not collected on the day listed, please leave it out for collection the following day. If we don't collect your bin by then, please report it to us as a missed bin within 24 hours.
Recycle your Christmas tree
If you have opted in to our paid garden waste collection service, you can recycle your real Christmas tree by cutting it up and placing it in your brown lid bin.
Please make sure all decorations, tree stands and pots are removed before recycling.
Alternatively, you can take it to one of the many collection points across Lewes District between 23 December 2025 and 23 January 2026.
Where can I recycle my tree?
Lewes: Brook Street car park
Newhaven: Bay Vue car park
Peacehaven: Piddinghoe Avenue car park
Seaford: Richmond Road car park, or The Buckle car park
Christmas collection changes - Eastbourne
There will be some changes to your upcoming waste collections due to the festive bank holidays.
Collections due on:
- Thursday 25 December will be collected on Saturday 20 December
- Friday 26 December will be collected on Saturday 27 December
- Thursday 1 January 2026 will be collected on Saturday 3 January 2026
Calendars can be downloaded from www.environmentfirst.co.uk
All other collections in Eastbourne are unaffected.
There is also an option to download reminders directly to your smartphone calendar!
If you are an Eastbourne resident, please make sure that your bin is put out at the boundary of your property by 7am on the day of collection.
You can also take extra household waste to the household waste recycling site at St Philip's Avenue.
Recycle your Christmas tree
If you have opted in to our paid garden waste collection service, you can recycle your real Christmas tree up to 100mm diameter by cutting it up and placing it in your brown bin. Please make sure all decorations, tree stands and pots are removed before recycling.
Alternatively, you can take it to one of the many collection points (listed below) across Eastbourne between 15 December 2025 and 23 January 2026.
Where can I recycle my tree?
Parks
- Princes Park-Situated in Wartling Road on the old bring site parking area, next to barrier entrance to the field where the Fun Fairs are located
- Archery Park-Situated on grass Willoughby/Churchdale Rd
- Hampden Park drive- Decoy Drive Entrance (on your right before you reach the café)
- Gildredge Park-Entrance via the Goffs next to Tennis Club café
- Sevenoaks Recreation Ground-Situated in car park off Sevenoaks Road
Car parks
- Atlantic Drive-Situated at sewage works East Car Park via the roundabout
- Fisherman's Green-Situated in the right hand side of the car park
- Holly Place-Situated in the car park area at the front of Willingdon Trees Community Centre
