Christmas is time when we tend to over-indulge and generate a lot of waste. From the packaging of our Christmas parcels and the wrapping paper we use, to the leftovers after a house full of visitors, the waste can seem endless!
Here are some tips for Brent Council residents to help reduce waste this festive season:
Not sure what goes where?
Use the Brent Recycleopedia to look up day to day and Christmas household items and find out what bin they go in or if you need to take them to a recycling site or request a bulky waste collection.
Mixed recycling
Put extra mixed recycling in clear bags and next to your blue-lidded bin on collection day.
Paper and cardboard
Leave paper and cardboard loose next to your blue sacks - but check the weather forecast first! Wet cardboard can't be recycled.
Food waste
Over the festive season the UK throws away the equivalent of 74 million mince pies in food waste!
Reducing food waste over Christmas is a great way to be more sustainable and save money. Here are some tips to help you minimize food waste during the festive season:
- Plan your meals: Be realistic about how much each person will eat and plan your menu accordingly. This helps avoid over-preparing food
- Use leftovers creatively: Transform leftovers into new dishes. For example, roasted veggies can be added to a quiche, or rolls can be turned into sliders
- Label and date leftovers: Keep your freezer organized by labeling and dating leftovers. This makes it easier to find and use them later
- Freeze excess food: You can freeze excess meat and other dishes for up to six months. Defrost them in the fridge or using the microwave's defrost setting
- Compost food scraps: Start a compost bin for vegetable scraps and other compostable waste
Batteries
Batteries should NEVER be placed in general waste or recycling bins as they cause fires.
To dispose of batteries safely, please drop your used household batteries (AA, AAA, C, and D batteries) in supermarkets where they have special collection points for these batteries. These drop-off points will also accept the battery within an e-cigarette, once it has been removed from the casing.
Small items collection
Batteries and other small electrical items with built-in batteries (radio, phones, laptops) can also be collected for free from your household by booking a small items collection services.
Bigger batteries
For e-scooters, e-bikes, e-cigarettes and car batteries, please bring them to Abbey Road Reuse and Recycling Centre (Abbey Road, London, NW10 7TJ).
Christmas tree recycling
Looking to recycle your Christmas tree? There are a number of ways for you to dispose of your tree this winter. Find out how and where.
Unwanted Christmas presents
Unwanted presents need not end up in the bin. If your items are good quality why not turn them into cash, swap with somebody else or just give away for free? Find out more about Online recycling and pre-loved communities.
Bulky items
Having a clear out after Christmas? If you have large items of household rubbish that you want to get rid of and are too big for your bin, you can arrange for a one-off bulky waste collection.
Bins, rubbish and recycling
All rubbish, garden waste and recycling collections will be affected by the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Please check your bin collection calendar online to find out what day your rubbish and recycling will be collected.
| Normal collection day | Christmas and New Years collection day |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 25 December | Friday 27 Dec |
| Thursday 26 December | Saturday 28 Dec |
| Friday 27 December | Sunday 29 Dec |
| Wednesday 1 January | Thursday 2 January |
| Thursday 2 January | Friday 3 January |
| Friday 3 January | Saturday 4 January |
There will be no Bulky Waste or Small Items Collection on bank holidays.
Abbey Road Reuse and Recycling Centre
- Abbey Road Reuse and Recycling Centre will be closed on 25 and 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025.
Recycle, reduce, reuse
Find more information on how and where to recycle rubbish in Brent, tips and ideas for reducing waste and ways you can reuse or repair unwanted or broken items.