Festive bin collection changes across South West Wales – check your dates

Every Christmas the same question crops up in households across South West Wales: when is bin day?

With bank holidays, extra rubbish and recycling, and crews working to revised schedules, it’s easy to get caught out. Councils say they’ve made changes to keep services running smoothly — here’s what you need to know.

Carmarthenshire – early and revised dates

Carmarthenshire County Council says it has moved several collections forward to keep services on track. Residents are urged to put bins out by 6am and remember the three black bag limit.

• Collections due on Monday 22 December will take place a day earlier on Sunday 21 December.
• Christmas Day (Thursday 25 December) collections move to Wednesday 24 December.
• Boxing Day (Friday 26 December) collections move to Sunday 28 December.
• New Year’s Day collections will take place on Friday 2 January, with Friday rounds pushed to Saturday 3 January.

The council says hygiene and nappy waste will follow the same revised schedule. Recycling centres will close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and shut at noon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Cabinet Member Cllr Edward Thomas said: “Christmas is a time for celebration, and we want to make sure waste collections run smoothly so everyone can enjoy the holidays without worry.”

Swansea – later collections and recycling tips

Swansea Council says collections run as normal until Christmas Eve, but from Christmas Day onwards all rounds will be later than usual.

• Thursday rounds move to Sunday 28 December and Saturday 3 January.
• Friday rounds move to Monday 29 December and Sunday 4 January.
• Normal service resumes on Monday 5 January 2026.

The council is reminding residents to recycle wrapping paper that passes the “scrunch test” and to remove ribbons, bows and glitter. Food waste including turkey carcasses can go in the food caddy. The three black bag limit remains in place, with excess bags accepted at Llansamlet and Clyne recycling centres.

Swansea Council says real Christmas trees can be taken to recycling centres or booked for bulky waste collection. Centres will close at 1pm on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Neath Port Talbot – minimal disruption

Neath Port Talbot Council says most collections remain unchanged.

• Christmas Day (Thursday 25 December) rounds move to Saturday 27 December.
• Boxing Day (Friday 26 December) rounds move to Sunday 28 December.
• New Year’s Day (Thursday 1 January) rounds move to Friday 2 January, with Friday rounds on Saturday 3 January.

Pembrokeshire – extra bag allowance and tree collections

Pembrokeshire County Council says it will allow one extra residual waste bag on the first collection after Christmas to help households cope with festive excess.

Kerbside sort containers remain in use:

• Blue sack for cardboard and cards without glitter.
• Blue box for paper and recyclable wrapping paper.
• Red sack for plastics, cartons and tins.
• Green caddy for food waste including turkey bones.
• Green box for glass bottles and jars.

The council says collections will not take place on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. Missed rounds will be picked up two days later.

Residents can book a real Christmas tree collection for £5.60 via My Account or the council’s contact centre, with collections scheduled between 5–16 January 2026. Trees can also be taken to recycling centres free of charge.

Pembrokeshire County Council says Waste and Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, with some sites offering additional opening dates around the holidays.

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Festive bin collection changes across South West Wales – check your dates

Every Christmas the same question crops up in households across South West Wales: when is bin day?

With bank holidays, extra rubbish and recycling, and crews working to revised schedules, it’s easy to get caught out. Councils say they’ve made changes to keep services running smoothly — here’s what you need to know.

Carmarthenshire – early and revised dates

Carmarthenshire County Council says it has moved several collections forward to keep services on track. Residents are urged to put bins out by 6am and remember the three black bag limit.

• Collections due on Monday 22 December will take place a day earlier on Sunday 21 December.
• Christmas Day (Thursday 25 December) collections move to Wednesday 24 December.
• Boxing Day (Friday 26 December) collections move to Sunday 28 December.
• New Year’s Day collections will take place on Friday 2 January, with Friday rounds pushed to Saturday 3 January.

The council says hygiene and nappy waste will follow the same revised schedule. Recycling centres will close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and shut at noon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Cabinet Member Cllr Edward Thomas said: “Christmas is a time for celebration, and we want to make sure waste collections run smoothly so everyone can enjoy the holidays without worry.”

Swansea – later collections and recycling tips

Swansea Council says collections run as normal until Christmas Eve, but from Christmas Day onwards all rounds will be later than usual.

• Thursday rounds move to Sunday 28 December and Saturday 3 January.
• Friday rounds move to Monday 29 December and Sunday 4 January.
• Normal service resumes on Monday 5 January 2026.

The council is reminding residents to recycle wrapping paper that passes the “scrunch test” and to remove ribbons, bows and glitter. Food waste including turkey carcasses can go in the food caddy. The three black bag limit remains in place, with excess bags accepted at Llansamlet and Clyne recycling centres.

Swansea Council says real Christmas trees can be taken to recycling centres or booked for bulky waste collection. Centres will close at 1pm on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Neath Port Talbot – minimal disruption

Neath Port Talbot Council says most collections remain unchanged.

• Christmas Day (Thursday 25 December) rounds move to Saturday 27 December.
• Boxing Day (Friday 26 December) rounds move to Sunday 28 December.
• New Year’s Day (Thursday 1 January) rounds move to Friday 2 January, with Friday rounds on Saturday 3 January.

Pembrokeshire – extra bag allowance and tree collections

Pembrokeshire County Council says it will allow one extra residual waste bag on the first collection after Christmas to help households cope with festive excess.

Kerbside sort containers remain in use:

• Blue sack for cardboard and cards without glitter.
• Blue box for paper and recyclable wrapping paper.
• Red sack for plastics, cartons and tins.
• Green caddy for food waste including turkey bones.
• Green box for glass bottles and jars.

The council says collections will not take place on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. Missed rounds will be picked up two days later.

Residents can book a real Christmas tree collection for £5.60 via My Account or the council’s contact centre, with collections scheduled between 5–16 January 2026. Trees can also be taken to recycling centres free of charge.

Pembrokeshire County Council says Waste and Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, with some sites offering additional opening dates around the holidays.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Council apology after missed Christmas recycling collections
Carmarthenshire Council says sorry after festive recycling rounds were missed.

More recycling news
Catch up on the latest recycling and waste management stories from Swansea Bay News.

Swansea Council rejects black bag cutbacks
Authority pushes back against Welsh Government guidance on reducing black bag collections.

#binDay #CarmarthenshireCouncil #Christmas #christmasBinCollection #christmasRecycling #christmasTreeRecycling #kerbsideCollection #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #PembrokeshireCouncil #Recycling #SwanseaCouncil