Make sure to check your collection dates this year, because waste and recycling collections in Croydon will temporarily change over the festive period.
Residents can easily view their Christmas and New Year collection dates, as well as their new 2023 bin calendars online – with just an address or post code – using the council’s new digital collection calendar which is also available to be printed in libraries.
If you’ve opted for a real Christmas tree, make sure to recycle it. Croydon offers a free collection service – just leave your tree out in front of your property from 9 January 2023 and it will be collected over the next fortnight. If you prefer, you can also take your tree to your nearest household reuse and recycling centre.
Real trees must be left in a place where they will not block the pavement for pedestrians, parents with prams, and wheelchairs.
Over the festive period much more waste is created in Croydon and we encourage everyone to reduce their waste where they can, and reuse and recycle as much as possible.
To find out what you can and can’t recycle, visit our recycling page and follow the council on social media @yourcroydon for lots of sustainable Christmas tips!
Love food, hate waste has some great tips for making the most of festive food, using up leftovers and minimising your waste. Anything you really can’t use up should go in your food caddy for food waste collection.
At this time of year, some of us will be getting new appliances and devices, but that doesn’t mean old ones need to end up in landfill. If you have older electronics, homeware, toys, sports equipment and even musical instruments, think about taking them to your local Waste and Recycling Centre where they can potentially be refurbished before ending up at our Community Reuse Shop in New Addington.
The Reuse shop is also a great place to find sustainable gifts and stretch your budget, all while saving goods from disposal.
Further, Croydon has one of the largest Freegle communities in the country, where you can give a new life to pre-loved items and find great gifts to upcycle into something new.
“We are all looking forward to celebrating the festive period together this year. While there can be a lot of waste at this time of year, simple actions like using your food caddy and recycling Christmas trees, wrapping paper, cards, and crackers can make a big difference – I want to wish everyone in Croydon a happy, safe, and sustainable Christmas.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
