Isle Of Wight Council Announces Festive Waste And Recycling Schedule

The festive season is here, and the Isle of Wight Council has announced changes to waste, recycling, and garden collection services over Christmas and New Year.

Christmas 2025 & New Year 2026 collections

Collection days will shift due to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on a Thursday:

• Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) – collections move to Saturday 27 December

• Friday 26 December (Boxing Day) – collections move to Sunday 28 December

• Thursday 1 January 2026 (New Year’s Day) – collections move to Friday 2 January 2026

• Saturday 3 January 2026 – collections as normal

All other collections will continue as usual, with services returning to their normal schedule from Monday 5 January 2026.

Bulky waste and free reuse collections will not operate on 25 and 26 December, or 1 January 2026.

Polystyrene collection

Excess polystyrene can be collected alongside general waste (black bin/black reusable sack) from Monday 5 January to Friday 16 January 2026.

Extra polystyrene should be placed in a clear or white plastic bag next to your bin on collection day.

Only polystyrene should be in the bag — any other general waste left beside the bin will not be collected.

After 16 January, polystyrene must go in your black bin or be taken to Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Waste Recycling Centre for disposal in the general rubbish skip.

Cardboard

Large amounts of cardboard should be bundled separately and placed next to your recycling bin or sack on your recycling week collection.

Batteries

Remove batteries from all electrical items before collection and place household batteries in a clear sandwich-sized bag on top of your general waste bin.

Large or non-removable batteries (laptop, phone, power tool, or car batteries) should be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Real Christmas trees

Residents with an active garden waste subscription can dispose of real Christmas trees as part of the service.

Trees must be free of decorations and pots, and placed next to your garden bin from Monday 5 January to Friday 16 January 2026.

Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

Lynnbottom and Afton Marsh HWRCs will be closed on Christmas Day, with normal opening hours on all other days.

Visits should be booked in advance or via same-day booking on the Isle of Wight Council website or by calling 823777.

For more information on waste and recycling services over the festive period, visit www.iow.gov.uk/waste.