East Suffolk has not published its 2026 Christmas bin dates. Last year it posted them on 11 December: no pickups 25 Dec, 26 Dec or 1 Jan, normal from 5 Jan.
East Suffolk Council has not yet published its Christmas 2026 bin collection dates. Last year it announced them on 11 December, and the rule was simple: no collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day, everything else shuffled by a day or two, and normal service back in the first full week of January.
This page gives last year’s changes in full, explains why this year’s will be different, and will be updated when the council publishes.
The quick answer
- 2026 dates: not published yet. Last year’s notice came out on 11 December 2025.
- In 2025 there were no collections on 25 December, 26 December or 1 January, and collections were back to normal from Monday 5 January.
- Your own dates will appear in the council’s bin collection date finder, which is the only place East Suffolk gives Christmas dates street by street.
What the council says now
The council’s household bin collections page says, as of 25 September 2026: “Over Christmas and New Year, there will be changes to all collections”, and tells residents to check the date finder. It gives no dates yet. It also asks for bins to be out by 6am, because collection times can change.
What happened at Christmas 2025
East Suffolk’s notice was posted on 11 December 2025 and republished word for word by Halesworth Town Council. Christmas Day 2025 was a Thursday.
| Usual collection day | Collected on | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 22 December | Saturday 20 December | Two days earlier |
| Tuesday 23 December | Monday 22 December | One day earlier |
| Wednesday 24 December | Tuesday 23 December | One day earlier |
| Thursday 25 December | Wednesday 24 December | One day earlier |
| Friday 26 December | Saturday 27 December | One day later |
| Monday 29 to Wednesday 31 December | No change | |
| Thursday 1 January | Friday 2 January | One day later |
| Friday 2 January | Saturday 3 January | One day later |
| From Monday 5 January | Back to normal |
The pattern is worth noticing: the council pulled collections forward before Christmas and pushed them back after it, using two Saturdays to make the week work.
Why 2026 will look different
In 2026 Christmas Day falls on a Friday, Boxing Day on a Saturday, and the Boxing Day bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December. New Year’s Day 2027 is also a Friday. So the days that lose a collection are not the same as last year, and last year’s table cannot simply be moved forward a year. Wait for the council’s notice or the date finder before you plan around it.
The three-weekly problem
This is the first Christmas under East Suffolk’s new service. Since 1 June 2026 the black bin, the blue-lidded recycling bin and the green-lidded paper and card bin have each been emptied every three weeks, with food waste collected weekly, according to the council’s bin collections page.
Under the old fortnightly rounds a missed Christmas collection meant a four-week wait. Under the new ones it can mean six weeks between black bin collections if you get the date wrong. The council’s page says extra waste that will not fit in your bin must go to a recycling centre or a local recycling point, not beside the bin.
What the page offers instead:
- Small electricals: last year’s notice reminded residents that up to two small electrical items a week can go on top of any wheeled bin on collection day.
- The East Suffolk app sends collection reminders; the council launched it alongside the new service.
- Customer Services: 0333 016 2000 if you cannot use the finder.
For what goes in each bin, garden waste and bulky items, see our Woodbridge bin collection days page.
Recycling centres over Christmas
Suffolk’s recycling centres are run by the county, not East Suffolk. The county’s opening times page says every centre is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and on every Wednesday. From October to March they open 9am to 4pm, including Sundays and bank holidays. You must book a slot before visiting.
The nearest to the Suffolk coast towns are Foxhall (IP10 0HT), Felixstowe (Carr Road, IP11 3RX) and Leiston (Lovers Lane, IP16 4UJ). In 2026 that means Monday 28 December, the substitute bank holiday, should be an opening day on the published rule, but check the booking system before you load the car.
If you are heading out over the holiday, our roadworks and travel page and parking in Woodbridge page are updated through the season.
Still to be confirmed
- East Suffolk’s Christmas 2026 collection changes. Expected in early December, based on last year’s 11 December notice. We will add the full table here.
- Whether the new three-weekly rounds get any extra Christmas collection for recycling or black bins. The council has said nothing on this.
Checked against East Suffolk Council and Suffolk Recycling on 25 September 2026.
Have your say