Christmas recycling and waste guide for Wokingham Borough residents

Make Christmas go smoothly with updated bin collection dates, recycling tips, donation ideas, and tree disposal options. 

Stay updated on Christmas bin collections and recycling tips

Want to know when your bins will be collected over Christmas and New Year? Sign up for Environment News and get weekly email updates straight to your inbox.

From 24 November to 12 January, you’ll receive:

• Festive bin day changes
• Christmas tree collection details
• Easy recycling and food waste tips

After that, you’ll continue to get fortnightly updates on rubbish and recycling, green spaces, climate action and more.

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Please share the sign-up link with neighbours, friends, or family in Wokingham Borough - pop it in WhatsApp groups so everyone stays informed.

The more people recycle right, the better for our community.

Bin collection changes over Christmas and New Year

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day fall on normal collection days, so our crews will be taking a well-earned break.

Collections scheduled between Thursday 25 December and Friday 9 January will happen later than usual because of the bank holidays. Our crews will also work on Saturdays to catch up.

Make sure you have enough green recycling bags. You can pick up more (maximum two per trip) from any of our collection hubs.

Check your updated Christmas and New Year 2025/26 collection dates before putting your bins out. 

Share this with your neighbours on your street WhatsApp group! 

Make Christmas greener: recycling, donations and waste tips

Christmas is a time for giving and for reducing waste. 

Here are easy ways to recycle, donate and keep the right things in the right bins.

Donate and make a difference or buy second-hand

Give unwanted items a second life and help local families. Shop second-hand and support good causes and reduce waste:

• Anglo Doorstep Collections - Donate clothes, shoes and household items from your doorstep
• First Days School Clothing - Pass on school uniforms and coats to support local families. Find out more
• The re3read book reuse scheme - donate and choose second-hand books within the community
• Use clothes banks to donate textiles and shoes
  • Clothes banks are located across Wokingham Borough, often in supermarket car parks and community hubs. Find your nearest drop-off point using the re3 recycling banks page or Clothing Banks UK map to find your nearest drop-off point

Charity shops in Wokingham

Wokingham Borough has many charity shops, perfect for donating pre-loved items and finding unique gifts.

Use the Charity Retail Association’s shop finder or search online for “charity shops near me”.

Consider buying some presents from charity shops to support local causes and reduce waste.

re3 re-use pop-up shop in Finchampstead:

Find quality second-hand items at great prices:

• Saturday 6 December, 10am–1pm
• Finchampstead Baptist Church RG40 4ES
• Cash and card accepted. Every purchase helps reduce waste and supports Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Food waste tips for Christmas and New Year

Weekly food waste collections continue as normal, so make the most of them. Here are some easy ways to reduce waste:

• Cooking oils - Pour cooled oil into a sealed bottle and put it in your food waste bin. Never pour it down the sink
• Turkey and meat carcasses - Pop them in your food waste bin after the big meal
• Leftovers - Freeze extra portions from Christmas dinner to enjoy later and cut waste
• Fruit and veg scraps - Be sure to add peelings and cores to your food waste bin instead of the general rubbish
• Expired festive treats - Stale mince pies, uneaten Christmas pudding and other leftovers can go in your food waste bin
• Tea bags and coffee grounds - These can also go in your food waste bin and coffee pods can be recycled at re3 recycling centres
• Avoid overbuying - Plan meals and make a shopping list to prevent food waste

Avoid bin contamination - put the right things in the right bin

• Wrapping paper - Do the scrunch test: if it stays scrunched, recycle it. If not, put it in the rubbish. Avoid glitter and foil
• Glass jars and bottles - Rinse and recycle in your green bag. Large amounts can go to your local glass bottle bank or an re3 recycling centre
• Christmas lights - Broken lights? Take them to an re3 recycling centre (bag them to avoid tangles)
• Cardboard - Flatten boxes to save space in your green recycling bag
• Plastic packaging
  • Only recycle rigid plastics like bottles, tubs and trays (not black) in your green recycling bag.
  • Soft plastics, plastic bags, food packets, plastic wrap/film and pet food pouches should be recycled at supermarkets
• Batteries - Never put batteries in your waste bin. Recycle at re3 recycling centres or drop-off points in shops

If it scrunches it can be recycled.

What can I recycle?

Recyling your Christmas tree

For tree's a jolly good fellow. If you have a real Christmas tree, here’s how to recycle it in Wokingham Borough:

Choose the greenest option

• Christmas tree rental - Renting is the most environmentally friendly choice because the tree is replanted for future years

Recycle your tree 

• Garden waste collection - Chop it up and put it in your brown garden waste bin or bag. Make sure decorations and lights are removed
• Recycling centres - Take it to an re3 recycling centre in Reading or Bracknell. Make sure decorations and lights are removed
• Replant it - If your tree still has roots, give it a second life in your garden

Artificial trees

These cannot be recycled, but why not find a new home for it. Friends, families, community exchange sites and charity shops may be grateful for them if they are in good condition.

Want to make a difference?

• Sue Ryder's Treecycling service will collect your real tree for a small donation and turn it into compost or wood chippings. Your donation helps fund palliative care and bereavement support
• Deadline to book: Sunday 4 January
• Collections: Wednesday 7 to Friday 16 January 2026 in selected RG postcodes in Wokingham Borough

Make Christmas greener - before, during and after

Whether you’re planning festive meals, wrapping presents or tidying up after the big day, here are simple ways to reduce waste and recycle more this Christmas.

From checking bin collection dates to donating unwanted items and recycling your tree, use this guide to make the most of local services and keep the right things in the right bins.

Before Christmas

• Plan your meals to avoid food waste
• Rent a Christmas tree for the lowest environmental impact
• Check your revised Christmas and New Year bin collection dates and download your calendar
• Declutter and donate clothes, toys and decorations to charity shops, clothes banks, re3 recycling centres or Anglo Doorstep Collections
• Collect extra recycling bags if needed from any of our collection hubs (limit two per trip)
• Choose recyclable wrapping paper (avoid glitter and foil)
• Download the Scrapp App or check what goes in each bin

During Christmas

• Use the scrunch test for wrapping paper before recycling
• Flatten cardboard boxes to save space in your green recycling bag
• Collect food scraps like turkey bones and vegetable peelings for your food waste bin
• Keep batteries out of bins - store them for recycling later

After Christmas

• Recycle your real tree via garden waste collection, re3 recycling centres or Sue Ryder Treecycling
• Replant rooted trees for a second life
• Donate unwanted gifts to charity shops, re3 recycling centres or Anglo Doorstep Collections
• Recycle old electronics at re3 recycling centres, charity shops or Anglo Doorstep Collections
• Check your updated Christmas and New Year bin collection dates 

Frequently asked questions

What do I do with Christmas wrapping paper in Wokingham?

If it passes the scrunch test (stays scrunched), recycle it in your green bag. If not, put it in your rubbish bin. Avoid glitter and foil. Check what goes in your recycling bag.

Can I recycle my Christmas tree locally?

Yes. Use garden waste collection, take it to a re3 recycling centre or book Sue Ryder Treecycling.

I don't have enough space in my green recycling bag / I would like addition green recycling bags. 

You can collect additional green recycling bags from one of our local collection hubs (pick up a maximum of two additional bags per visit).

Where can I donate unwanted clothes and toys?

Try Anglo Doorstep Collections, First Days School Clothing or local charity shops.

How do I dispose of batteries safely?

Take them to re3 recycling centres or battery drop-off points in supermarkets.

Can I recycle Christmas cards?

Yes, if they are paper-based and don’t have glitter or foil.

What do I do with broken Christmas lights?

Bag them and take them to an re3 recycling centre.

Can I recycle foil trays and mince pie cases?

Yes, if clean. Put them in your green recycling bag.

What about plastic packaging from gifts?

Recycle rigid plastics like bottles and tubs. Do not recycle plastic film or wrapping.

Can I put food waste in my rubbish bin?

No. Use your food waste bin for scraps like turkey bones and vegetable peelings.

What happens if I accidentally miss my bin collection?

Check the updated Christmas and New Year rubbish and recycling collection dates. You can also report a missed collection.