Bin collections across East Cambridgeshire will be changing on a temporary basis during the festive period.

East Cambridgeshire District Council’s (ECDC) trading company, East Cambs Street Scene, will be collecting residents’ waste on a revised schedule over Christmas and the New Year.

The team will be making some collections before Christmas earlier than the usual collection date, with the first earlier service being carried out on Saturday, December 21, instead of Monday, December 23.

Collections scheduled between Boxing Day and Friday January 3, will be made one day after residents’ usual collection day.

Councillor David Ambrose Smith, chairman of ECDC’s operational services committee, said: “We take pride in making East Cambridgeshire a great place to live, work and visit.

“It is important for us to ensure that all bin collections are undertaken, while fitting around Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which fall mid-week."

When will services be carried out?

Normal collection date Monday, December 23 – collection on Saturday, December 21

Normal collection date Tuesday, December 24 – collection on Monday, December 23

Normal collection date Wednesday, December 25 – collection on Tuesday, December 24

Normal collection date Thursday, December 26 – collection on Friday, December 27

Normal collection date Friday, December 27 – collection on Saturday, December 28

Normal collection date Monday, December 30 – collection as usual

Normal collection date Tuesday, December 31 – collection as usual

Normal collection date Wednesday, January 1 – collection on Thursday, January 2

Normal collection date Thursday, January 2 – collection on Friday, January 3

Normal collection date Friday, January 3 – collection on Saturday, January 4

Bin collections will return to their regular schedule on Monday, January 6.

Councillor Julia Huffer, ECDC’s waste champion, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to encourage our residents to recycle as much of their rubbish as they can over Christmas and the New Year as possible.

“Many items such as cardboard packaging from toys and cards can be recycled.

“Please be careful when recycling wrapping paper. Any embellished or sparkly patterns cannot be recycled and including them within your blue bin will not just contaminate your bin, but potentially the truck’s load.

“To minimise food waste, we would also encourage our residents not to over-shop. If you have excess food, please place it in your green bin and not in black sacks.”

Food waste, both cooked and uncooked, can be placed in green bins. It should be wrapped in newspaper or a paper bag to prevent it from sticking to the inside of the bin.

East Cambs Street Scene will also be collecting real Christmas trees on green bin collection days from December 30. If the tree is taller than the bin, it should be cut into pieces not higher than the bin and placed next to the green bin.

Bins and black sacks must be outside residents’ properties by 7am on the day of collection and not before 6pm the day before.

Residents can find details of their bin dates using the ‘Find your collection day’ tool on  East Cambridgeshire District Council’s website www.eastcambs.gov.uk