Rubbish and recycling collection days are changing over the holiday period, with collections happening one day later than usual.

These changes begin Thursday 25 December, and normal collection days resume Monday 5 January 2026.

If your usual kerbside collection day is Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, there are no changes. If you usually put your bins out on a Thursday or Friday, put them out one day later by 7am.

“These changes ensure our kerbside contractors have Christmas and New Year’s Day off to spend with loved ones,” said Hamilton City Council’s Head of Resource Recovery, Sarah Wilson.

Make Christmas clean-up simple by setting up a bin system before the festivities begin. Use one box for recycling, another for reusables like gift bags, and one for rubbish — then sort items as you go.

Here are some easy ways you can master recycling:

• rinse items like cans and bottles
• remove caps from bottles and spray bottles
• remove food residue from cardboard food packaging (like pizza boxes).

“Recycling the right things, in the right way, means we send less waste to landfill.”

“If you're unsure whether an item can be recycled, type it into the bin sorter tool on our website. The tool will tell you which bin the item belongs in,” said Wilson.

Not sure what to do with wrapping paper? Try the “scrunch test”, if the wrapping paper springs back when you release your hand, it’s not recyclable. If it stays scrunched up, it’s recyclable.

If you have excess waste, green waste, recycling or items to donate, please check the holiday operating hours below. These facilities are open during the holiday period but have some full-day closures.

Lincoln Street Resource Recovery Centre

25 December: closed

26 December: 9am – 4pm

1 January: closed

2 January: 9am – 4pm

Hamilton Organic Centre – Wickham Street

25 December: closed

1 January: closed

Lincoln Street Habitat for Humanity ReUse Store

25 December: closed

26 December: closed

1 January: closed

2 January: closed

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