CHRISTMAS recycling and waste collection dates have been announced by the Isle of Wight Council, as well as tips for recycling Christmas wrapping and packaging.

Polystyrene packaging — the council, in partnership with Amey, will collect excess polystyrene from households on general (black bin/sack) waste collection days from Monday, December 20 until January 19.

If you have excess polystyrene packaging, place it within a clear or white plastic bag next to your black bin/black gull sack on your collection day.

It must be in a clear or white sack so that the collection crews can easily identify it. The clear bag must only contain polystyrene or it won't be collected.

After January 19, remember polystyrene is not currently recyclable and must be placed in black bins/black gull sacks or taken to Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh household waste recycling centres and placed in the general rubbish skip.

Wrapping paper and Christmas cards - paper based wrapping paper and cards without glitter can be recycled in the paper/card insert of your green recycling bin or the blue gull proof sack.

Any extra can be placed in a clear or white bag to the side of the bin or gull-proof sack.

Foil based wrapping paper cannot be recycled and should be placed in your black bin or black gull proof sack.

Cardboard - cardboard can be recycled so can be bundled to the side of your recycling bin or blue gull-sack.

Unwanted toys or bicycles - these can be taken to Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh household waste recycling centres and can be donated for re-use.

Foil - clean foil and trays can be recycled.

The council have said that non-recyclable excess side waste will not be collected and should be stored until your next black bin or black gull proof sack collection date, or can be taken to Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh household waste recycling centres.

The Christmas collection timetable is as follows. If your collection is:



  • Monday, December 25, it will be collected on Wednesday, December 27.
  • Tuesday, December 26, it will be collected on Thursday, December 28.
  • Wednesday, December 27, it will be collected on Friday, December 29.
  • Thursday, December 28, it will be collected on Saturday, December 30.
  • Friday, December 29, it will be collected on Sunday, December 31.
  • Monday, January 1, it will be collected on Tuesday, January 2.
  • Tuesday, January 2, it will be collected on Wednesday, January 3.
  • Wednesday, January 3, it will be collected on Thursday, January 4.
  • Thursday, January 4, it will be collected on Friday, January 5.
  • Friday, January 5, it will be collected on Saturday, January 6.



All recycling and waste collections will return to normal from Monday, January 8.

Lynnbottom and Afton Marsh household waste recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day, but will remain open as normal throughout the rest of the festive period, including New Year's Day.

Lynnbottom is open seven days a week. Afton Marsh opens Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Opening hours at both sites are between 10am and 6pm.

For more information about recycling and waste, visit www.iwight.com/waste or go to www.RecycleNow.com