Highland Council is urging households and businesses to cut waste and recycle responsibly over Christmas, as the festive period brings one of the biggest spikes in rubbish and recycling of the year.
The council says its twin bin recycling system is now fully operational across the Highlands, making it easier for people to recycle more and reduce what ends up going to landfill.
You can find out what can go in your recycling bins on the council website
Councillor Graham MacKenzie, Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, said:
“Recycling during Christmas is essential to reducing waste sent for disposal and lowering our carbon footprint.
“Every effort counts.
“Our new recycling services make it easier than ever to recycle.”
He said residents should use their blue bin for Christmas cards, envelopes, wrapping paper, paper packaging and cardboard.
He said the green bin should be used for food tins, drinks cans, cartons, aerosols, clean foil and plastic containers, including empty tubs from festive treats.
The council is reminding residents that soft plastics cannot be recycled in Highland recycling bins.
Items such as crisp packets, cling film, plastic wrap, and plastic bags should be taken to supermarket collection points instead.
Highland Council also highlighted the growing issue of electronic waste, encouraging people to think twice before throwing old technology in the bin.
New reuse containers are available at Nairn Household Waste Recycling Centre, Wick and Thurso Household Waste Recycling Centres, and Inverness Household Waste Recycling Centre, allowing people to donate working electrical and electronic items for reuse.
Residents clearing out drawers and cupboards are being encouraged to bring items such as phones, laptops, tablets, toasters, air fryers and TVs to the reuse containers, as long as they are still in good working order.
Cllr MacKenzie said:
“Recycling electricals ensures safe disposal and allows valuable materials and resources to be recovered.
“Keeping electronic and electrical items out of bins has never been more important.
“If you are having a clear out at Christmas, please have a think about what you can do with your old tech and gadgets.
“Can it be repaired, can you sell it, or give it away on local reuse networks like Freecycle.
“Please do not put it in your non recyclable bin.
“If items can’t be re used in any way, please take them to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.”
The council is also reminding residents to recycle batteries properly at recycling centres or supermarkets, warning they must never be placed in household bins or public litter bins due to fire risk.
If broken toys are being thrown out, batteries should be removed first and recycled separately.
Food waste is another common problem at this time of year, and the council is urging people to make full use of available collections.
Visit the council website to find out more about the Food Waste Collection Service.
Householders with food waste collections in Inverness, Nairn, Easter Ross and Fort William are being encouraged to use the service for unavoidable waste such as turkey bones, peelings, tea bags and coffee grounds.
After Hogmanay, residents are being asked to take empty bottles and jars to local bottle banks or recycling centres, with no need to separate glass by colour.
Anyone with a real Christmas tree is being reminded it can be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre, where it will be recycled into compost.
Some bin collection dates will change over the festive period, with alternative collection dates published for households whose bins are normally collected on Monday, Thursday or Friday.
Highland Council says anyone unsure of their revised dates should check the council’s festive bin day information online.
Household Waste Recycling Centres will remain open throughout the festive season except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and 1 January and 2 January.
Residents are being asked to separate items before arriving at recycling centres to save time and increase recycling rates, with a reminder that some larger sites require trailers and vans under 3.5T to book in advance.
For further information about recycling in the Highlands visit: www.highland.gov.uk/recycle or email recycle@highland.gov.uk
Across the Highlands (excluding Inverness)
- Monday 22 December 2025 collections will be collected on Saturday 20 December 2025
- Thursday 25 December 2025 collections will be collected on Monday 22 December 2025
- Friday 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day) collections operating as normal
- Monday 29 December 2025 collections will be collected on Saturday 27 December 2025
- Thursday 1 January 2026 collections will be collected on Monday 29 December 2025
- Friday 2nd January 2026 collections will be collected on Saturday 3 January 2026.
Inverness area only
- Monday 22 December 2025 will be collected on Saturday 20 December 2025
- Thursday 25 December 2025 collections will be collected between Monday 22 December and Friday 26 December 2025
- Friday 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day) collections operating as normal
- Thursday 1 January 2025 collections will be collected between Monday 29 December 2025 and Wednesday 7 January 2026
- Friday 2 January 2026 collections will be collected between Saturday 3 January and Friday 9 January 2026
If your bin is not emptied on the dates as detailed above, please leave it out and it will be collected as soon as possible.
To check your bin collections please visit: www.highland.gov.uk/festivebindays
