As Christmas fast approaches, it is time to start thinking of how to get rid of the rubbish that accumulates over the festive period. 

From food waste you can't compost to unrecyclable plastic, black and green bins can get full very quickly over the festive period.

If you're not looking for bin collection times, check here for Christmas tip opening times for York's nearest waste recycling centres and find out what you can recycle.

Here's what you need to know about bin collection times in York over Christmas. 

Christmas bin collections in York

There will be no changes to bin collections in York over Christmas, City of York Council confirmed.

As Christmas and New Year fall over a weekend, and we carry out collections over bank holidays, collections will resume as normal.

What goes in your recycling box?

With increased awareness of climate change and our impact on the planet, more of us will be looking to recycle as much as possible. 

It can be difficult to know what types of plastics are recyclable and whether you can put wrapping paper your recycling box.

Under City of York Council, you must sort your recycling when you present it for collection with plastics, metals and glass mixed together.

Paper and cardboard must be kept separate from other items.

Here's what you can recycle using your recycling box:

  • all plastics labelled either PET 1 or HDPE 2 - you can check this on your packaging.
  • all paper
  • Cardboard boxes can go in your recycling bin while large cardboard boxes can be flattened and placed next to your recycling box - but it must be dry.
  • greetings cards (plain cards without foil, glitter or ribbon)
  • envelopes
  • all steel and aluminium food tins and drink cans
  • biscuit and sweet tins
  • all cartons e.g. fruit juice, drinks and soup
  • squash and replace lid
  • food tins (tuna, soup, pet food)
  • drinks cans
  • sweet tins, biscuit tins and metal lids
  • baby milk tins (no plastic lids or scoops)
  • hairspray, deodorant, (empty) spray paint and shaving foam aerosols
  • cardboard boxes, broken down so that they fit in your recycling box
  • egg boxes
  • newspapers/magazines, telephone directories, catalogues/brochures (with staples removed)
  • junk mail, leaflets (with staples removed), white/coloured paper
  • cereal boxes, ready meal boxes
  • kitchen/toilet roll tubes, tissue boxes
  • card sleeves from food packaging

Some mixed plastics you may be unable to recycle include: 

  • some plastic bottles (with or without lids)
  • some food trays
  • some margarine tubs
  • some yogurt pots
  • hard plastic toys
  • plastic food wrapping

Information for this article has been sourced via the City of York Council website.