Festive period bin collection information

Residents are being encouraged to check bin collection dates over the festive period as there will be changes in some areas.

People living across North Ayrshire should note the changes below as the actual time of collection may vary during the festive period.

Please put your bin out for 7am, and remember if adverse weather affects your area, Council staff will return to collect your bin when possible.

This year, on Arran there will be no changes to domestic bin collection days over the festive holiday.

On the mainland and Cumbrae:

• Bins due for collection on Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) will be collected two days later on Saturday 27 December
• Bins due for collection on Friday 26 December (Boxing Day) will be collected two days later on Sunday 28 December
• Bins due for collection on Thursday 1 January will be collected two days later on Saturday 3 January and
• Bins due for collection on Friday 2 January will be collected two days later on Sunday 4 January.

Please note that if your normal collection day does not fall on these days, it will not be affected and will remain the same.

The last collection of brown bins for residents in 2025 will be Friday 19 December, and this service will recommence on Monday 5 January 2026.

Changes to operating times for the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are as follows:

Mainland – HWRCs will have extended opening hours on 22 and 23 December and then again on the 27, 28, 29 and 30 December, when they will be open from 9am to 5.30pm (last available booking slot 5pm).

They will close at 2pm (last available booking slot 1.30pm) on 24 December (Christmas Eve) and remain closed on 25 and 26 December and will close again at 2pm (last available booking slot 1.30pm) on 31 December and remain closed on 1 and 2 January and open again as normal on 3 January 2026.

The Largs HWRC is closed every Wednesday and Thursday, so there will also be no slots available here on 24 and 31 December.

Arran – the centre will close at 2pm (last available booking slot 1.30pm) on 24 December and remain closed on 25 and 26 December and will close at 2pm (last available booking slot 1.30pm) on 31 December and remain closed on 1 and 2 January 2026 but will be open as normal every other day.

Please note that the last collection of bulky waste (special uplifts) for residents in all areas for 2025 will be 19 December, and this service will begin again on 12 January 2026.

The mainland and Cumbrae waste teams will collect real Christmas trees (in 5 Ft or less sections) from beside your brown bin from 12 January 2026 over the next two-week collection cycle.

Check your collection calendar on the Council website from 1 December to confirm dates in your area.

On Arran, real Christmas trees can be deposited at the Brodick Household Waste Recycling Centre.

For commercial waste collections, changes on the mainland and Cumbrae are:

• Bins due for collection on Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) will be collected two days later on Saturday 27 December
• Bins due for collection on Friday 26 December (Boxing Day) will be collected two days later on Sunday 28 December
• Bins due for collection on Thursday 1 January will be collected two days later on Saturday 3 January
• Bins due for collection on Friday 2 January will be collected two days later on Sunday 4 January.

There will be no changes to Arran commercial waste collections over the festive period.

Published: 01 December 2025