Reading's 2026 Christmas bin dates are not out yet. Last year every round from Christmas Day moved a day or two, back to normal on 12 January. The full table.
Reading Borough Council has not yet published its Christmas and New Year 2026/27 bin collection changes. Last year it did, and the pattern was simple: collections before Christmas Day stayed put, everything from Christmas Day onwards moved later by a day or two, and the normal timetable came back on Monday 12 January.
The quick answer
- 2026 dates: not published yet. Last year’s list was on the council’s website by 23 December 2025.
- Last year, nothing changed before Christmas Day. Every round from Christmas Day moved, most by one working day, and normal service returned on Monday 12 January 2026.
- Garden waste stops for two weeks over Christmas. Last year that was from Wednesday 24 December to Monday 5 January.
Last year’s revised collection days
These are the 2025/26 changes, as published by the council in its Christmas and New Year opening hours notice. They are not this year’s dates. They are here because they show the shape the council uses, and they tell you which weeks to watch.
| Normal collection day | Revised collection day |
|---|---|
| Monday 22 December | No change |
| Tuesday 23 December | No change |
| Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) | No change |
| Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) | Saturday 27 December |
| Friday 26 December (Boxing Day) | Monday 29 December |
| Monday 29 December | Tuesday 30 December |
| Tuesday 30 December | Wednesday 31 December |
| Wednesday 31 December | Friday 2 January |
| Thursday 1 January | Saturday 3 January |
| Friday 2 January | Monday 5 January |
| Monday 5 January | Tuesday 6 January |
| Tuesday 6 January | Wednesday 7 January |
| Wednesday 7 January | Thursday 8 January |
| Thursday 8 January | Friday 9 January |
| Friday 9 January | Saturday 10 January |
| Monday 12 January | Back to normal |
Three Saturday collections appeared in that list: 27 December, 3 January and 10 January. If your bin day is a Thursday or a Friday, that is the one to watch.
Why 2026 will look different
The calendar has moved. In 2026 Christmas Day is a Friday and the Boxing Day bank holiday is moved to Monday 28 December, and New Year’s Day is also a Friday (GOV.UK bank holidays). Last year’s bank holidays fell on a Thursday, a Friday and a Thursday.
That means the days that move this year will not be the same days as last year. Do not copy last year’s table onto this year’s calendar. Wait for the council’s own list, which this page will carry as soon as it appears.
Our Reading bin collection days page has the normal fortnightly green bin rounds up to the third week of December.
Garden waste over Christmas
The brown bin garden waste service takes its usual two-week break. Last year the council said collections would pause “from Wednesday 24 December, with collections resuming to schedule on Monday 5 January 2026” (Reading Borough Council). The council’s garden waste page describes the same two-week Christmas pause as part of the service all year.
Christmas trees
Last year the council set up free Christmas tree drop-off points across the borough between 3 and 25 January 2026. The sites were:
- Mapledurham Playing Fields
- Clayfield Copse
- Hills Meadow
- Rivermead Leisure Complex
- Kensington Park
- Prospect Park
- Meadway Recreation Ground
- Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium
- Whitley Wood Recreation Ground
- South Reading Leisure Centre
Trees could also go to the re3 recycling centre on Island Road, which needs a booked slot. Its Christmas hours are on our Reading tip opening times page. The 2027 drop-off sites have not been announced.
What is still to be confirmed
- The 2026/27 revised collection days. Last year’s list was online by 23 December; we will check from the start of December.
- The garden waste pause dates for 2026.
- The January 2027 Christmas tree drop-off sites.
Check your own address on the council’s bin calendar once the festive dates are loaded. For getting about over the holiday, see Reading Christmas trains and travel, and for town centre parking, parking in Reading.
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