Christmas opening times and information on changes to services
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Three Rivers District Council’s visitor centre and phone lines will have different operating hours over the Christmas and New Year period – there are also changes to services including bin collections.
The council’s online services will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week as usual.
Find out the council's updated opening times along with information on the waste collection arrangements below:
| Date | Visitor Centre opening hours | Phone line opening hours |
|
Monday 22 December
| 9am - 4pm | 8:30am - 5:30pm |
| Tuesday 23 December | 9am - 4pm | 8:30am - 5:30pm |
|
Wednesday 24 December
(Christmas Eve)
| 9am - 12:30pm | 8:45am - 12:30pm |
|
Thursday 25 December
(Christmas Day)
| Closed | Closed |
|
Friday 26 December
(Boxing Day) | Closed | Closed |
|
Saturday 27 December
| Closed | Closed |
|
Sunday 28 December
| Closed | Closed |
|
Monday 29 December
| Closed | 8:45am - 12:30pm |
| Tuesday 30 December | Closed | 8:45am - 12:30pm |
|
Wednesday 31 December
(New Year's Eve)
| Closed | 8:45am - 12:30pm |
| Thursday 1 January (New Year's Day) | Closed | Closed |
| Friday 2 January | 9am - 4pm | 8:30am - 5pm |
Household waste collections
No collections will take place on Thursday 25, Friday 26 December and Thursday 1 January.
Two extra bags of refuse will be collected on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 January ONLY for these residents.
Collections on Monday 29, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 December will take place on the normal collection day, and no excess refuse will be taken on these dates.
Collections will take place one day later after New Year: Friday 2 and Saturday 3 January.
| Original collection date | Revised collection date | Bin collection |
|
Monday 22 December
| Monday 22 December (no change) | Refuse, recycling, food waste |
| Tuesday 23 December | Tuesday 23 December (no change) | Refuse, recycling, food waste |
|
Wednesday 24 December
(Christmas Eve)
| Wednesday 24 December (no change) | Refuse, recycling, food waste |
|
Thursday 25 December
(Christmas Day)
| Friday 2 January | Refuse, recycling, food waste A maximum of two extra bags of refuse will be collected |
|
Friday 26 December
(Boxing Day) | Saturday 3 January | Refuse, recycling, food waste A maximum of two extra bags of refuse will be collected |
|
Monday 29 December
| Monday 29 December (no change) | Refuse, recycling, food waste No excess refuse will be taken |
| Tuesday 30 December | Tuesday 30 December (no change) | Refuse, recycling, food waste No excess refuse will be taken |
|
Wednesday 31 December
(New Year's Eve)
| Wednesday 31 December (no change) | Refuse, recycling, food waste No excess refuse will be taken |
|
Thursday 1 January
(New Year's Day) | Friday 2 January | Refuse, recycling, food waste A maximum of two extra bags of refuse will be collected |
|
Friday 2 January
| Saturday 3 January | Refuse, recycling, food waste A maximum of two extra bags of refuse will be collected |
Garden waste collections
No garden waste (brown bins) will be collected between 15 December to 4 January. Garden waste collections will resume the week commencing 5 January 2026.
Real Christmas trees can be left out and will be taken (WEEK B only) regardless of subscription to the Garden Waste Service.
Recycling collections
Extra recycling can be left out in carrier or clear bags over the Christmas/New Year Period.
Paper based wrapping paper (do the scrunch test – see link below) is accepted in the recycling bin as are plain greetings cards:
Check out the A-Z online: To recycle, or not to recycle (and how) - an A-Z guide | Three Rivers District Council
Bulky waste (Special) collections
We will ring the next eligible collections for the week commencing 8 December.
There will be no collections from the week commencing 15 December up to 4 January. Collections will resume the week commencing 5 January 2026.
Clinical collections
Trade and domestic clinical collections will be carried out one day earlier than normal.
Week commencing 22 December
Tuesday’s collection - brought forward to Monday 22 December
Wednesday’s collection - brought forward to Tuesday 23 December
Thursday’s collection - brought forward to Wednesday 24 December
Week commencing 29 December
Tuesday’s collection – brought forward to Monday 29 December
Wednesday’s collection – brought forward to Tuesday 30 December
Thursday’s collection – brought forward to Wednesday 31 December
Trade customers will either get an email or flyer. Domestic customers will find details on Three Rivers District Council’s website.
Trade waste – Refuse, Recycling & Food
No collections will take place on Thursday 25, Friday 26 December and Thursday 1 January.
Collections on Monday 29, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 December will take place on the normal collection day.
Collections will take place one day later after New Year: Friday 2 and Saturday 3 January
Trade customers will be emailed and advised of revised collection dates.
For information on recycling centre opening times please visit Hertfordshire County Council’s website: Recycling centres | Hertfordshire County Council
Refuse/Recycling/Food collection dates can also be downloaded from: Three Rivers District Council
And you can find more information here: Find my bin collection day | Three Rivers District Council