When will my bin get collected? Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highlands and Islands Christmas bin collection dates

Bin collections across Scotland are changing over the festive period to give refuse workers a much-needed rest.

But, with more household waste than at any other time of the year, it’s important you know when your council will collect your bins over the coming weeks.

Here’s a full list of the bin collection changes.

Highlands

For Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Lochaber, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, and Skye and Lochalsh, bins will be collected as followed:

• Monday, December 22 will be collected on Saturday, December 20
• Thursday, December 25 will be collected on Monday, December 22
• Monday, December 29 will be collected on Saturday, December 27
• Thursday, January 1 will be collected on Monday, December 29
• Friday, January 2 will be collected on Saturday, January 3

Meanwhile, these are the dates for Inverness:

• Monday, December 22 will be collected on Saturday, December 20
• Thursday, December 25 will be collected between December 22 and 26
• Thursday, January 1 will be collected between December 29 and January 7
• Friday, January 2 will be collected between January 3 and 9

On Friday, December 26, collections will operate as usual.

Moray

Moray Council has announced their bin collection dates for the festive period:

• Lintmill/Deskford – December 22
• Elgin – December 22
• Forres – December 22/23
• Craigellachie/Rothes – December 24
• Lossiemouth – December 23
• Cullen – December 24
• Buckpool – December 24
• Burghead – December 29
• Findochty – December 29
• Elgin – December 30/31
• Cragganmore – December 30
• Urquhart/Inchberry – December 29
• Buckie – December 30
• Forres/Elgin – December 30
• Drummuir – December 31

Aberdeenshire

The changes announced by Aberdeenshire Council are as follows:

• Thursday, December 25 will be collected on Sunday, December 28
• Friday, December 26 will be collected on Monday, December 29
• Thursday, January 1 bins will be collected Sunday, January 4
• Friday, January 2 bins will be collected on Monday, January 5

Aberdeen City

• Aberdeen City bins due to be collected on Thursday, December 25 will be collected on Saturday, December 27.
• Those due on Thursday, January 1 will be collected on Saturday, January 3.

Brown bins collections have been suspended for four weeks between December 15 and January 12. Recycling centres will operate normal winter hours but will be closed on December 25 and January 1.

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Orkney

Domestic and commercial collection days over Christmas and New Year in Orkney are listed below:

• Eday - Wednesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 31.
• Flotta - Tuesday, December 23 and Tuesday, December 30.
• Graemsay - Tuesday, December 23 and Tuesday, December 30.
• Hoy - Monday, December 22 and Monday, December 29.
• North Ronaldsay - Wednesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 31.
• Papa Westray - Saturday, December 27 and Saturday, January 3, 2026.
• Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre - Thursday, December 18, Monday, December 29, Monday, January 5, 2026 and Thursday, January 8, 2025.
• Sanday - Monday, December 22 and Monday, December 29.
• Shapinsay -Domestic and trade refuse collection is on Wednesday, December 24.
• Last recycling collection is Wednesday, December 17. The next collection date is Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
• Stronsay - Wednesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 31.
• Westray - Monday, December 22 and Monday, December 29.

Regular collections will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026.