Mayor urges everyone to recycle this Christmas
17 December 2025
People across Derry and Strabane are being encouraged to recycle as much as possible over the Christmas period and to ensure waste is placed in the correct bins, as households generate significantly more waste at this time of year.
Christmas celebrations lead to an increase in food waste and packaging, and the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairi McHugh, said people could give something back by doing their bit and disposing of things responsibly.
People are reminded that food waste such as peelings, bones and food scraps should always go into the brown bin, while recyclable items including glass bottles and jars; tins, cans and aerosol cans; plastic bottles and food containers; paper; cardboard and juice cartons, should be placed in the blue bin.
“Christmas is a time for celebration, but it’s also a time when we can all make small changes that have a big impact on our environment,” he stressed. “I’m encouraging everyone across Derry and Strabane to recycle as much as possible this festive period and, in particular, to make sure that food waste goes into the brown bin and not the black bin.
“No matter how little food waste you have please put it in your brown bin and set out for collection, even if it’s only a couple of bags as every little helps and it is all recycled into compost and used in our parks, open spaces and also schools. By doing this we can reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. By recycling correctly this Christmas, we’re helping to protect our environment and support a more sustainable future for our city and district.”
Residents are also reminded to flatten cardboard boxes where possible to make more room in blue bins and to ensure recyclables are clean, dry and loose.
For further information on what goes in each bin and Christmas collection arrangements, visit the Council website on recycling.derrystrabane.com/