While things will certainly not be normal this Christmas, one thing that will stay the same is the need to have your rubbish collected.

But councils tend to change bin collection dates over the festive period to allow their staff to take some well-deserved time off on the bank holidays.

The last thing you need to worry about this year is when you’ll be able to get rid of all the wrapping paper, bottles and turkey bones clogging up your house.

So we’ve rounded up all the important changes.

In Richmond normal day collections will take place between December 21 and 24.

If you bin day should be Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day), collections will take place on Sunday, December 27 instead.

From Monday, December 28 until Wednesday, December 30, collections will be one day later.

On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, collections will be two days later.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: Stock imageStock image

There will be no change for those receiving commercial waste and recycling collection services.

Normal domestic collection schedules will resume on Monday January 11.

Normal Collection Day in italics below, revised collection days underlined and in bold - unchanged dates just in bold.

Monday 21 December - Monday 21 December

Tuesday 22 December - Tuesday 22 December

Wednesday 23 December - Wednesday 23 December

Thursday 24 December - Thursday 24 December

Friday 25 December - Sunday 27 December

Monday 28 December - Tuesday 29 December

Tuesday 29 December - Wednesday 30 December

Wednesday 30 December - Thursday 31 December

Thursday 31 December - Saturday 2 January

Friday 1 January - Monday 4 January

Monday 4 January - Tuesday 5 January

Tuesday 5 January - Wednesday 6 January

Wednesday 6 January - Thursday 7 January

Thursday 7 January - Friday 8 January

Friday 8 January - Saturday 9 January

If you have so much paper and card that it doesn’t fit in your recycling bin, you are asked to consider taking it to a local street recycling site or prebooking an appointment to visit the Household Waste and Recycling Centre at Townmead Road in Kew.

Garden Waste Collections will continue through until December 18, 2020 and will recommence on January 4, 2021.

Real Christmas Trees will be collected between January 4 and January 15, 2021.

Alternatively, you can take your Christmas tree to:

Household Waste and Recycling Centre, Townmead Road, Kew (but you must book ahead)

Barn Elms Sports Centre, SW13 0DG (opposite Barnes Rugby Centre)

Squire’s Garden Centre Car Park, Sixth Cross Road, TW2 5PA

Old Deer Car Park, TW9 2RA

Ham Street Car Park, TW10 7RS

Nelson Road Car Park, TW2 7BB

Hampton Library Car Park, TW12 2AB

North Lane Car Park, Teddington, TW11 0HJ

For more information, go to: www.richmond.gov.uk/collection_day

Residents are reminded that due to heavy workloads, some collection crews may be taking their collections later than normal.

If you are self-isolating or feeling ill, you should put any potentially infected items like used tissues or cleaning cloths into separate plastic bags and double bag them.

These bags should be stored for 72 hours before being put in with general waste for collection.