The Christmas period sees bin collections change and other council services altered.
Here is your guide to what’s happening in your council area.
Cumberland Council (Carlisle, Copeland, Allerdale)
There will be no waste and kerbside recycling collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Collections will take place on the following revised dates:
| Scheduled date | Actual collection date | |
| December 25 | December 27 | |
| December 26 | December 28 | |
| December 27 | December 29 | |
| December 28 | December 30 | |
| December 29 | December 31 | |
| January 1 | January 2 | |
| January 2 | January 3 | |
| January 3 | January 4 | |
| January 4 | January 5 | |
| January 5 | January 6 |
Household Waste Recycling Centres will remain open, except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, when they will be closed. All centres will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Recycling bring sites, including those in supermarket car parks, will not have collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, but the council said it was committed to ensuring the sites were emptied regularly. If the bins/cages are full, people are asked not to leave items on the ground.
Enforcement officers, with the aid of CCTV surveillance, will monitor the bring sites for any instances of fly-tipping. Should the bins or cages be full, people are asked to take their items home and return on another day.
Foil or glitter wrapping paper, polystyrene, and other types of poly wrap or cellophane are non-recyclable and should be disposed of in general waste bins.
Westmorland and Furness Council (Barrow, South Lakeland and Eden)
If you live in the Eden or South Lakeland areas and your usual collection day is Monday December 25, your collection will be made on Saturday December 23.
From Tuesday December 26 all collections through the week will then be one day later than normal. From Monday January 8 collections will go back to the normal day.
If you live in the Barrow area, collections will be a day later than usual from Tuesday December 26. From Monday January 1 collections will be on the normal day.
To check your exact waste collection dates, visit the council website here.
Recycling
Household Waste Recycling Centres will remain open as usual throughout the festive season but they will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Opening hours are:
- Ambleside: 8am-6pm, Monday-Sunday
- Barrow: 8am to 11am, noon to 6pm, Monday-Sunday
- Penrith (Flusco): 8am-6pm, Monday-Sunday
- Grange-over-Sands: 8am-4pm, Thursday-Saturday
- Kendal: 8am-4pm, Monday-Sunday
- Kirkby Stephen: 8am-6pm. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
- Ulverston: 8am-6pm, Monday-Sunday
The permit helpline will be closed on bank holidays and weekends. All centres which open on Sundays will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Other services
Highways
Cumberland Council: The Highways Hotline – 0300 373 3736 – will be unavailable on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. People can report problems online. Calls will be diverted to an answerphone service with emergency contact information.
Westmorland and Furness Council: Between 5pm on Friday December 22 and 8.30am on Tuesday January 2, highways are operating a limited-service prioritising reports of emergencies that cause immediate threat to life or property. If you need to report a highways-related emergency during this time, call the Highways Hotline on 0300 373 3306.
To report general problems with potholes, road damage, flooding and drainage, traffic lights, streetlights, pedestrian crossings, trees, vegetation, bollards, manhole covers and more, complete the highways online reporting form.
Health and social care
Cumberland Council: Residential and home care services operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Adult Social Care offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Westmorland and Furness Council: Adult Social Care offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. If you’re concerned about the welfare of an adult, visit the Westmorland and Furness Council website or call 0300 373 3301.
Contact the social care out of hours emergency service (01228 526690), 24 hours a day, for adult social care emergencies in any part of Cumbria.
Children’s services
Children’s services offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. The Emergency Duty Team (0333 240 1727) can be contacted 24 hours a day for children’s social care emergencies.
Archives, libraries and Local Links
Cumberland Council: Cumberland libraries will continue to provide key services, including select and collect, online services and home delivery services. Book Browsing, borrowing and returns will be available in some locations – please check the Cumberland Council website for details of opening hours and available services at your local library. Other essential services can also be accessed at your library, including adult education courses and registrars.
Archive centres in Carlisle and Whitehaven and all libraries will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Westmorland and Furness: Archive centres and all libraries will be closed on December 25, 26, 31 December 2023 and January 1 2024.
Barrow, Kendal and Penrith libraries will be open from December 27 to 30. All other libraries will be closed for the duration of the Christmas period. Normal hours resume from Tuesday January 2 2024.
Registration services
The Registration Service will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
Trading Standards
Cumbria Trading Standards’ Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline – 0808 223 1133 – will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Visit the Citizens Advice website.
