Bin collections and your guide to opening hours over Christmas 2024-2025
As families gather across the borough to celebrate Christmas or spend quality time with their families, support will still be on offer from the council. Here’s everything you need to know about using your local services during the festive season.
Waste collections and recycling
Monday 23 December will be collected as normal
Tuesday 24 December will be collected as normal
Wednesday 25 December will be collected on Friday 27 December
Thursday 26 December will be collected on Saturday 28 December
Friday 27 December will be collected on Sunday 29 December
Monday 30 December will be collected as normal
Tuesday 31 December will be collected as normal
Wednesday 1 January will be collected on Thursday 2 January
Thursday 2 January will be collected on Friday 3 January
Friday 3 January will be collected on Saturday 4 January
Bulky collections and deliveries will be closed from 20 December and reopen on 6 January 2025.
Clinical collections will run over the holiday period but are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
The Reuse and Recyling Centre in Nathan Way is open 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 5pm on Saturdays, it is also open 9am to 4.30pm on Sundays.
The Reuse and Recyling Centre is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
Contacting the council
The Woolwich Centre will be open normally apart from bank holidays and weekends.
The Eltham Centre will be closed on 19 December and 24 December. On 31 December, it will be open until 2pm only. Other than these dates, the Eltham Centre will be open as normal, excluding bank holidays and weekends.
When closed, an out of hours service will be available. Call 020 8854 8888.
Adventure Play Centres
Closed from 19 December to 6 January 2025.
Cemeteries
The office will be closed from 25 December to 27 December and again on 1 January 2025. Outside of these dates, the office will operate reduced hours, see the breakdown.
Eltham Crematorium and Cemetery Grounds is open from 9am to 4pm daily including Christmas and New Year. Eltham Crematorium’s Chapel and Garden of Remembrance will be shut 15 mins before closing.
Advice Hubs
Advice Hubs will take a break for the holidays after the session at the Forum on Monday 23 December.
The first Advice Hub in the new year will again be at the Forum on Monday 6 January 2025.
Council homes
Repairs and caretaking will be running a normal service until 24 December, it will then run an out of hours service for emergencies from 25 December to 2 January 2025.
A free-phone line to report first time repairs is open Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays, 9am to 5pm: 0808 175 6915.
Tenancy will be closed on bank holidays and weekends, but between 27 to 29 December, will operate 9am to 5pm.
The following housing services will be open as usual, from 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays and weekends:
- Housing Inclusion will provide an emergency service for people who are homeless on the day and need urgent advice and assistance.
- Temporary Accommodation will offer emergency support for urgent queries, or emergency repair issues.
The out of hours service will be in operation in case of individual housing emergencies call 020 8854 8888 (24-hour line).
Leisure centres
For leisure centres open between Friday 20 December and 1 January 2025, opening times may change, so make sure to check before you go.
19, 25, 26 December and 1 January 2025, all leisure centres will be closed, except for Sutcliffe Park which will be open with reduced hours on 1 January
24 and 31 December Coldharbour and Plumstead Centre will be closed.
Check opening hours and book sessions
Libraries
19, 25, 26 and 1 January 2025, all libraries will be closed.
23, 24, 27, 28, 30, 31 December, Charlton House Library will be closed
24, 31 December, all libraries will be open but operating on reduced hours, except for Charlton House Library which will be closed.
20, 23, 27 30 December, Thamesmere, Greenwich and Plumstead Libraries will be operating reduced hours
23, 30 December, Eltham Library will be operating reduced hours
Parks
The Tarn, Fairy Hill Park, Southwood Park, Hornfair Park, St Alfeges Park, St Marys and Plumstead Gardens will be closed on Christmas Day. All other parks and open spaces will be open.
Healthcare and Emergencies
If you need clinical advice or medicines for minor health concerns, such as coughs, colds, upset stomach, aches and pains, you can visit your local pharmacy.
Many are open late and at weekends and you do not need an appointment.
If you have a non-life-threatening condition, please call 111 first.
Need support over Christmas or have concerns about your Mental Health and Wellbeing
Call Live Well Greenwich free on 0800 470 4831. Open from 9am to 3pm. Closed Tuesday 24 December to Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January.