The presents have been opened and the turkey eaten and next comes the big clean-up. If your bins are usually overflowing during the festive period, here’s when you can take a trip to the tip over Christmas.

Along with being “the most wonderful time of the year”, Christmas is also a time of accumulating rubbish and recycling – from wrapping paper to old electrical items, in with the new generally means out with the old.

With all this waste, it’s handy if you can get rid of some of it without having to wait for the next bin collection.

READ MORE: Bin collections over Christmas and new year in Brighton

Brighton and Hove City Council have said demand at recycling sites remains high and ask people heading there to “only queue on the smaller access roads leading to the tips and not the major approach roads”.

They also warn at busy times, they may have to close the main gates up to 45 minutes before the published closing time to clear vehicles already queuing on site.

You can find out more about how to access the sites, the restrictions in place and the documents you need to bring from the Brighton and Hove City Council website.

Christmas and new year Brighton and Hove recycling sites opening times

Hove recycling site
Where:  Old Shoreham Road, Hove BN3 7AE

  • Friday, December 24: open 8 am to 1 pm
  • Saturday, December 25 to Tuesday, December 28: closed 
  • Wednesday, December 29:  open 8 am to 4.30 pm
  • Thursday, December 30: open 8 am to 4.30 pm
  • Friday, December 31: open 8 am to 1 pm
  • Saturday, January 1: closed
  • Sunday, January 2: open 10.30 am to 1.30 pm
  • Monday, January 3: closed

Hove recycling site will be open as usual from Tuesday, January 4.

Brighton recycling site
Where: off Wilson Avenue, BN2 5PA

  • Friday, December 24: open 8 am to 1 pm
  • Saturday, December 25: closed
  • Sunday, December 26: closed
  • Monday, December 27: open 9 am to 5 pm
  • Tuesday, December 28: open 9 am to 5 pm
  • Wednesday, December 29: open 8 am to 4.30 pm
  • Thursday, December 30: open 8 am to 4.30 pm
  • Friday, December 31: open 8 am to 1 pm
  • Saturday, January 1: closed
  • Sunday, December 2: open 9 am to 5 pm
  • Monday, January 3: open 9 am to 5 pm

Brighton recycling site will be open as usual from Tuesday, January 4.

READ: Five idyllic spots for a Boxing Day walk in Brighton and Sussex

What items can you recycle at Brighton and Hove recycling sites?

Recycling and household items

  • Paper
  • Glass
  • Cans
  • Cardboard
  • Plastic bottles
  • Vegetable oil
  • CDs and DVDs
  • Books
  • Mattresses
  • Household batteries
  • Cartons and tetrapaks

Electrical items

  • TVs
  • Monitors
  • Mobile phones
  • Hairdryers
  • Washing machines
  • Dishwashers
  • Fridges
  • Freezers
  • Microwaves
  • Energy-saving light bulbs
  • Fluorescent tube light bulbs
  • Car batteries
  • Other small electrical items
  • DIY and garden waste

READ MORE: Will there be a white Christmas in Brighton? Met Office forecast for 2021

General garden waste

  • Timber
  • MDF and wood composites
  • Scrap metal
  • Engine oil
  • Plasterboard - four sheets removed
  • Hardcore, rubble, ceramics and soil (six standard rubble bags a month, maximum bag size 55cm x 85cm)
  • Household hazardous chemicals (must be in a secure container)
  • Paint