Refuse collection, City drop-off facilities and Christmas boxes over the festive season 2025
05 December 2025
With the festive season upon us, the City’s Urban Waste Management Directorate would like to advise residents of possible impacts to waste services during the upcoming public holidays and the rules regarding the solicitation of Christmas boxes/donations.
Waste and recycling collection
Waste and recycling (for areas that receive this service) are scheduled to be collected as usual throughout the festive season, including these public holidays:
- Tuesday, 16 December 2025
- Thursday, 25 December 2025
- Friday, 26 December 2025
- Thursday, 1 January 2026
Ensure all bins are placed out for servicing as early as possible, as reduced peak traffic over this period means crews travel quickly on their routes.
Residents should also leave bins out until 21:00 each night to ensure collection. If not collected on the scheduled day, please bring it out again each day until it is emptied. Report uncollected bins after 48 hours.
‘As we enjoy the festive season together, we urge residents to avoid illegal dumping and to look after our neighbourhoods and shared spaces. When you visit our beaches, parks or other recreational areas, please make use of the Bingo bins provided and help us keep Cape Town clean,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
Christmas boxes and donations
Residents are under no obligation to give cash donations or Christmas boxes to the City's Solid Waste Management staff and contractors.
The City of Cape Town has a policy in place which prohibits staff and contractors from soliciting Christmas boxes, or money from residents. However, residents are welcome to give a voluntary donation.
Reports of staff requesting donations will be investigated immediately and, where residents are willing to testify, the City will be able to take appropriate disciplinary action. To investigate such a report, we will need at least the vehicle registration number and the date and time of the incident.
Residents should also be aware that certain opportunists attempt to pose as collections staff at this time of year. If it is suspected that the people who approach them are misrepresenting themselves, the matter should be reported to the South African Police Service.
Drop-off facilities
A detailed list of drop-off facilities, their locations, general operating times and the kinds of materials accepted can be found
here.
All drop-off facilities will operate as per the below on the following days over the festive season:
|
Dates |
Operating Hours |
| 24 Dec 2025 | 08:00 - 16:30 (all facilities) |
| 25 Dec 2025 | All facilities closed |
| 26 Dec 2025 | Operating on public holiday hours: see schedule |
| 31 Dec 2025 | 08:00 - 16:30 (all facilities) |
| 1 Jan 2026 | All facilities closed |
Log service requests, such as waste collection issues, on one of these channels:
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
