Holiday Season Update for Bin Collections and Council Services

Friday 12 December 2025

As we come together to celebrate the season, these temporary adjustments to bin collections, recycling centres and public facilities will help ensure our services continue to support residents smoothly throughout the holidays. We appreciate everyone taking a moment to plan ahead.

Holiday Bin Collections

• Thursday 25 December 2025:

- Ballymena collections will take place on Saturday 27 December
- Carrickfergus collections will take place on Saturday 20 December
- Larne collections will take place on Monday 22 December

• Friday 26 December 2025:

- Carrickfergus collections will take place on Saturday 27 December
- Larne collections will take place on Monday 29 December

• Thursday 1 January 2026:

- Ballymena collections will take place on Saturday 3 January
- Carrickfergus collections will take place on Saturday 3 January
- Larne collections will take place on Monday 5 January

Bryson Kerbside Box Collections (Ballymena & Carrickfergus)

• Thursday 25 December 2025: Moved to Saturday 27 December
• Friday 26 December 2025: Moved to Sunday 28 December
• Thursday 1 January 2026: Moved to Saturday 3 January

Household Recycling Centres (HRCs)

• Wednesday 24 December 2025: Closing early at 2pm.
• Thursday 25 December 2025: Closed.
• Friday 26 December 2025: Closed.
• Thursday 1 January 2026: Closed.

Registrar’s Offices

The Registrar Office will be closed on 24, 25 and 26 December 2025. Offices will reopen from Monday 29 December to Wednesday 31 December. The office will be closed again on Thursday 1 January 2026.

In the event of a death needing to be registered for burial or cremation purposes the emergency phone line will be open to funeral directors from 9am to 10am only on Friday 26 December.

The Braid

The Braid building will be closed 24, 25 and 26 December, and Thursday 1 January 2026.

Leisure Centres

Festive opening arrangements apply at the Amphitheatre, Carrickfergus, Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena, and Larne Leisure Centre.

• Monday 22 December 2025: Early closure at 5pm.
• Tuesday 23 December 2025: Early closure at 5pm.
• Wednesday 24 December 2025: Closed.
• Thursday 25 December 2025: Closed.
• Friday 26 December 2025: Closed.
• Saturday 27 December 2025: Normal opening hours.
• Sunday 28 December2025: Normal opening hours.
• Monday 29 December 2025: Early closure at 3pm.
• Tuesday 30 December 2025: Early closure at 3pm.
• Wednesday 31 December 2025: Early closure at 3pm.
• Thursday 1 January 2026: Closed.

Public Toilet Facilities

Ballymena Area

• Toilets at Portglenone Marina, Cullybackey, Henry Street, Broughshane and Slemish will be closed on 24, 25 and 26 December 2025, and Thursday 1 January 2026.
• On Saturday 27 December, facilities will open from 9am to 5pm, with the exception of Henry Street and Slemish, which will remain closed.
• On Saturday 3 January, facilities will again be open from 9am to 5pm, except for Henry Street and Slemish.

Carrickfergus Area

• All toilets will be closed on 25 and 26 December 2025, and Thursday 1 January 2026.

Larne Area

• All toilets will be closed on 25 December 2025 only.

Thank you to all our residents for your continued support throughout the year. Wishing everyone across Mid and East Antrim a joyful Christmas and a bright year ahead.

We encourage everyone to recycle where possible this Christmas and make use of the services available. For more information, please visit our Christmas Holiday Arrangements page.