Residents are being reminded of the amended opening times and service changes of Braintree District Council services and venues over the Christmas and New Year period.
The council’s main offices at Causeway House will be closed from 3pm on Wednesday 24 December and will re-open at 9am on Monday 29 December 2025, with usual opening hours on that day. On Wednesday 31 December offices will close at 3pm, and will re-open at 9am on Monday 5 January 2026.
These opening hours also apply to the customer services department.
Residents are still able to access information and use the councils online services, such as paying their council tax, ordering recycling sacks or checking their waste collection dates by visiting www.braintree.gov.uk 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
Recycling and refuse collections
There will be some changes to recycling and refuse collection days over the festive period this year due to the Christmas and New Years Day Bank Holidays.
Collections may be taking place two or three days later than usual, and residents can look at the collection change on the Braintree District Council website at https://www.braintree.gov.uk/bins-waste-recycling/service-updates/2.
Collections will resume as normal from Monday 12 January 2026.
Garden waste collections will be suspended from Monday 22 December 2025 until Tuesday 6 January 2026. Normal garden waste subscription service will resume from Monday 12 January 2026.
To check collection dates, residents should refer to their collection calendar or check online: www.braintree.gov.uk/collectioncalendar.
Residents are encouraged to put their recycling and refuse out by 7am on their revised collection day. Any residents who need to check what to put into their clear recycling sacks can visit the Braintree District Council website https://www.braintree.gov.uk/bins-waste-recycling/goes-bin/3.
Information about Essex County Council’s Braintree and Witham Recycling Centres opening times and items accepted can be found on the Love Essex website at www.loveessex.org/find-your-nearest-recycling-centre.
Similar to last year, Farleigh Hospice will be running their Christmas tree door to door collections from many properties in the Braintree District. Collections need to be registered by 4pm on 6 January 2026, and they will take place on 9, 10, 11 and 12 January 2026. More information can be found at: https://www.farleighhospice.org/events/trees-2026
The Halstead Young Farmers will be running a similar scheme, collecting on 11 January 2026. More information is available here: https://www.ticketebo.co.uk/halstead-young-farmers-club/halstead-yfc-christmas-tree-collection-2026
Leisure centres
From 24 December 2025, reduced opening hours will operate at all four leisure centres across the district, run by Freedom Leisure, and these will be closed on 25 and 26 December 2025 and 1 January 2026.
Normal opening hours will resume from 2 January 2026, but opening hours vary between different sites.
More information is available on https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/. Residents are encouraged to check before they visit.
Braintree and Witham markets
Braintree and Witham markets will run as usual on Monday 22, Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24 and Saturday 27 December 2025.
There will be no market on Saturday 3 January 2026.
Usual market dates will resume on Wednesday 7 January 2026.
More information about Braintree markets can be found at www.facebook.com/braintreemarkets,
Council owned car parks
Free car parking will be available in council-owned pay and display car parks in Braintree and Witham on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December 2025, as well as Thursday 1 January 2026.
George Yard multi-storey car park in Braintree will be closed on 25 December 2025 only and will be open on all other days.
More information can be found at https://www.braintree.gov.uk/streets-transport-parking.
Cllr Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree District Council, said:
“Throughout the festive season, our key services will remain available to ensure residents continue to receive the support they need.
I would like to thank our dedicated staff for their hard work and commitment in delivering essential services to our community. Despite the challenges of the past year, they have gone above and beyond to serve our district.
On behalf of the council, I wish all our residents and local businesses a joyful Christmas and a successful, happy New Year.”