Most of Harlow Council’s services will shut down between Christmas and new year, which saves money on energy and building costs.
Civic Centre opening times
- Tuesday 24 December 2019 - Open between 9am and 4.45pm
- Wednesday 25 December 2019 - Closed (bank holiday)
- Thursday 26 December 2019 - Closed (bank holiday)
- Friday 27 December 2019 - Closed
- Monday 30 December 2019 - Closed
- Tuesday 31 December 2019 - Closed
- Wednesday 1 January 2020 - Closed (bank holiday)
We will return to normal opening hours from Thursday 2 January 2020
The Civic Centre is usually very busy before Christmas and during the few days after the new year, so you might have to wait longer than usual if you call or visit us.
While we are closed, you can still access many services online, like booking a bulky waste collection, reporting noise or litter.
Whilst we are closed, you can also still make payments online.
You can also pay using the 24 hour, automated telephone payments line 01279 446600
In an emergency, when the Civic Centre is closed, you can contact us by calling 01279 446666
Bins and recycling
Extra waste
Harlow Council will collect one extra bag of non-recycling on your first non-recycling collection after Christmas.
Extra recycling should be put out as normal.
Extra food waste can be placed in compostable liners on top of your caddy or in a cardboard box.
Missed or disrupted bin collections
If your bin collections get missed you can report it to us online.
In the event of bin collections being disrupted due to adverse weather conditions, please check the website for the latest collection information. You can put the bins out for collection as normal and leave them until collected or told otherwise.
The Harlow Recycling Centre (the dump) is run by Essex County Council.
Christmas trees
You can book a real Christmas tree collection in January using the Green Waste bagged collection service for just £2.10 a tree.
If you are signed up to the Green Waste Premium service just put your real tree out on your January collection day.
If you have an artificial Christmas tree, you can use our bulky collection service
Benefits
Payments will be made to claimants on 20 December, 27 December and 7 January.
Housing
Council housing
The bidding cycle over Christmas and the New Year on Harlow Homefinder website:
- Opens on Thursday 26 December 2019 at 9.30am
- Closes on Thursday 2 January 2020 at 1am
The next bidding cycle will start on Thursday 9 January 2020 at 9.30am.
Homelessness
You can look at the help available for rough sleepers over the Christmas period
You can also check what to do if you think you might become homeless
Repairs
The repairs centre (01279 446666) will be open from 8am to 4pm on:
- Tuesday 24 December 2019
- Friday 27 December 2019
- Monday 30 December 2019
- Tuesday 31 December 2019
A 24-hour genuine emergency repairs service is available on bank holidays and out of hours.
Normal opening times will resume on Thursday 2 January 2020.