Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Please note the Christmas and New Year holiday arrangements for bin collections and recycling centres:

BIN COLLECTIONS

• Bins will be collected as normal on Wednesday 24 December.
• Bins due for collection on Thursday 25 December will be collected on Saturday 20 December.
• Bins due for collection on Friday 26 December will be collected on Saturday 27 December.
• Bins due for collection on Thursday 1 January will be collected on Saturday 3 January. 

RECYCLING CENTRES

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Please note the following Christmas and New Year holiday arrangements for leisure facilities, parks and open spaces:

ARMAGH AREA

ORCHARD LEISURE CENTRE

ARDMORE & CATHEDRAL ROAD RECREATION CENTRES

KEADY RECREATION CENTRE

RICHHILL RECREATION CENTRE

TANDRAGEE RECREATION CENTRE

LOUGHGALL COUNTRY PARK

GOSFORD FOREST PARK

The park office will be closed from Tuesday 23 December until Sunday 4 January inclusive.

BANBRIDGE AREA

BANBRIDGE LEISURE CENTRE

DROMORE COMMUNITY CENTRE

GILFORD COMMUNITY CENTRE

RATHFRILAND COMMUNITY CENTRE

CRAIGAVON AREA

SOUTH LAKE LEISURE CENTRE

CRAIGAVON GOLF & SKI CENTRE

KINNEGO MARINA SITE & OXFORD ISLAND

The office will be closed from Tuesday 23 December until Friday 2 January and The Galley café from Monday 22 December until Friday 2 January inclusive.

LOUGH NEAGH DISCOVERY CENTRE

TANNAGHMORE ANIMAL FARM

Please note the Christmas and New Year holiday arrangements for council offices, community and visitor facilities:

COUNCIL OFFICES

TOWN HALLS, COMMUNITY CENTRES & BROWNLOW COMMUNITY HUB

VISITOR FACILITIES

ARMAGH COUNTY MUSEUM

F.E. MCWILLIAM GALLERY & STUDIO

MARKET PLACE THEATRE BOX OFFICE

NAVAN CENTRE & FORT

SHAMBLES VARIETY MARKET & CAR BOOT SALES

LURGAN MARKET

VISIT ARMAGH

This festive season, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough is brimming with events and exhibitions to keep the whole family entertained.

If it’s music you’re after, enjoy concerts featuring big names such as Ryan McMullan, Cliona Hagan and many more – all performing at The Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre in Armagh.

Be our guest this Christmas at The Market Place Theatre’s spectacular pantomime, ‘Beauty and the Beast’. It’s a timeless tale, brought to life in a way you’ve never seen before!

There’s plenty of laughter too, with top‑class comedy shows, alongside stunning art exhibitions that will inspire and delight.

Whether you’re seeking festive cheer, cultural discovery, or creative inspiration, Armagh’s winter calendar is packed with unforgettable experiences for everyone. Find out more here: visitarmagh.com/category/events/

GETACTIVEABC

Brighten up your Christmas holidays with magical experiences for the whole family to enjoy. Some key highlights include:

Snowtubing and skiing at Craigavon Golf and Ski Centre
Get together with family or friends and enjoy the thrill of dashing down the slope with a 30-minute snowtubing session (Saturday 27 to Wednesday 31 December and Friday 2 to Sunday 4 January) and the ‘Learn to Ski in Day’ lessons and ski courses are perfect for anyone preparing for a ski holiday or those looking to pick up a new hobby! Find out more here: getactiveabc.com/christmas/

Tannaghmore Gardens and Animal Farm
Keep the true meaning of Christmas close to heart with a visit to the heart-warming ‘Tannaghmore Live Nativity’, complete with sheep, cows and a donkey at Tannaghmore Gardens and Animal Farm (10am-4pm daily, until Saturday 3 January. Free admission). Don’t forget to check out the rest of the rare breed’s farm, play park, maze and beautiful gardens. Find out more here: getactiveabc.com/events/live-nativity-at-tannaghmore-animal-farm/

Get outdoors and get exploring
Wrap up warm and explore the parks and open spaces across the borough. Seek out the winter wildlife at Oxford Island Nature Reserve, wild deer at Gosford Forest Park, red squirrels at Lurgan Park and stop off for seasonal treats at the local cafes and outlets along the way! Find out more here: getactiveabc.com/get-inspired-by-our-parks/

MANAGING FESTIVE FOOD COSTS
While costs are still high, food is one area where you can economise without Christmas feasting being any less fun! The bonus is that it also cuts down on food waste!

With help from the ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ meal and portion planner, you can write an effective Christmas food shopping list, and stick to it. It may sound obvious, but writing a shopping list based on what you actually need and is a great way to stay disciplined when you’re faced with tempting festive treats out shopping.

MAKE FESTIVE FOOD GO FURTHER
Even the most conservative of Christmas food shops can still result in second or third helpings for the days that follow, so here are some suggestions for making your festive feast go further. They have the added bonus of not keeping you in the kitchen too long when you’ve got Christmas TV to catch up on! Find out more at Love Food Hate waste.

FOOD SAFETY AT CHRISTMAS
With so much going on this time of year, let’s not forget about food safety to keep everyone well over the holidays. Food plays a huge role in the Christmas celebrations and here are some food safety tips from the Food Standards Agency:

• How to defrost the turkey

Defrost your turkey in your fridge. The temperature should be set at 5°C or below. Place your turkey on the bottom shelf, covered and in a container that is big enough to collect any liquid that comes out during thawing. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling any part of the raw turkey.

A typical large turkey weighing 6-7kg could take as much as four days to fully defrost in the fridge. If there are no instructions for defrosting your turkey, you can work out yourself how long it will take to thaw completely. In a fridge, allow around 10-12 hours per kg.

Remember, make some space and defrost your turkey in your fridge – not in the shed, the bath, or the kitchen sink as this can lead to food poisoning.

• Five tips for cooking the turkey

1. Defrost your turkey in the fridge. Check packaging for when to start defrosting!
2. Don’t wash your turkey: never wash any poultry as it can spread germs in your kitchen.
3. Don’t stuff your turkey: cook stuffing in a separate roasting tin instead.
4. Cook your turkey thoroughly: most turkeys now come with cooking instructions on the packaging, so follow those.
5. Check your turkey is cooked: cut and check the thickest part of the bird, between the breast and the thigh, making sure the meat is steaming hot, not pink, and the juices run clear.

• Air fryers

Thinking of using an air fryer to free up space in the oven for your turkey? Check the appliance instructions for cooking times and temperatures. Don’t over fill to allow air to circulate. Always check your food is steaming hot.

• Cooking for those with allergies

Managing allergens can be particularly difficult during the festive period. If you are preparing food for someone who has a food allergy or intolerance, follow these simple steps to reduce risk:

• Ask your guest (or a child’s parents or carers) what they can and can’t eat.
• Make sure you keep allergens separate from other foods.
• Check the ingredients list on prepacked foods for allergens.
• Clean work surfaces and equipment thoroughly to remove traces of food you may have cooked or prepared before.

For more information on food safety, please visit the Food Standards Agency www.food.gov.uk/christmas

Recycling your Christmas waste

• Household waste

If you aren’t sure what to do with the remnants of Christmas after the festive season, we have some tips on what to recycle at home and what you can bring to our recycling centre (find out more information here https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/resident/recycling-centres).

Before going to a recycling centre, you should sort your waste. It is important to remember that our recycling centres can be very busy at holiday times.

Bin collections

To check household collections for your area, visit our online page – https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/resident/when-is-my-bin-day/.

• Ashes

You can put cold ashes in the brown bin. The ashes must be cold as hot ashes can cause a bin fire.

• Batteries

We don’t collect batteries in any recycling bins. You can bring batteries to recycling centres. Many shops and supermarkets have a collection bin for household batteries. By law, shops and supermarkets must collect old batteries.

• Cans

You should put clean, dry cans in the green bin.

• Christmas cards

You can put cards that don’t have glitter in the recycling bin. But you should remove ribbons and other card decorations.

• Cardboard

You should flatten or cut up cardboard boxes. You can put cardboard in the green bin. Bring large cardboard boxes to our recycling centres. Remove any plastic and put these in the black bin.

• Christmas crackers

The cardboard tubes in crackers are suitable for recycling. You can put these in your recycling bin.

• Christmas trees

You can put real Christmas trees in the garden waste container at a recycling centre. You can cut up a small tree and put in the household brown bin.

• Clothes

You can put clothes in clothes banks at our recycling centres or donate to charity shops.

• Foil

Wipe the foil and crush into a ball, keeping any food residue on the inside. This prevents contamination of other materials. You can put foil in your green bin.

• Food

You can put all food waste including turkey bones, vegetables, potato peelings, nut shells and citrus peel in the brown bin.

• Glass bottles and jars

Put bottles and jars in the green recycling bin.

• Light bulbs

You can’t put these in a household recycling bin. You should bring these to the recycling centre.

• Plastic bags, plastic film and plastic wrap

We don’t accept crisp packets, plastic bags, plastic film or polystyrene in green bins.

• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays

You can put clean, dry plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays in the green bin.

• Tin or plastic sweet containers

You can put metal and plastic sweet containers in the green recycling bin.

• Tinsel, baubles and other decorations

Most Christmas decorations aren’t suitable for recycling. These go in the black bin.

• Tissues, wipes and face coverings

You must put these in the black bin. You cannot recycle this material. If there are tissues, wipes or face coverings in your green bin, we will not empty the green bin.

• Wrapping paper

A lot of wrapping paper contains other materials, such as plastic and foil, which makes it very difficult to recycle. If the wrapping paper is very plain, with no tape, ribbons or glitter, you can recycle it in your green bin. You should put any other wrapping paper in your black general waste bin. A good option instead of wrapping paper is a reusable gift bag.

FLY-TIPPING

Fly-tipping is illegal, and as always, we encourage residents to dispose of rubbish responsibly or face a £400 fixed penalty fine.

In an effort to curb fly-tipping, which has a detrimental impact on the environment, local wildlife and costs ratepayers thousands of pounds to clean-up each year, the council is appealing for residents to plan ahead for the excess packaging and unwanted items which need to be disposed of.

People are also reminded that it is not permitted to leave waste outside the recycling centres when they are closed, and they should note that cameras are in operation at those sites and offenders will be prosecuted.

DOWNLOAD THE COUNCIL APP

Whether it’s recycling, finding out when your next bin collection is, or the opening times of your local recycling centre, the ABC Council App is the perfect tool to keep you up to date over the festive holidays and all year round.

Click here to find out more about the ABC Council App.

At this time of year, we know some people may be considering buying a puppy for Christmas. While many pups will enjoy a long and happy life at their forever home, all too often there are some pups who will not be so lucky and may end up abandoned.

Deciding whether to get a puppy or dog is a big decision. It is advisable, before purchasing a puppy, to give it proper thought and to carry out some research.

Can you afford the cost of keeping a dog? Can you afford the time to spend with a dog? These are just some the questions which you need to ask yourself before making a decision.

Anyone who decides to get a dog becomes responsible for that animal and will need to know about the legal requirements of owning a dog.

To help people make informed decisions, the Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) have set out a check-list, which includes:

• The importance of research, before deciding to buy a puppy/dog.
• Finding the right dog breed.
• Deciding where to get your new puppy/ risk of puppy farms.
• Finding a healthy, happy dog.
• Helping your new dog settle-in to its new home.
• Understanding dog behaviour.
• Licensing the dog.
• Keeping the dog under proper control.
• Meeting the welfare needs of the dog.
• Does your lifestyle, such as how you spend your days and evenings, mean that you can offer a dog the things it needs?
• Can you make time to spend with your dog?
• Is your environment safe for a dog?
• Do you have a safe and secure place for your dog to stay?
• Will a dog enjoy staying in your environment?
• Do you know how much exercise, training and play a growing puppy, or dog, needs?

To find out more about keeping dogs and the considerations which need to be made before purchasing a dog, please click here to visit the DAERA webpage.

CHRISTMAS SAFETY ADVICE

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon PCSP wants you and your family to stay safe this Christmas whilst enjoying the festivities. With that in mind, it is sharing the PSNI’s Christmas safety advice which provides lots of tips on staying safe while shopping, socialising and at home as well as information on domestic abuse.

Find out more at Christmas Safety Advice | PSNI or click on the links below:

• Safe socialising
• Safe shopping
• Safe homes
• Safe homes (Domestic abuse)
• Sexual consent

KEEP YOUR LIGHTS MERRY & SAFE THIS CHRISTMAS

You need to take care of your Christmas lights. If they are not properly maintained, they can cause an electric shock or fire, and that doesn’t make for a merry Christmas. In fact, according to Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) 350 people a year are injured by Christmas tree lights.

To help prevent the most common electrical problems with Christmas lights, and to enjoy a safe and happy festive season, we recommend you take the following simple precautions and checks.

Always …

• Buy from a reputable store and follow the manufacturers’ instructions.
• Check your Christmas lights are not damaged or broken before use and look out for loose wires.
• Use only replacement bulbs of the same type and rating as those originally supplied with the lights.
• Ensure all outdoor lights are connected via a 30mA RCD protected socket.
• Replace failed lamps immediately to prevent overheating.
• Ensure plugs and transformers are plugged in indoors, even if the lighting is suitable for outdoor use.
• Switch your lights off and unplug them before you go to bed or go out.
• Keep lights away from flammable decorations and materials that can burn easily.

Never …

• Use lights outdoors unless they are specially designed for such use.
• Connect different lighting sets together.
• Connect lights to the supply whilst still in the packaging.
• Remove or insert lamps while the chain is connected to the supply.
• Overload sockets – try to avoid the use of extension leads or adaptors.
• Attempt to repair faulty lights – replace them.

For further Christmas Safety tip, visit rospa.com/home-safety/advice/christmas-safety.

BUTTON BATTERY SAFETY APPEAL

We are backing calls by the Public Health Agency (PHA) for parents to be aware of the dangers posed by button batteries this Christmas.

Lithium cell batteries, also known as button batteries, are common in many children’s toys but are a significant danger to a child or adult’s health if swallowed. They can cause choking, poisoning, or burning, and can lead to life-changing injuries or even death.

This time of year sees many toys coming into households and it can be hard to keep track of which ones are using button batteries.

Toys, Christmas cards, electronics, and lighting sets can all be a potential hazard, especially for young children, as sometimes their first instinct is to put something in their mouth.

If undetected, button cell batteries can do serious damage to the gastrointestinal system. Lithium batteries react with saliva, creating an electrical current which results in a build-up of caustic soda, which will burn through the oesophagus and major blood vessels.

Serious injuries and even death can be caused as a result and sadly, while button swallowing related deaths are rare, there is still that risk.

Top tips to help protect young children from the dangers of button cell batteries include:

• Battery compartments should be checked to make sure they can’t be opened or broken easily;
• Toy safety regulations require toys that use button batteries to have lockable battery compartments. Check that these are secure and undamaged and do not use toys that don’t have lockable compartments. Take care when changing batteries to make sure the compartment is secured afterwards and the old battery is disposed of safely:
• Keep spare batteries in a safe place out of reach of children;
• If you suspect your child has swallowed a button battery, seek medical help immediately.

Our Home Safety Officers can assist with queries on various topics around home safety. Focusing on children aged under 5, those with a disability, special needs, and people aged over 65.

For information, or to book a home safety visit, contact the Home Safety Team on 0330 0561 011 or email homesafety@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk.

To find out more about toy safety please visit the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website.