Santa Claus won’t be the only one at work early on Christmas Day – waste contractors will start their work earlier than usual.

Residents may hear rattles and bangs from 4am on Christmas morning when Council’s waste service contractor Cleanaway will start collecting bins.

Areas such as Westdale, West Tamworth, Duri and Somerton whose collection day is due on a Tuesday, will have their bins collected according to the usual scheduled day.

The earlier start will allow Tamworth Regional Council staff at the Forest Road Waste Management Facility and Cleanaway team members to finish their work in time to get home to have Christmas lunch and spend some time with their families.

The region's waste management facilities at Tamworth and Kootingal which are normally open on a Tuesday will be closed on Christmas Day. They will re-open on their next scheduled day of operation.