In the season of goodwill, B&NES Council is urging residents to have a sustainable Christmas and green New Year.

The authority has shared tips on how to choose recyclable alternatives and changes to collection dates.

Councillor David Wood, joint cabinet member for climate emergency and neighbourhood services, said: “Across the country, the amount of waste generated over Christmas increases by almost a third.

“That’s a lot of extra rubbish, but if we think before we buy, we can reduce the amount of waste we create.

“Please think twice before buying cards with environmentally damaging glitter, and shiny wrapping paper which cannot be recycled as it contains plastic.

“When Christmas shopping, choose environmentally friendly presents such as appliances that use renewable energy, like a wind-up radio or torch, dynamo bicycle lights or a solar powered calculator.

“If you do need batteries, opt for rechargeable ones and send recycled Christmas cards or e-cards.

“Once the presents have been unwrapped and the turkey eaten, inevitably there will be lots of rubbish and waste. It’s really important residents recycle as much as they can to avoid waste going to landfill – please use your food waste bin, green box and blue bag recycling collections and if you plan to make a New Year’s resolution, how about a pledge to recycle more?”

The majority of Christmas waste can be recycled from kerbside collections.

Food waste bin: All food waste, including meat and bones – especially turkey bones and sprout peelings!

Recycling Boxes: Wrapping paper (White backed wrapping paper. No glitter or foil), tins and cans, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, glass bottles and jars, foil (including mince pie cases), textiles – such as Christmas jumpers – should be placed in a carrier bag in the box, small electricals, batteries, mobile phones, printer cartridges, spectacles, etc.

Blue bag: Cardboard and brown paper – Advent calendars, cards and gift tags can be placed in blue bags provided they are not shiny or glittery.

Anyone with surplus edible food can donate it to the projects around Bath and North East Somerset that are working to tackle food poverty, including FoodCycle, Olio, Neighbourly Food, Fareshare or one of the area’s foodbanks.

The Council’s Recycling Centres will be operating as normal for the majority of the festive period, but will be closed on Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25th, Boxing Day – Thursday, December 26th, and New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1st.

Real Christmas trees can be taken to the Council’s Recycling Centres or put them out for collection between January 20th and February 10th on garden waste collection days. They should be cut up small enough to fit in the lorry and be free of decorations. Dorothy House will also be collecting for a small charge in BA1, 2 and 3 postcodes: charityxmastree

collection.com