Start your recycling resolutions with your Christmas waste

As Twelfth Night fast approaches and we return to work and school after the festivities it's time to take the Christmas decorations down for another year.

And High Peak Borough Council is reminding people they can recycle much of their seasonal waste - including real Christmas trees, greetings cards and wrapping paper.

Councillor Jean Todd, Executive Councillor for Climate Change and the Environment, said: "Many people make resolutions at New Year and what better time to focus on recycling or reusing more of our waste?

"We generate around 30% more waste over the Christmas period than other times of the year so we want to let people know that much of this waste can be recycled - including real Christmas trees and most cards and wrapping paper.

"If you're not sure which bin to put them in, there's a handy guide on our website where you can also check your collection days. I'd like to thank everyone for all their efforts to recycle and here's to a green New Year!"

Real Christmas trees (minus decorations and bases) of 5 feet or less can be left next to green-lidded bins, or cut up and put in the bins, on your usual collection date up to 31 January. This bin is also the place for any festive food waste.

Alongside glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and trays and tins and cans, most Christmas cards and wrapping paper can also be recycled in the brown bin as long as they don't contain glitter or foil. If you're not sure if your paper can be recycled, try the scrunch test first by scrunching the paper in your hand - if it stays in a ball it's suitable for recycling.

For more information about waste and recycling, and to check your collections, visit www.highpeak.gov.uk/hp/bins