Recycle your tree for a greener Christmas

Real trees are recyclable and can be shredded into chippings which can be used in gardens - just remember to remove all tinsel and decorations and any pots or stands.

Real Christmas trees can also be recycled at The Household Recycling Centre at Caister-On-Sea. The centre is open 9am to 4pm seven days a week, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Residents who are members of the garden waste kerbside collected scheme, can chop up their real Christmas trees and dispose of it in their brown bins. The guidelines are that branches must be less than 10cm in diameter and less than 60cm in length. Trees should not be put in black or green bins.

Artificial trees are made from a combination of materials and therefore cannot be recycled. However, unwanted artificial trees in good condition may be accepted by charity shops for re-sale and re-use.

Cllr Paul Wells, chair of Great Yarmouth Borough Council's Environment committee, said: "There is always a lot of waste created during the Christmas period, but we can all do our part to minimise this as much as possible.

"We encourage everyone to take the relevant steps to recycle correctly and help make this Christmas a green one."

Refuse collections days will change slightly over the festive period, meaning some collections will be earlier and some later. Residents should carefully check their revised collection day and make sure their bin is presented by 6.30am that day. The council's website has a list of revised collections dates and a quick reminder of what can and can't be recycled.