Get 2012 off to a green start

Residents are being urged to get 2012 off to a green start by recycling used Christmas trees, cards and unwanted presents.

The Leicestershire Waste Partnership, which is made up of the county, district and borough councils, is hoping people will help reduce the amount of rubbish being sent to landfill in the New Year as part of its Dreaming of a Green Christmas campaign.

People taking down their trees on Twelfth Night can check if their local district / borough council is collecting them as part of their kerbside collections.

If not, they can be taken to one of the county’s 14 recycling and household waste sites where they will be turned into compost. Green fingered residents can also chop up small parts of their tree and use them for home composting.

Cards can be taken to local libraries, County Council Service Shops and County Hall where they can be recycled and the money donated to The Chairman’s charity, The Royal British Legion.

Electrical items, such as broken toys and old shavers / hairdryers, can also be taken to any of the county’s recycling and household waste sites; while unwanted presents or old items that have been replaced in the January sales and are in good working order can be given a new lease of life by giving them to someone else at www.freeuseit.org.uk

Guy Jackson, Chairman of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership, said: “If people cannot re-plant Christmas trees in their gardens, we would encourage them to recycle them instead.

“By recycling trees, cards and small electrical items residents are not only reducing the amount being sent to landfill, but are getting 2012 off to a great green start.”

*Lount Recycling and Household Waste Site is currently closed due to improvement work

ENDS