MID Devon District Council is encouraging residents to recycle as much as they can during the festive period.

Everyone knows Christmas is a busy time; there’s so much going on that, often, recycling and the reason it’s so important can fall to the bottom of the priority list.

With all the festivities, gifts and extra food comes lots of packaging and waste.

There is always going to be an abundance of wrapping paper, greetings cards and cardboard packaging but please don’t reach for a black sack; plain cards and non-metallic wrapping paper can go in your green recycling box.

For those decorating a real Christmas tree, in January garden waste permit holders can put their tree out alongside their brown bin.

If you don’t subscribe to Mid Devon District Council’s garden waste collection, you can take your Christmas tree to a local recycling centre.

The council says it is also a shame to see good food go to waste – for the unavoidable peelings, plate scrapings and leftovers, and says please remember to use your blue food caddy.

It adds: “If your caddy is full, you can place any extra food waste in a compostable liner and leave it on top of your caddy for collection.

“All refuse and recycling should be placed at its normal collection point by 6am on the revised collection days as per the household calendar.

“Alternatively, use MDDC’s handy collection day look-up facility on its website: https://www.middevon.gov.uk/residents/recycling-rubbish/check-collection-dates/ .”

For more information on recycling at Christmas and for handy hints please visit: https://www.middevon.gov.uk/residents/recycling-rubbish/what-can-you-put-out/recycling/christmas-recycling/ .

Alan Quick