MID Devon District Council has issued advice on how to recycle decorations, packaging, cards and “real” Christmas trees.

Christmas trees - "real Christmas trees can be recycled and turned into chippings for parks and can be taken to a household waste recycling centre.

Christmas cards - most cards are paper-based and can be recycled, along with their envelopes, either in your home recycling collection, at local recycling points such as household waste recycling centres or at banks in supermarket car parks etc.

Any extras such as ribbons, glitter or bows cannot be recycled and need to be removed by tearing off that part of the card and can be put in your back refuse sack.

Baubles - glass baubles are not recyclable. Broken glass baubles should be disposed of by wrapping and putting in with general waste.

Plastic baubles are usually made from types of plastic not widely collected yet in the UK and are likely to be covered with glitter which would impact on the recycling process so should also go in the general waste.

Tinsel - tinsel cannot be recycled. If your tinsel has finally lost its sparkle and needs to be thrown away please dispose of it in your rubbish bin.

Wreaths - Natural materials on wreaths, such as ivy, fir cones, mistletoe and holly, can be composted as long as they are not covered with excessive glitter.

Simply remove the greenery from the base and add to your garden/green waste collection, or drop at your local household waste recycling centre. Artificial decorations such as ribbons and plastic flowers will need to be removed and can be put in your black refuge sack.

Unwanted decorations, in good condition, can be donated to charity shops for re-sale and re-use.

Christmas Tree Lights - Fairy lights can be recycled at household waste recycling centres.

Wrapping paper - Non-glittery/non-metallic wrapping paper can be put in your green recycling box. Any other wrapping paper can be put in your bag refuse sacks.

Cardboard - If you’ve ordered goods online this Christmas, it’s likely your items were delivered in boxes or envelopes made from corrugated cardboard which can be recycled.

Batteries - All those new toys and gadgets mean more batteries to recycle. These can bagged separately and put in the household recycling or one of the battery recycling points in shops around the town.