Push to recycle festive rubbish

Last year 4.27 tonnes of Christmas cards were collected in the town

Residents of Hartlepool are being urged to recycle as much as possible of their waste over the festive period.

Council officials want people to make full use of kerbside collections and recycling points to dispose of items such as bottles, cans and cardboard.

Once the festive season is over, residents are also being asked to take advantage of schemes to recycle Christmas trees and Christmas cards.

Last year 4.27 tonnes of Christmas cards were collected in the town.

Hartlepool Council is supporting a national Christmas card disposal scheme run by the Woodland Trust which will see collection points set up at a number of shops in the town.

Recycling officer Fiona Srogi said: "We all tend to generate more waste at this time of the year, but much of it can be recycled.

"By using the facilities provided by the council and other organisations, residents can minimise the amount of waste that is simply thrown away."