HIGH levels of festive waste can be avoided this year as Salisbury people are being encouraged to ‘recycle the most out of’ their Christmas.

The festive period creates significant extra waste through wrapping paper, food and unwanted gifts, which could be recycled. The amount of wrapping paper estimated to be thrown away every year in the UK at Christmas could stretch around the equator nine times.

Wiltshire Council has provided information about how to recycle yuletide waste items – including Christmas trees – during the festive season.

The Woodland Trust is also running a scheme in which people can take all their unwanted Christmas cards to WH Smith, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer. The Woodland Trust will then recycle them and plant several thousands of trees.

The council is particularly encouraging the use of household recycling centres in Salisbury and Amesbury for the recycling of Christmas trees, electrical and electronic equipment and batteries.

The centres will be open over Christmas from 9am to 4pm in Amesbury and 9am to 6pm in Salisbury, only closing on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, all day Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

For further information visit the council’s website at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/recycling.