​‘Tis the season to be jolly and recycle more!

We all want to live in a place we can be proud of, so let’s love where we live and keep our communities clean, tidy and litter-free.

This, along with season’s greetings, is the message from Bury Council as we head into the festive season when lots of extra waste needs to be disposed of responsibly.

And a great place to start, says the council, is to make sure you never forget to put your bin out by joining more than 25,000 households who are already registered for free e-mail reminders. Residents can sign-up now at www.bury.gov.uk/bincollections

Other key steps to take to show you love where you live include:

-putting the right stuff in the right bin;

-taking extra waste to a household waste and recycling centre;

-donating re-usable items to charity;

-booking a collection for bulky items you no longer need; and

-reporting others who spoil where you live.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Most of us create more waste over Christmas, so it’s vital we take extra care to get rid of it in the best possible way.

“If it can be recycled, please recycle it. And if you are planning a clear-out of things someone else could make good use of, don’t throw them in your bin, make sure you donate them to charity. This way, as well as helping out others and the environment, you’ll be helping to save on costly collection and disposal costs too.”

Over the Christmas period most collections are planned one day later than usual but collections due on Christmas Day will be a day earlier on 24 December. All bins should be put out by 7am as collection times can vary and all vehicles should be parked where they won’t obstruct collection vehicles.

Christmas and New Year bin collection dates are as follows.

• Monday 24 December will change to Monday 7 January
• Tuesday 25 December will change to Monday 24 December
• Wednesday 26 December will change to Thursday 27 December
• Thursday 27 December will change to Friday 28 December
• Friday 28 December will change to Saturday 29 December
• Monday 31 December will take place as usual
• Tuesday 1 January will change to Wednesday 2 January
• Wednesday 2 January will change to Thursday 3 January
• Thursday 3 January will change to Friday 4 January
• Friday 4 January will change to Saturday 5 January

If severe weather causes collections to be delayed or cancelled residents can check for updates at www.bury.gov.uk/recycling

New 2019 collection calendars and a leaflet detailing Christmas collection changes will be delivered to all households by Friday 21 December.

Household waste recycling centres across Greater Manchester will be open except on 25 December and 1 January. For more details see www.bury.gov.uk/recyclingcentres. Bulky collections can be booked at www.bury.gov.uk/bulkyitems. Problems can be reported at www.bury.gov.uk/reportaproblem

Residents can also check what goes in which bin at www.bury.gov.uk/aboutyourbins, but here’s a quick reminder for some of the more common Christmassy items.

In the green bin - Christmas cards (no glitter), wrapping paper (paper only, not foil), cardboard boxes, paper party hats, cardboard gift tags and paper and card from Christmas crackers.

In the blue bin - empty drinks bottles and cans, foil cases from mince pies, foil oven trays (washed only) and aerosol cans from squirty cream.

In the brown bin - all cooked and uncooked food waste, including plate scrapings, leftover Christmas pudding, mince pies, turkey meat, skin and bones, fish bones, vegetable peelings, leftover sprouts and tangerines.

• Remember! Food waste must only be recycled in the free compostable liners provided or put loose inside the bin – don’t use plastic bags.

After Christmas, real Christmas trees can also be recycled in the brown bin – don’t forget to remove all decorations, lights and the wooden base, then chop it up so it fits inside with the lid fully closed. Or, take it to any household waste recycling centre in Greater Manchester.

ENDS

Press release issued: 17 December 2018.

Picture: Kirsty, Matthew and family from Bury make easy work of recycling all their food waste.