Over the festive period, everything from cards to trees can be recycled, so don't stop doing your bit for the environment as recycling and landfill waste collections in the Borough will continue as normal over the Christmas and New Year period.

Collection crews will be working on all bank holidays over the festive period, meaning there will be no change to your’ normal collection days.

The Council has extended its Christmas tree collection dates to run from 3rd to 21st January 2011 - simply put your tree out on the day your wheelie bin is to be collected.

Christmas is one of the busiest periods for waste and recycling services, with households consuming more and throwing out the excesses of Christmas – such as gift packaging and food waste.

Residents can help avoid landfill by flat-packing cardboard boxes, and putting food waste such as turkey bones and vegetable peelings in the food waste bin.

If you have large amounts of excess waste, take it to Kingston’s Household Reuse and Recycling Centre, which will be open between 7.30am and 4pm on the public holidays and open as usual on all other days.

It has been a successful year for Kingston’s recycling and waste services, which has seen the Council named as one of the highest performing unitary waste authorities in England.

For more information about the Council’s Recycling and Landfill Waste service, or if you have any questions about the arrangements over Christmas and New Year, visit www.kingston.gov.uk/recycling or call 020 8547 5002.