Essex residents are being encouraged to dream of a green New Year by the county council, which has set up special recycling bins for cards and wrapping paper at County Hall in Chelmsford.

According to county waste reduction officer Nicola Beach, following Christmas the bins will be located at the three main reception areas until the end of January.

Cards may be handed over to any of the receptionists at the Duke Street, Market Road or Victoria Road South entrances to the Essex County Council HQ.

They will then be turned over to the Witham-based Essex Reclamation Ltd for recycling. According to Ms Beach, all income raised from the scheme will be donated to the HEAL cancer charity.

Used cards are not the only festive items that can be recycled. Said Ms Beach: "Exhausted real Christmas trees can have a second life too. One way to achieve this is by shredding and composting them at home."

She added: "The trees may also be recycled at any of the county council's civic amenity and recycling centres by placing them in the green waste container.

"All trees that are taken to the centres will be shredded and composted to produce a rich soil improver, which is then sold in 40 litre bags."

However, the public are advised that the civic amenity centres will be closed over the holiday season on New Year's Day

For further details, contact the county's waste management helpline on 01245 491222 or see our survival guides at www.thisisessex.co.uk/christmas .

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