WITH figures showing almost half of Wiltshire’s waste has been recycled this year, residents are being encouraged to carry on recycling over the busy Christmas period.

Last year, residents recycled 48 per cent of waste, and the aim is to increase this to 50 per cent by April 2014.

The collection timetable will change over the festive period, with no collections taking place on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. All garden waste collections will be suspended between December 23 and January 6, resuming on January 7.

Real Christmas trees can be left out for recycling alongside garden waste bins on residents’ normal collection day from January 7 until the end of the month. Trees can also be recycled at any of Wiltshire’s 11 Household Recycling Centres.

The blue-lidded recycling bins can be used for Christmas cards, wrapping paper that is not foil or plastic, cardboard boxes, shredded paper and brown paper.

Black boxes can take paper, glass, cans including large tins, jars and Christmas card envelopes.

Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for waste, said: “This year has been another good year for recycling in the county. Local people have helped Wiltshire reach a recycling rate of 48 per cent.

“Christmas is a time when everyone has lots of extra household waste, so please remember to keep recycling and together we can achieve our goal of 50 per cent recycling by April 2014.”

Visit the council’s website at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbishrecycling/whenismywaste andrecyclingcollected, or call the council on 0300 456 0102.