Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Reuse if you can; but if you can't then recycle.

In Wiltshire there are many ways to recycle Christmas and Wiltshire Council (WC) has provided information on how to recycle during the festive period.

Christmas trees can be taken to any household recycling centre (HRC). They can also be placed into garden waste recycling bins, but please chop them down to fit in the bin.

Wrapping paper can be put into the black boxes for collection. If black boxes are full, it can be put in a plastic bag or box.

Woodland Trust are running a scheme from January 2 to 31 in which you can take your old Christmas cards to WH Smith, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer. Woodland Trust will recycle them and plant thousands of trees.

Food waste can be a thing of the past - for interesting leftovers recipes check www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.

Unwanted gifts need not go to waste. Many charity shops would benefit from them, or they could be given away at www.freecycle.org. Freecycle or Freegle (www.ilovefreegle.org) will advertise unwanted gifts for free and someone else can benefit from them.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment can be taken to local HRCs.

Around 600 million household batteries are sent to landfill in the UK unnecessarily every year. These can now be taken to your nearest HRC to be recycled.

At this time of year, HRCs are open seven days a week from 9.00am to 4.00pm. To find out more log onto www.wiltshire.gov.uk/recycling

Over the Christmas period the HRCs will be closed on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and all day Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.