They can be recycled in your blue bag, as part of Ryedale District Council's kerbside paper collection service, or they can be recycled at any paper bank in the District.

For a full list of recycling sites see the Recycling Directory at www.ryedale.gov.uk or contact Streetscene.

Alternatively, the Woodland Trust, the UK's leading woodland conservation charity, is once again teaming up with WH Smith, Tesco, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer to recycle Christmas cards. These four companies will be providing collection points for card recycling at most of their stores, throughout January.

Christmas trees can easily be recycled as part of the Council's garden waste collection service. To assist collection and to avoid the tree getting wedged in the bin, it would help if the tree was cut into smaller pieces beforehand. Trees can also be dropped off at your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre (skip site).

All tinsel and plastic decorations should be removed from your Christmas tree before recycling as these cause considerable problems to local farmers, who eventually compost them with other garden waste material.

For further information contact Ryedale District Council on tel: 01653 600666 or e-mail streetscene@ryedale.gov.uk