HOUSEHOLDERS across Hartlepool are being urged to recycle as much of their Christmas waste as possible.

Council officials are calling on them to make full use of weekly kerbside collections to dispose of items such as bottles and cans and cardboard packaging.

They are also being reminded that the Council operates a network of mini-recycling centres in various locations around the town, and the main Household Waste Recycling Centre in Burn Road will be open from 8am-6pm every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Fiona Srogi, Hartlepool Council’s recycling officer, said: "We all tend to generate more waste as this time of the year, but much of it can be recycled.

"By using the facilities provided by the Council and other organisations, residents can minimise the amount of waste that is simply thrown away."

Kerbside Christmas tree collections will carried out on a ward-by-ward basis and begin on Monday January 5 in Hart and Brus wards and the villages of Elwick, Dalton Piercy and Hart.

Collections will then take place in St Hilda, Throston and Dyke House wards on January 6, Burn Valley, Park, Foggy Furze and Grange wards on January 7, Rift House, Stranton, Owton and Seaton wards on January 8 and Fens and Rossmere wards and the villages of Greatham and Newton Bewley on January 9.