Recycling and rubbish collection dates across Midsomer Norton and Radstock will be revised over Christmas and New Year, with the council offering special tips on how to cut waste and how to get rid of your Christmas tree.

There will be no collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day.

Residents can check collection dates for specific addresses on the council's website: www.bathnes.gov.uk/checkcollection.

With more rubbish thrown away over the festive period than at any other time of year, residents are being urged to recycle as much waste as possible.

Councillor David Wood, joint cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Neighbourhood Services, said: "Across the country the amount of waste generated over Christmas increases by almost a third. That's a lot of extra rubbish, but if we think before we buy, we can reduce the amount of waste we create. Please think twice before buying cards with environmentally damaging glitter, and shiny wrapping paper which can't be recycled as it contains plastic.

Once the presents have been unwrapped and the turkey eaten, inevitably there will be lots of rubbish and waste. It's really important residents recycle as much as they can to avoid waste going to landfill – please use your food waste bin, green box and blue bag recycling collections and if you plan to make a New Year's resolution, how about a pledge to recycle more?"

The council's recycling centres will be operating as normal for the majority of the festive period, but will be closed on:

• Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December
• Boxing Day – Thursday 26 December
• New Year's Day – Wednesday 1 January

There will be NO garden waste collections from Monday 9 December 2019 to Friday 17 January 2020 inclusive. Normal garden waste collections will start again on Monday 20 January.

People who have bought real Christmas trees can take them to the council's recycling centres or put them out for collection between January 20 and 10 February on garden waste collections days (even if they don't have a green bin) and the council will collect them free of charge. The advice from the council, please cut them up small enough to fit in the lorry and ensure they are free of decorations.