TEN?top seasonal tips on festive refuse and recycling have been drawn up by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).

During the busy Christmas period households are often too pre-occupied with the festivities to make sure their refuse is removed and the right items are recycled.

So to prevent seasonal slip-ups, the council has issued these 10 simple steps:–

• Make sure you check your collection calendar for changes to the collection days

• Garden waste collections are suspended over Christmas so crews can help with the extra volumes of recycling and refuse

• TREEcycle by putting your tree out for collection the stipulated day

• Check which items can and can’t be recycled so you don’t contaminate your bin with a few items

• Wrapping paper cannot be recycled, so try to reduce the amount you use;

• Make sure your empty bottles go to a recycling bank or are put out for kerbside collection

• Plan meals carefully so you only use what you need

• Use your leftovers as soon as possible or freeze them for later use

• Compost as much food waste as possible and

• Only use your green refuse bin as a last resort.

Adam Carew, EHDC’s portfolio holder for the environment, said: “Everyone can play their part to help the environment, not only over the Christmas period but throughout the year, by following this simple advice and making sure everyone at home knows which items go into which bin.

“And now is the perfect time for that new year’s resolution to reduce refuse and recycle more during 2016.”