Hundreds of Dacorum residents took a green step into the New Year by recycling their real Christmas trees.

Dacorum Borough Council encouraged locals to take the opportunity to recycle their real Christmas trees at shredding sites.

Many families and groups stayed to see their trees being shredded and returned home with a bag of their chippings. They were given the opportunity to take away their chippings to scatter on their garden as a natural weed preventative. Any unclaimed chippings have been sent away for composting.

The council also worked with scout groups across Dacorum, who collected trees from residents’ homes and transported them to the shredding sites. 2,050 trees were recycled in total throughout Dacorum.

Councillor Julie Laws, Dacorum Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability said: "This is eighteenth year that the Christmas tree recycling service has been running and it is a good way to start New Year’s resolutions by recycling. It is great to see the community coming together with the efforts of Tring and Berkhamsted Scouts and the Council recycling vast numbers of trees.

"Thank you to everyone who made the effort to recycle their Christmas trees this year."

Residents can still recycle real Christmas trees and Christmas cards at Hertfordshire County Council's Household Waste Recycling Centres.