Hertsmere Borough Council are encouraging residents to recycle their Christmas trees and cards.

So much more rubbish is produced at Christmas time so it is important to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Councillor Jean Heywood said: "Many people recycle their waste through the year, which is great but we need to make an extra effort during the festive season when around 30 per cent more waste accumulates in people's homes."

The council have stations across the borough, where residents can bring their real Christmas trees to be shredded for free.

It is available between 11am and 2pm at the following places:

•Monday, January 5 - Oakmere car park, High Street, Potters Bar •Tuesday, January 6 - Kemp Place car park, High Street, Bushey •Wednesday, January 7 - The Venue car park, Elstree Way, Borehamwood •Thursday, January 8 - Newberries car park, Watling Street, Radlett The council have asked residents not to put Christmas cards in the blue box or brown bin.

Instead they should be taken to Morrisons, Sainsbury's or to one of the local recycling points from January 3.

The recycling points are: •Borehamwood - Civic Offices, Elstree Way •Bushey - Costco car park, Hartspring Lane and Kemp Place car park, High Street •Potters Bar - Furzefield car park, Mutton Lane •Radlett - Newberries car park •Shenley - Andrews Close