BIN collections will not change over Christmas and New Year, according to Wiltshire Council.

This is because waste collector crews will be working as normal over the bank holidays on December 27, 28 and Monday, January 3.

However, garden waste collections will stop for two weeks over the holidays with the last pickups taking place on Christmas Eve and will begin again on Monday, January 10.

Cabinet member for waste, Dr Mark McClelland, said: “At Christmas time many of us generate more waste than usual.

“We would like everyone to do their bit by recycling as much of their waste as possible. Our kerbside recycling collection service helps make this easy to do.

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“In addition to the everyday items people tend to recycle in their blue-lidded bin and black box, people can add items including wrapping paper, providing it scrunches into a ball; cardboard packaging; plastic sweet tubs (up to five litres); mince pie foil cases; drinks cans; glass bottles; and Christmas cards without glitter.

“Local charity shops may be happy to receive donations of unwanted presents.

“It is important that people do not place batteries or electrical items in any of their bins.

“These items can cause fires in collection vehicles or at waste processing and sorting facilities. These should be disposed of at household recycling centres (HRCs) instead.”

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The opening times of HRCs will be Christmas Eve from 10am to 1pm with all HRCs closed on December 25, 26 and January 1. Households with extra recyclable materials such as cans, cardboard and paper can place these in suitable alternative containers alongside their bin for collection.

Those residents who pay to have their garden waste collected can put their real Christmas trees, alongside their other garden waste bin on their first collection in January.