Christmas can mean lots of presents … and lots of wrapping paper and cardboard boxes. Don’t forget to recycle it all in your blue bin – Ipswich Borough Council knows this time of year means more recyclables and is concentrating on collecting blue bins over the festive period.

Bin collections are changing over the festive season and brown bins won’t be picked up on or between 24th December and 7th January as crews wrestle with the extra recycling. Collection days for blue bins are changing – don’t get caught out: go to www.ipswich.gov.uk/christmas

Christmas is a good time for giving – make sure you don’t throw any household items away but take them along to a recycling centre instead.

Many people are given new toasters or kettles or a wide range of goods; your old ones shouldn’t end up in the bin! Check www.ipswich.gov.uk/content/hwrcs to find out the opening times of your nearest recycling centre.

Bigger items such as fridges and washing machines can be picked up for FREE by the Ipswich Furniture Project and it doesn’t matter if they don’t work. Call 01473 404004 or email service@ipswichfp.org

If you are decking the halls with boughs of holly this Christmas, you can put the old branches and leaves in your brown bin. You can also stand your old Christmas trees (real ones only, please) next to your brown bin for collection from 8th January.