Recycling reminder about Christmas trees

West Berkshire Council is urging local residents to recycle their trees and greenery

AS the decorations are taken down following the festive season, West Berkshire residents are being reminded to recycle their real Christmas trees.

The trees, plus any real greenery from Christmas garlands, can be recycled through the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), Newtown Road, Newbury, to create organic, peat-free soil conditioner called Pro-Grow, which is available to buy from the centre.

West Berkshire's executive member for the environment, Hilary Cole, (Con Chieveley) said: “We are pleased that residents can enjoy the convenience of being able to take their Christmas trees at the Newtown Road site, where such a wide range of wastes can be reused and recycled.”

She added: “The snow, combined with the bank holidays and the health and safety issues of sending waste trucks to icy residents streets set many challenges. I would like to thank residents for their continued patience while we bring the collections up to date.”

The council's green waste kerbside collection scheme has been suspended until January 24, to help waste and recycling crews catch up with collections following the bank holidays.

The Newtown Road recycling centre is open every day, from 8.30am until 5.30pm. People living in the east of the district can also use Smallmead recycling centre, in Island Road, Reading. This site is open between 8am and 6pm and located near junction 11, M4.

For further information about recycling and waste facilities in West Berkshire, please contact West Berkshire Councils' customer services team on 01635 519080 or email customerservices@westberks.gov.uk