THE Forest Council will pick up real Christmas trees from households for recycling.

The service starts on Monday (January 9) and runs until Friday, January 20.

Residents wishing to recycle their trees will need to put them out on their scheduled garden waste collection day between Monday 9 to Friday 20 January in order to be collected. 

The service is available to all households, including those without a current garden waste licence.

Once collected, trees will be taken to Rose Hill Farm, Dymock where they will be composted and turned into a soil improver for use on agricultural land.

Garden waste collections take place on the alternate week to the refuse collections for most properties. To check, visit www.fdean.gov.uk/binday, refer to the annual waste calendar which was posted to households in the spring, or call the customer services team on 01594 810000.

Cllr Richard Leppington, (Progressive Independents, Bream), the Cabinet member for finance and waste said: “To assist Biffa’s crews, we are asking residents to reduce larger trees down to around one metre lengths which can either be left ready at the kerbside or put inside the green garden waste wheeled bin, if available.”

The trees can also be taken to the houshold recycling centres at Broadwell and Hempstead.