WARRINGTON Borough Council is warning residents what can and cannot be recycled out of their Christmas rubbish.

The council is urging members of the public that some items which they may believe can be recycled can actually cause issues at recycling plants, while other waste that they may automatically throw in the black bin can be recycled.

Christmas cards, cardboard packaging and foil can be recycled in Warrington, as can aluminium cans and glass bottles.

Christmas trees meanwhile can be recycled through St Rocco’s Hospice for a small donation.

Trees, wreaths and plants can alternatively be taken to recycling centres.

But some wrapping paper cannot be recycled due to a mixture of materials used in the manufacturing process, as well as problematic sticky tape.

If the paper does not spring back when scrunched up, it can be recycled – although all tape should be removed first.

Batteries should not be placed in bins as they could cause fires, and can instead be dropped at recycling points.

Christmas tree lights can be taken to some tips, but baubles and tinsel cannot be recycled.

Residents are also being reminded of changes to their usual bin collection days over the festive period.

Households whose waste is usually collected on Tuesdays will instead have their bins collected on Monday, December 23, but will then have their bins picked up on New Year’s Eve as normal.

Those with a usual bin day of Wednesday should instead leave their refuse out on Christmas Eve and Thursday, January 2.

Bins usually collected on Thursdays will instead be picked up on Friday, December 27, and Friday, January 3.

And residents whose collections usually fall on a Friday should put their bins out on the following Saturdays, December 28 and January 4.

All other collections are unaffected.