Make sure your Christmas was a green one, Rotherham urged

Paper and card packaging, either from your presents or festive food and drink, can be added to your blue bag, along with your normal paper, card and all those festive TV guides.

Extra large amounts of card left over can be taken to recling centres or folded small and placed alongside the blue bag.

Although plastics are not collected at kerbside, these can be taken and recycled at any of the recycling centres, or placed in your black bin as they are separated out at the new BDR Waste Treatment Plant in Manvers.

Cllr Kath Sims, Rotherham Council’s advisory cabinet member for waste, said: “We all know the festive season creates lots of additional waste, with all those presents and extra food and drink.

“Using your blue bag and box to recycle some of that waste will help to free up room in the black bins come collection day.

“But if you find you're in need of a New Year clear out, then our Household Waste Recycling Centres are open every day up to January 11, except for New Year's Day.”

You can find details of your nearest recycling centre on the council’s website at www.rotherham.gov.uk/bins.

If you go to a “bring site” — with bottle banks and other containers — and they are full, do not leave waste on the floor near the banks, as this is classed as fly-tipping.