RESIDENTS across South Gloucestershire are being reminded that there will be changes to their refuse and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year period.

As collection teams will not be working Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day, the following changes have been made to the collections schedule (changed collection day in brackets) Monday, December 24 (no change) Tuesday, December 25 (Thursday, December 27) Wednesday,December 26 (Friday, December 28) Thursday, December 27 Saturday, December 29) Friday, December 28 (Monday, December 31) Monday, December 31 (Wednesday, January 2) Tuesday, January 1 (Thursday,January 3) Wednesday,January 2 (Friday January 4) Thursday, January 3 (Saturday,January 5) Friday, January 4 (Monday, January 7) Monday, January 7 (Tuesday, January 8) Tuesday, January 8 (Wednesday, January 9) Wednesday,January 9 (Thursday, January 10) Thursday, January 10(Friday, January 11) Friday, January 11 (Saturday, January 12) The changes apply to black bins, green bins and green recycling boxes.

The council is reminding residents to put bins or recycling boxes outside by 7am on the day of collection. If a collection is missed on the due day, then residents should leave their bins out for collection on the following working day.

As part of the first black bin collection after Christmas, extra bags of waste next to wheelie bins will be collected. This extra, one-off service is for black wheelie bins only, not for green bins.

The council's four Sort It centres at Thornbury, Yate, Little Stoke and Mangotsfield will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Cllr Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: "We would like to thank householders in advance for their co-operation. We hope that everyone has an enjoyable Christmas and New Year but urge them to think of the environment and recycle where they can."

The following information should also be noted: *Bulky waste: collections will be suspended from December 24 until Monday, January 7.

*Christmas trees: these may be chopped up and put in green wheelie bins as long as the trunk or branches are no wider than four inches in diameter. Residents should ensure that the bin lids are closed and that all decorations have been removed. If trees are too large they can be taken to nearest Sort It centre.

*Christmas cards: as many have plastic or metal tinsel attached, they cannot be recycled as part of the kerbside collection service.

*The Woodland Trust is promoting a Christmas card recycling scheme. Retailers WH Smith, Tesco, T K Maxx and Marks and Spencer are taking part. Please check your nearest store to see if they are participating.

*Wrapping paper: as it may have glitter attached, it cannot be recycled as part of the kerbside collection service.

SITA has been advising residents of changes to their collections by affixing tags to their bins. If any resident has not received their tag then they should telephone the StreetCare Helpdesk on 01454 868000 and request that SITA send one to them.

For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk and click on the rubbish and recycling collections option, or telephone the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000.