Residents in Torfaen are being urged to have a "green" Christmas to help boost recycling rates.
Over the Christmas period about 30 per cent more rubbish is produced.
Glass, cans, Christmas trees, cards, and plastic bottles are all thrown away in dustbins across the country.
With a little thought, we can all limit the impact we have and help boost the county borough's recycling rate of 38%.
Here are some handy tips:
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Use your black box for recycling paper, glass bottles and jars, cans, textiles, and plastic bottles that you dispose of. Christmas cards can also be put in the box but they must be bagged separately.
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When shopping for Christmas presents use reusable shopping bags or reuse carrier bags.
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Do not over wrap Christmas presents- use a Christmas stocking instead of paper or use recycled paper.
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Try sending electronic cards.
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Cut up old Christmas cards and make tags for presents.
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Buy Christmas trees with roots so they can be replanted in the garden or buy an artificial Christmas tree that can be reused.
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Buy rechargeable instead of disposable batteries.
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Take glass, cans, paper, plastic bottles and textiles and shoes to recycling banks in Torfaen. Alternatively take your waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centre in New Inn.
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Remember to compost fruit and vegetable peelings.
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Take your old Christmas tree to Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran.
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If your area is covered by the green bin scheme use it for your kitchen and garden waste.
Executive Member for Operational Services, Councillor John Cunningham, said: "We want everyone to have a merry Christmas but we also want people to think of the environment during the festive period."
The council is allowing Torfaen residents already on the twin bin scheme to put out up to two bags of side waste for their first black bin collection after Christmas (December 28-30).
For more information visit the Rubbish Waste and Recycling| area.