RESIDENTS are being urged to think green over the festive period and remember the 12 days of Christmas.

Dorset County Council has come up with 12 top tips so people can help do their bit for the planet.

In Dorset last January around 2,000 tonnes more rubbish was sent to landfill than in February or March, costing the council tax payer roughly £108,000 extra for the month.

Cards, wrapping paper, present boxes, packaging, leftover food, foil, drink bottles and cans all mean that the amount thrown away at Christmas can pile up.

Householders can play their part by recycling their rubbish via kerbside collections, at banks in supermarket car parks and other locations, or at household recycling centres.

People should check first because collection rounds and recycling centre opening times change over Christmas.

Dorset County Council cabinet holder for the environment Hilary Cox said: “Last year we recycled more than 45 per cent of our waste which makes us one of the best performing counties in England and Wales.

“Christmas is a time when we can all make a real difference by recycling and cutting down on the amount we throw away.

“I would like to wish residents a very happy and green Christmas and thank them for all their efforts over the last year.”

Once the festivities are over real Christmas trees can be deposited as garden waste at the county council’s household recycling centres.

Here are the county council’s top tips for the festive period – one for each of the 12 days of Christmas:

  • Avoid goods with unnecessary packaging
  • Buy food and drink packaged in recyclable materials
  • Say no to unwanted bags – use old ones or reusable bags instead
  • Save envelopes and reuse them
  • Buy a UK-grown real tree with roots that can be planted in your garden for next year
  • Compost vegetable peelings and kitchen clippings
  • Use leftovers to cook tasty new dishes – for more information visit: www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/dorset
  • Buy rechargeable batteries for electrical goods and toys
  • Make ‘recycling more’ your new year resolution
  • Save a car journey and take your recycling with you to supermarket recycling banks when you go shopping
  • Tell your Christmas guests where the recycling bins are and what goes in them
  • Turn your Christmas cards from this year into gift tags for next year.