With an increase in waste over the festive period, residents in the New Forest District Council area might not be too sure which items can be recycled.

The authority says that empty aerosols, plastic bottles, tins, cans, card, and paper, can go in the clear recycling sack. Also if not reused, greeting cards and plain brown gift wrap can be recycled, but any decorations such as ribbons or sticky tape need to be removed first.

The majority of gift wrap is not suitable for recycling in Hampshire as it contains a mixture of plastic and foil.

Christmas tree drop-off points are returning from Sunday 31 December to Sunday 14 January. Locally they are: Fordingbridge – A338 Slip Road Car Park SP6 1AW and Ringwood – Furlong Long Stay Car Park,  follow signs to designated area   BH24 1AT.

Only drop off real Christmas trees and remove any decorations first, such as lights or wreaths. Trees must be placed as far back as possible in the fenced bay. Any trees left in car parks not on the list or by litter bins, will be treated as fly-tipping.

The trees will be recycled by chipping them to create mulch. The mulch will be used locally to help keep moisture around plant roots, and to prevent weeds from growing.

Last year more than 6,500 Christmas trees were recycled.

There are changes to collection dates for rubbish.

Sack collections usually due on Monday 25 December and Monday 1 January, will instead be on Tuesday 2 January.

Sack collections usually due on Tuesday 26 December and Tuesday 2 January, will instead be on Wednesday 3 January.

Sack collections usually due from Wednesday 3 January to Friday 5 January, will instead be on the following day.

NFDC can collect extra recycling and rubbish from affected households.

All other sack collections will stay the same as usual.

Glass collections usually due on Monday 25 December, will instead be on Saturday 30 December.

Glass collections usually due on Tuesday 26 December, will instead be on Saturday 6 January.

Glass collections usually due on Monday 1 January, will instead be on Saturday 13 January.

All other glass collections will stay the same as usual.

There will be no garden waste collections from Monday 25 December to Sunday 7 January. They will resume from Monday 8 January.

You can check your usual collection day online: https://newforest.gov.uk/findyourcollection