Christmas tree recycling record targeted

Manchester City Council is hoping to score a century in a record-breaking Christmas tree recycling campaign.

Some 96.38 tonnes of trees - just short of 5,000, weighing more than eight double decker buses - were collected in this year's post-Christmas period. Now the council is hoping to kick off 2008 by topping the 100 tonne mark.

With collection points at parks throughout the city, and even collections from residents' doors, it is easier than ever to participate.

Park collection points will be open from Friday 4 January to Sunday 13 January 2008 between 9.30am and 3.30pm at the following parks:

• Alexandra Park
• Boggart Hole Clough
• Debdale Park
• Fog Lane Park
• Heaton Park
• Platt Fields Park
• Wythenshawe Park
• A tree recycling facility is also available at Manchester City Football Club

Residents who are unable to get to collection points can ring the council's Environment On Call team between Wednesday 2 January and Friday 18 January 2008 to arrange a doorstep tree recycling collection. City centre residents are advised that any collections need to be arranged via their management company or building manager, who can obtain further information through Environment On Call.

Christmas trees, along with any other green waste, can be taken all year round to the council's three household waste recyling centres at Longley Lane in Sharston, Reliance Street in Newton Heath and Sandfold Lane in Levenshulme.

Councillor Neil Swannick, Executive Member for Planning and Environment, said: "Manchester residents have already shown their commitment to having a green Christmas. There are plenty of options for people who want to dispose of their tree in an environmentally-friendly and I'd encourage them to help us make it a record-breaking start to 2008."

Anyone wondering where to recycle their Christmas cards can take advantage of the Woodlands Trust card recycling scheme, which the City Council is again supporting. Cards can be taken to branches of WH Smith, TK Maxx, Tesco and Marks and Spencer which will have special bins from 2 January to 31 January. Nationally, the Woodland Trust is aiming to recycle 100 million Christmas cards so they can plant 24,000 trees.

For further information on the Christmas tree recycling scheme and more general top tips on recycling, please visit the Have A Greener Christmas section of our website at www.manchester.gov.uk/recycling

Media contact:

Roger Williams, tel: 0161 2343275