CHANGES are being made to bin collections in Tenbury and throughout the Malvern Hills District during Christmas and New Year with weekend collections

Collections scheduled for Christmas Day will take place on Sunday, December 27 instead and New Year’s Day collections will move to Saturday, January 2.

Collections will take place as normal on all other days. From Monday, December 21 to Friday, January 9 residents can put out up to two extra black bags of waste next to their black bin.

The average family household in Worcestershire wastes £700 a year on food and more food waste is usually generated at Christmas. Across the UK the equivalent of 2 million turkeys, 5 million Christmas puddings and 74 million mince pies are thrown away.

Household Recycling Centres are open except for on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s day. Residents are being urged to delay having a New Year clear out until later in January as social distancing restrictions remain in place at centres.

Charity shops are open and accepting donations, but restrictions are in place. Call ahead before visiting with a donation.

Residents are urged not to leave donations on the street outside charity shops that are closed as this is classed as fly-tipping and may lead to a fine or prosecution.

People are also encouraged to make reducing their waste a New Year’s resolution and to have a go at a 30-day zero waste challenge.

“We have seen an increase in recycling since March but the amount of waste people are generating is also on the increase,” said Cllr John Raine, Portfolio Holder for Environment on Malvern Hills District Council , who says not wasting helps the planet.

A web page has also been created at www.malvernhills.gov.uk/festivebins with tips on recycling and waste reduction over the Christmas and New Year period, including how to avoid throwing away food.