WORCESTER city council's successful recycling scheme is being expanded to cover the busy Christmas period.

Several measures have been taken to ensure Worcester residents can recycle all their extra Christmas waste and enable the council to continue to exceed its own target of recycling 18 per cent of all rubbish - a figure already two per cent higher than the Government demands.

In addition to existing services, new glass banks have been placed at Gwillams' Farm Shop on Ombersley Road, The Ketch on Bath Road and opposite the Pump House in Waterworks Road.

"Christmas is the busiest time of year for glass recycling, so it might be wise to stagger visits over the Christmas period," warned assistant environmental protection officer Hannah Phoenix.

The Christmas tree recycling scheme will also be repeated this year, with collection points at Worcester Homebase stores and Worcester Garden Centre.

The scheme will run from Saturday, January 3, until Sunday, January 11. The trees will be composted and turned into soil conditioner, which will then be sold at the council's household waste sites at Bilford Road and Hallow Road.

Kerbside recycling will still operate throughout Christmas, but collection dates have been changed to cover the holiday period. Some 95 per cent of all city homes are now covered by the scheme, after the addition of another 700 properties to collection rounds recently.

Typical Christmas items which can be recycled include wrapping paper, Christmas cards and envelopes, old calendars and TV listings magazines. Most packaging from cakes, pies and other festive treats can also be recycled.

Refuse will be collected as normal today and tomorrow, but Christmas Day and Boxing Day pick-ups will take place on Monday, December 29, and Tuesday, December 30. Similarly, collections over New Year will take place three days later than usual.

Bob Blandford, city council spokesman, urged householders to pass details of these changes on to their friends and neighbours to avoid confusion.