SPECIAL skips have been set up around Worcester where people can take their used Christmas trees for recycling.

The trees will be shredded, and, once full, the skips will be taken to Hill & Moor large scale composting facility where all material is again shredded, mixed with other green waste and turned regularly so that it rots down into a compost-like material. This soil conditioner will then be sold back to the public.

The skips have been sited at the three Worcester Homebase stores in Bath Road, Hylton Road and Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, and at Worcester Garden Centre, off Droitwich Road. They will be at these sites until Sunday, January 15.

People can also use the Worcestershire County Council Household Waste Sites at Bilford Road and Horsford Road, off Hallow Road. Hannah Phoenix, the city council's assistant environmental protection officer, said: "The scheme started on Wednesday and when we got to the sites, there were already trees there ready to be shredded."

Last year, about 9.82 tonnes of trees were collected. This is the equivalent weight of about 10 Mini cars.

Households are also being called on to recycle the excess waste as a result of the festive period. Items such as empty plastic and glass bottles and wrapping paper can be put into green wheelie bins. Those areas that don't yet have the bins can takes items to bottle and paper banks.