Shepton residents have been asked to consider using recycling centres and only cooking what they need to ensure festive bin collections go off without a hitch.

The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) has published the revised dates for recycling and refuse collections over the Christmas and new year period, allowing households to plan ahead for disposing of Yuletide waste.

In addition to these dates, the SWP has issued advice for residents to help them reduce waste in the first place, including tips for disposing of wrapping paper and cardboard from online deliveries.

Waste bosses believe these hints and tips will help offset the festive season's cost and ensure there is little to no disruption over the winter.

A spokesman for the SWP said: "At the end of 2022, everyone wants to make the most of the festive season while keeping costs low.

"This is a good time to get into new routine, and there are lots of small steps everyone can take to waste less and save more this Christmas. Just making one or two changes can make a difference.

"By reducing, reusing and recycling you can end 2022 and start 2023 doing your bit to protect our environment, help tackle climate change and save money."

When will my bins be collected?

All existing kerbside collections for both recycling and refuse will continue as normal until Friday, December 23.

There are no collections on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or Monday, January 2 (which serves as the substitute bank holiday due to New Year's Day falling on a Sunday this year).

Collections over Christmas and new year will be one day later than normal – with Friday collections (e.g. Friday, December 30) moving to a Saturday.

This will continue until Monday, January 9, 2023, when normal service resumes.

There will, as per usual, be no garden waste collections throughout the festive fortnight.

To double-check your rearranged collection date, visit www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.

What do I do with my old Christmas tree?

If you can't compost your Christmas tree at home, you can leave your tree (without decorations) by your garden waste bin for collection from January 9, 2023.

If your tree is more than six feet (around 1.8 metres) tall – or if you do not subscribe to garden waste collections – you will need to take it to a household waste recycling centre.

Alternatively, charities will collect used Christmas trees from selected areas, with Dorothy House Hospice Care handling collections from around Frome and Shepton Mallet, and St. Margaret's Hospice and Children's Hospice South West handling much of the rest of the county.

To find a collection near you and book your tree in, visit www.just-helping.org.uk.

When can I use the recycling centres?

Somerset's household waste recycling centres will be open for their normal winter hours.

They will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day – though Crewkerne recycling centre will open for an extra day on December 27.

The county's 16 recycling centres are in the following locations:

• Saltlands Avenue, Bridgwater (near the new school transport depot)
• Dimmer Lane, Castle Cary
• Beeching Close, Chard (near the new enterprise centre)
• Wedmore Road, Cheddar
• Blacknell Lane, Crewkerne (near phase one of the Crewkerne key site)
• Brushford Road, Dulverton
• Manor Furlong, Frome (near the Sandys Hill Lane development site)
• Bennett Road, Highbridge
• Mart Road, Minehead
• Bancombe Road, Somerton
• Farm Lane, Street (near Clarks Village)
• Venture Way, Taunton
• Higher Poole, Wellington
• Dulcolte Hill, nr Wells
• Roughmoor, Williton
• Artillery Road, Yeovil

If you have large quantities for any materials, or have seen your kerbside collection disrupted due to severe weather or the bank holidays, the recycling centres are probably your best bet.

Be sure to check www.somersetwaste.gov.uk before you travel for a list of accepted vehicles, and be sure to wear gloves on-site as well as following any coronavirus restrictions.

Can I recycle wrapping paper?

Yes – so long as it doesn't have foil, plastic or glitter on any part of it (these cannot be currently recycled).

Any wrapping paper which cannot be reused should have all tape and decorations removed and placed in your black recycling box with other paper and card – NOT in a black bag.

The same principle applies to Christmas cards and crackers – the former of which can be cut up and turned into gift tags for next year, if you're feeling creative.

What about tubs and tins?

If you can't reuse empty chocolate and biscuit tubs and tins for storage or for freezing foods, you can recycle then all.

Plastic tubs can be dropped off at recycling centres in the designated skip for plastic pots, trays and bottles at any recycle site – or they can be added to your kerbside bright blue bag.

Metal tins can – if safe – be crushed and added to the same bag, or can be dropped off at any recycle site.

Pringles tubes (or similar) cannot be taken at the kerbside, but are accepted at recycling centres (except for Castle Cary, Cheddar, Dulverton and Somerton).

Foil from mince pies or similar goodies can be scrunched up and put in the bright blue bag.

What about Christmas lights and batteries?

These can be left in an untied bag alongside your recycling boxes or take them to a recycling centre.

What about food waste?

Food waste collections will continue over Christmas, with the same date changes as the recycling and refuse pick-ups.

While pretty much all of your Christmas leftovers can go in your food waste bin (along with paper kitchen towels and paper napkins), liquid oils should be recycled at a recycling centre.

To reduce waste over the Christmas period, try making a meal plan, so that you only buy what you need and eat all of what you buy.

By stocking up on cupboard staples like rice and pasta, you can turn leftovers into fun new meals and ensure less food goes to waste.

For more ideas about reducing food waste, visit www.outofdate.org.uk or www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.