BRADFORD Council and the police have urged people to recycle this Christmas and not leave wrapping laying around.

Waste created by households increases by 30 per cent over the festive period, according to the council's website.

It has reminded people of the sorts of things they can recycle.

This includes: Christmas cards, wrapping paper, cardboard packaging, baking foils, trays and cases, wine bottles, beer bottles and cans, as well as Christmas trees.

There are certain requirements for each item. This is as follows:

Christmas cards - These can be recycled as long as they have no glitter, foil or beads etc. Some local supermarkets and stores will accept your old Christmas cards for their charities.

Wrapping paper - If it is made with a sparkly or plastic coating, it cannot be recycled.

Cardboard packaging - Make sure all plastic wrapping and polystyrene is removed.

Baking foil, trays and cases - Tin foil from wrapping food, foil trays or cases from minced pies and puddings can all be recycled as long as they are free from food and grease.

Wine bottles, beer bottles and cans - These can go all together in your recycling bin.

Christmas trees - These can be taken to your local household waste recycling centre or chopped up and put in your garden waste bin.

Bradford Council also reminded people of the change in collection dates over Christmas.

If your normal collection day falls on Boxing Day, your bin will be emptied on Saturday, December 28.

If your normal collection day falls on New Year's Day, your bin will be emptied on Saturday, January 4.

Police have joined the campaign to get people to recycle their Christmas waste too.

A police spokesperson said: "Got some great presents for Christmas?

"Make sure you take the packaging from Christmas gifts to be recycled, and don't leave the packaging outside next to the bins.

"It might encourage a burglar to break in."