Worcestershire County Council reminding people to dispose of waste correctly after Christmas 'influx' of it
The authority is urging residents to check they're putting items in the right bins, as it deals with the increase in waste it tends to see from the Christmas and New Year period
Worcestershire County Council is highlighting the importance of people making sure they put items in the right bins following Christmas and New Year.
It's as the amount of waste tends to see a 30% rise during this period, with people using this month to continue to get rid and recycle things such as real Christmas trees.
Waste prevention project manager for the authority Emma Stuart is reminding people to check they're disposing waste in the correct ways, and said the authority collected just under 500 tonnes of green waste last January, adding it sees an "influx of around 25-30% of of green waste'".
"Two messages we would say to people post Christmas are don't put any batteries into your green bin or your black bin because they spark when they're compacted and they could cause fires," she said.
"We've had three bin lorry fires in this county in recent months, we think caused by batteries in the back of the lorries.
"The other thing I'd say is if you've got extra recycling, put it in either a clear bag or a cardboard box, because if it goes into a carrier bag or a bin bag, when it goes to EnviroSort they don't know what's in that bag when it's on the picking line when it's first sorted so it automatically gets rejected."
Several charities across both counties have also been holding their annual tree collections for voluntary donations to help to play their part in making sure thousands of real Christmas trees are recycled properly this month.