OLDHAM Council have announced changes to their bin collection service over the festive season.

Those affected are residents with Tuesday and Wednesday bin collections as there will be no service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Instead all bins - including green bins and food caddies - due to be emptied on December 25 will be collected on December 29.

Bins due for collection on Boxing Day will be collected early on Saturday, December 22.

If your green bin and food caddy are due for collection on this date, the council is asking residents not put them out. They will be emptied as normal on Wednesday, January 2.

Bins due on New Year's Day will be collected on Saturday, January 5 - apart from green bins and food caddies which will be collected on Tuesday, January 8. as normal.

Over the next few days the council will be delivering leaflets to households in the areas affected and we’ll also be sending out reminders through their social media channels.

If you are unsure which bin would have been due, please check your collection calendar or use the online post code checker at www.oldham.gov.uk/waste

If your collection day doesn’t fall on any of the above dates you're advised to put your bins out as usual.

Councillor Arooj Shah, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “Changes to collection days at Christmas are now the norm but we’d ask that you just take a minute to familiarise yourself with the arrangements.

“Our waste collectors work in all weathers all year round and deserve to enjoy the holidays with their families and friends, like most people get to do at this time of year.”

After the festive period you can help dispose of your Christmas tree in a number of ways.

You can put it in your green bin – just chop it into small pieces, remove the wooden block from the base of the tree as this is too big to be composted, and take off any lights and decorations.

Alternatively, take it to your local tip or to one of the following recycling drop off points from December 28 until January 17:

• Higher Memorial Park (car park), Joseph Street, Failsworth (open dawn until dusk)

• Royton Park (car park) off Bleasdale Street, Royton. Anytime access

• Werneth Park (car park) off Frederick Street, Werneth (open dawn until dusk)

• Churchill Playing Fields (car park), Wellington Road, Greenfield. Anytime access.

All your Christmas cards, wrapping paper and cardboard packaging can be recycled using your blue bins or recycling bags.

If you have items that are too big to fit in your bin, you can:

• Take them to Arkwright Street Waste and Recycling Centre, Oldham, OL9 9LZ - for free. Or to find your nearest tip, visit www.recycle4greatermanchester.com

• Arrange for them to be collected by Bulky Bobs. To book a collection call us on 0161 770 6644.

We will collect extra recycling over the Christmas period as long as it is neatly presented and clearly labelled as recycling.