THERE will be changes to Wednesday and Thursday bin collections over the Christmas period in Oldham.

As usual, there will be no bin collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Instead all bins - including green bins and food caddies - due to be emptied on Wednesday, 25 December will be collected on Saturday, December 28.

Bins due for collection on Thursday, December 26 will this year be collected early on Saturday, December 21.

Residents are being asked that if their green bin and food caddy are due for collection on Boxing Day, not to put them out. They will be emptied as normal on Thursday, January 2.

Bins due on Wednesday, January 1 will be collected on Saturday, January 4 - apart from green bins and food caddies which will be collected on Wednesday, January 8 as normal.

Over the coming days Oldham Council be delivering leaflets to households in the areas affected and it will also be sending out reminders via its social media channels.

Anyone unsure about which bin would be been due should check their collection calendar or use the online post code checker at www.oldham.gov.uk/waste.

People can also download the Recycle for Greater Manchester App for their phones.

Anyone whose collection day doesn’t fall on any of the above dates then put your bins out as usual.

Helen Lockwood, deputy chief executive of Oldham Council, said: “Changes to collection days at Christmas are now the norm.

“The majority of you won’t be affected but please just take a minute to familiarise yourself with the arrangements if your bins are collected on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“Our waste teams 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 people can get rid of their Christmas tree in a number of ways.

They can put it in their green bin by chopping it into small pieces, removing the wooden block from the base take off any lights and decorations.

Alternatively, take it to a 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 Christmas cards, wrapping paper and cardboard packaging can be recycled using blue bins or recycling bags.

For items too big to fit in a bin should be taken to Arkwright Street Waste and Recycling Centre, Oldham, OL9 9LZ - for free. Information on the nearest tip is available by visiting www.recycle4greatermanchester.com

To arrange for them to be collected by Bulky Bobs, call 0161 770 6644.