RESIDENTS are being urged to recycle their Christmas rubbish.

An appeal has been made to people in and around Stockton to resist automatically throwing out torn wrapping paper, cardboard, Christmas trees and empty bottles after the holiday, and to segregate waste for recycling.

Across the country, it is estimated that more than three million tons of extra rubbish will be thrown out this holiday.

The Government has launched a Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) to encourage people to think before putting their festive refuse out for the dustmen.

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment, said yesterday: "We are pleased to be supporting Wrap's national recycling campaign and through our kerbside scheme, community recycling banks and civic amenity site at Haverton Hill.

"it really couldn't be easier for residents of Stockton borough to do their bit for the environment through recycling.

"Our Recycling is Easy - Let's Do It Together campaign, will continue to raise awareness and highlight the benefits of recycling to let people know just how easy it is.

"We would urge everyone to recycle, re-use and compost wherever possible to minimise the amount of refuse they throw away.''

Residents are asked to put their old trees where they would normally leave their wheelie bin for collection on January 10.

Wrapping paper can be re-used and bottles and cans can be recycled using the blue box, or at any of the borough's recycling banks.

Cardboard can either be taken to the civic amenity site or shredded and put in compost bins.