Timetable changes to bin collections and libraries

The amount of waste dumped in Wiltshire jumped 19% last Christmas

Residents are being urged to shop sustainably this Christmas after there was a 19% jump in waste over the festive period last year.

Waste and recycling collections have also been revised over the festive period, Wiltshire Council has said.

Some households will have to wait two weeks from 25 December for services such as garden waste collections to resume.

Dominic Muns, cabinet members for waste and environment, urged people to prepare for Christmas "with the environment in mind".

All council services and facilities will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, including customer service desks, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Anyone requiring urgent council support during the Christmas and New Year period should use the emergency contact numbers on the council's website.

Residents should check the council's online collection calendar for the new timings over the festive period.

Meanwhile, garden waste collections will resume on Thursday, January 9, and people who have paid for the service can leave a real Christmas tree alongside their garden waste.

Trees over 5ft should be cut into manageable pieces and placed in the garden waste container or the crew may not be able to collect them, the council said.

People can pay to have their Christmas trees taken away by the council

All council-run leisure centres will close at 14:00 GMT on Tuesday 24 December and Tuesday 31 December.

Libraries across the county will close from 13:00 on Tuesday 24 December or as usual if due to close earlier, and there will be no late-night opening between Christmas and New Year.

Last Christmas, the volume of waste produced in Wiltshire was 19% higher than the average for the rest of the year.

Mr Muns said: "I would encourage people to shop more sustainably and with the environment in mind by choosing loose fruit and vegetables where possible to reduce plastic waste, choosing quality long-lasting gifts over quantity if they can, and buying recyclable wrapping paper."