PEOPLE in Hillingdon are reminded about changes to waste collection days over the holiday period and the variety of free recycling options available.  

There will be no changes to waste and recycling collections this week. However, if your collection day is usually a Monday, the waste and recycling collection scheduled for Christmas Day is moving forward to Saturday ((23).

All other collection days between Boxing Day and Friday, January 5, are one day later than normal.  

Plastic bottles, including spray triggers, plastic tubs and trays, drinks cans, food tins, kitchen foil and aluminium trays, aerosol cans, paper, magazines, cardboard, glass bottles and jars can all be put in the clear dry mixed recycling sacks.

Most cards and wrapping paper can also be included, except for those with glitter on or foil, which should be placed in general waste bags.

Other items which cannot be recycled in dry mixed collections include bubble wrap, crisp packets, plastic shopping bags and batteries.  

Christmas leftovers that can’t be repurposed or frozen can be included in the food recycling scheme, which is turned into electricity and food fertiliser.

A range of food waste can be recycled, including raw and cooked fish and meat, dairy products and eggshells, teabags and coffee grounds and fruit and vegetable peelings.

If your house is not signed up to this service, you can register at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/food-waste  

Your real Christmas trees can be collected as part of the weekly garden waste collections. Make sure all decorations and pots are removed and cut in half trees taller than six feet. Leave them at the edge of your property boundary. If you live in a flat, collections between Monday (8) and Sunday, January 21, can be booked by emailing wastesupervisor@hillingdon.gov.uk.

Residents can recycle up to six canvas bags of green waste, including flowers and small plants, grass cuttings and hedge clippings, through this service.  

You can recycle old clothes through a bookable textile home collection service in partnership with TRAID. TRAID also accepts small/medium-sized electrical items.  

Small electricals, such as hair styling appliances, laptops, kettles and electric toothbrushes, can also be recycled at nine of the borough’s libraries. Since the scheme launched in October, nearly one ton has been collected.  

Additionally, the council offers a bookable, low-cost bulky waste home collection service for larger item,

Waste and recycling can also be taken to the council’s civic amenity site in Harefield and the West Drayton waste weekends at Tavistock Road.

Harefield will be closed on December 25, 26 and January 1.