Now we're past twelfth night all those carefully put up decorations should be taken down and returned to the attic for another year.

This has been back to work week, back to school week and restoring the house to usual routine week. It has probably meant removing the clutter that has gathered on any available surface, behind the sofa, or stacked in the garage, so here's a reminder of Wiltshire Council's recycling opportunities:

 * Take real Christmas trees to any of the council’s household recycling centre in Furnax Lane - open every day - see below for times.

* Non-shiny wrapping paper and Christmas cards can also be recycled in

the cardboard bins at recycling centres.

* The Woodland Trust is running a scheme from January 2 to 31 where

people can take all their unwanted Christmas cards to WH Smith, TK Maxx

and Marks & Spencer. Woodland Trust will recycle them and plant

thousands of trees.

* Food waste can be a thing of the past – there are interesting leftovers recipes from some of the nation's top chefs at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.  Or, for a really green Christmas present for someone with a garden there are food waste digesters.  See www.recycleforwiltshire.com for more information.

* Unwanted gifts need not go to waste. Many charity shops would benefit

from them, or they could be given to someone else. Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) or Freegle (www.ilovefreegle.org) will advertise any unwanted items for free for someone else to benefit from them.

* Waste electrical and electronic equipment can be taken to local household recycling centres.

* Around 600 million household batteries are sent to landfill in the UK

every year.  But Wiltshire residents can take these to household

recycling centres to be recycled.

 Wilts Council's Head of waste management, Andy Conn, said: “There are so many ways to

recycle Christmas waste this year - chocolate tins and minced meat jars

can be recycled in your black box. Don't worry if your black box is

full - leave  extra items in plastic bags next to your

black box on collection day.”

Wiltshire's household recycling centres are easy and convenient to use.

They are open Monday to Sunday 9am to 4pm. To find out more, including where they are in the

county, log onto www.recycleforwiltshire.com or call the council on 0300 4560102.

Any recycling tips to be added? How about that turkey carcass - has anybody found a use for the bones to avoid them going into landfill once they have been made into stock?