Despite it being just three days since December 25, plenty are already looking to get rid of their Christmas tree.
A decoration traditionally taken down by January 5 , not everyone has the patience to wait until the Twelfth Night.
Luckily, councils and good causes across Merseyside are on hand to help, with options for collection and drop offs already on offer for real trees.
Firstly, there are a number of charitable ways to dispose of the trees, with hospices across the region offering collections in exchange for a donation.
The four centres on Merseyside operating this service, which is as part of a national campaign coordinated by Just Helping, are:
- Wirral Hospice St Johns in Higher Bebington
- Queenscourt Hospice in Southport
- St Joseph's Hospice in Thornton
- Willowbrook Hospice in St Helens
Each service offers collections from specific postcodes or the chance to drop the tree off - both for a small donation. Money raised through donations will go to the hospices, which provide a variety of care for people with life-limiting illnesses.
The charities are also looking for more volunteers who may be able to help, or offer use of their van, chipper or land for temporarily storing the trees.
For more details including dates, how to help and to arrange your collection, click here .
As well as giving to charity while getting rid of your trees, there are also centres across Merseyside where you can drop them off free of charge.
There are 14 locations across the region open 8am until 5pm except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
The Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) also accept cans, bottles, cardboard, electricals and more.
The centres are based at:
Liverpool
Old Swan – Cheadle Avenue
Otterspool – Jericho Lane, Aigburth
Sefton
Formby – Altcar Road, Formby
Sefton Meadows – Sefton Lane, Maghull
Southport – Foul Lane, Scarisbrick New Road
South Sefton – Irlam Road, Bootle
Knowsley
Huyton – Wilson Road, Huyton
Kirkby – Depot Road, Knowsley Industrial Park
St Helens
Newton-le-Willow – Junction Lane
Rainhill – Tasker Terrace, Rainhill
Ravenhead – Burtonhead Road
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Wirral
Bidston – Wallasey Bridge Road, Birkenhead
Clatterbridge – Mount Road, Clatterbridge
West Kirby – Greenbank Road
They're operated by resource management company Veolia on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA).
Carl Beer, chief executive of MRWA, said: “A lot of waste is created at this time of the year so it’s a good chance to boost Merseyside’s recycling levels.
"Our Recycling Centres will happily accept the clutter of people’s packaging, bottles and cans – and we’d love your real Christmas trees.”
Jeff Sears, director of Veolia, said: “Recycling Centres will be open throughout the festive period – except Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – so bring all your extra Christmas recycling. Don’t forget to flatten your cardboard boxes and remove all non-cardboard contents so they can be sent to be recycled into something new.”
For more information about the centres, click here .
