When will bins be emptied in County Durham going into the New Year?

Collections due to take place on Friday, 29 December will be carried out on Saturday, 30 December.

There will be no collections on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, and normal collections will resume on Tuesday, 2 January, 2018.

Bulky waste and white goods collections also resume on Tuesday, 2 January. To book a collection online, visit www.durham.gov.uk/bulkywaste

The council will once again be offering a collection service for real Christmas trees.

Bookings, for collection in the New Year, can be made by visiting www.durham.gov.uk or calling 03000 260 000 up to Sunday, 7 January.

Real Christmas trees can also be taken to any of the council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC). To check opening times, visit www.durham.gov.uk/hwrc

Anyone visiting a HWRC in a van, pick-up, mini-bus or towing a trailer will need to apply for a permit in advance by calling 03000 260 000 or visiting www.durham.gov.uk/householdpermit

Residents are also reminded to Bin it Right in order to reduce recycling contamination. Check which items should be placed in which bin by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/whatgoeswhere

And if you’re getting new furniture for Christmas or buying electrical appliances in the sales, remember to dispose of old items responsibly. Don’t leave them in your yard, garden or street for a ‘man with a van’ to collect as they may end up being flytipped.

Items can be taken to any HWRC or donated to charity. Details of furniture reuse charities can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/reuse

Coun Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “The Christmas and New Year period is a busy one for everybody, but it’s important that we take time to ensure that we dispose of our rubbish and recycling responsibly."

To download a bin collection calendar, visit www.durham.gov.uk and enter your house number and postcode into the My Durham section.