THERE are always plenty of empty wine bottles, unwanted Christmas cards and piles of wrapping paper following the festive period.

What can you do with them? Well, most local authorities in the county provide kerbside collecting schemes for recycling.

In Worcester, recycled waste increased by about 25 per cent after Christmas last year - this year, city environmental protection officer John Bond wants to see even more.

"Christmas wrapping paper can go in - there's no need to pick all the sticky tape off," he said.

"And cards, and all that cardboard and plastic packaging. The only cardboard we don't accept is the thicker corrugated type. Anything that's similar to a cereal box is fine though.

"Just remember, if you've got wheelie bins, to ensure that no normal rubbish gets put in with the recycling," he said.

Glass can also be recycled, so once you've polished off that port, sherry, wine and beer, wash out the bottles and take them to the nearest bottle bank.

Glass and card can also be taken to household waste sites to be recycled.

When the decorations and fairy lights have been taken down, what should we do with the Christmas tree?

Again, most local authorities offer recycling schemes.

There will be skips at the three Homebase stores in Worcester and at garden centres between Friday, January 5, and Monday, January 15, for people to leave trees, which are shredded and turned into compost, then sold for £2 a bag at household waste sites.

The centres are at Blooms in Droitwich Road, Worcester; St Peter's Garden Centre in Norton, near Worcester; Three Springs Garden Centre, Pershore; David's Nurseries in Martin Hussingtree; Webbs of Wychbold; Pro-Culture Plant Centre, Evesham; Styles Garden Centre, Broadway, near Evesham, and Alcester Road Service Station in Flyford Flavell.

Alternatively, you can buy a tree with roots, replant it and use year after year.

Meanwhile, charities in Worcestershire have urged people to spare a thought for those less fortunate than themselves this Christmas.

It is estimated British shoppers spend £1.3bn on unsuitable and unwanted gifts.

Acorns Children's Hospice, which cares for life-limited children and has a centre in Bath Road, Worcester, has appealed for people who receive new mobile phones to donate old ones to the charity, which can then be converted into cash.

Employee fund-raising manager Andy Jarrett said: "It's fantastic that people can help Acorns by having a green Christmas.

"You can help local life-limited children and their families by recycling mobile phones, printer cartridges, personal digital assistants, jewellery and CDs.

"On Thursday, January 18, we are asking local employers to take part in our Bring a Mobile Phone to Work Day."

The company that collects the most phones will win a four-night break for two at a Champneys hotel.

Items can be sent to Acorns in special envelopes. To receive these visit either www.acorns.org.uk or www.recyclingappeal.com or call 01564 825040.

Items can also dropped off at the charity's shops, one of which is in Mealcheapen Street, Worcester.

Toys cannot be given directly to the hospice because they must undergo rigorous safety checks and could carry germs.

Asha Women's Centre, in London Road, Worcester, is asking people to donate unwanted toys, clothes or food in the new year when it reopens on Wednesday, January 17.

Director Chris Cawthorne said: "Christmas is a huge struggle for many of the women. We know of one woman who has just had her sixth baby has got £10 to spend per child for Christmas presents."

The British Heart Foundation has urged anyone with unwanted gifts to donate them to the charity's shops, one of which is also in Mealcheapen Street.

It will accept good quality, clean clothing, shoes, accessories, books, CDs, DVDs, videos, toys and bric-a-brac. Ken Blair, chief executive for BHF shops, said: "We can find a perfect new home for all gifts and at the same time raise money to help fight heart disease."