As the festive season approaches, households across North Hertfordshire are being reminded to recycle efficiently and make the most of their bin space over Christmas.

North Herts Council says the weeks leading up to Christmas Day typically see a sharp rise in household waste, and is sharing a series of simple, practical tips to help residents reduce waste and recycle more effectively.

Residents are encouraged to plan realistic portion sizes rather than overfilling fridges "just because it's Christmas". Leftovers such as roast potatoes and vegetables can be frozen for later use, helping to avoid unnecessary food ending up in the food caddy.

Flattening cardboard boxes and cutting down larger ones can make a big difference to bin space. The council also advises smoothing out wrapping paper, removing foil ribbons and bows before recycling, and even cutting up old Christmas cards to reuse as gift tags next year.

Plastic trays and pots can be stacked together, while bottles should be squashed with the lids put back on. Residents are also encouraged to reuse plastic chocolate tubs or metal biscuit tins as handy storage containers around the home.

If recycling bins are overflowing, households can use their old cardboard and paper recycling box for extra packaging and leave it next to the bin on collection day.

Bin collection days will change over the Christmas and New Year period. To avoid missing a collection, residents can download the North Herts Council app, which sends personalised reminders for which bin to put out and when. The app is available on both Apple and Android devices by searching for "North Herts Council".

For more festive waste-saving advice, residents can visit the council's Climate Hive Christmas waste reduction guide.