MAKE it a Green Christmas - that's the message today to households in south Suffolk as the festive season approaches.Babergh council wants all its householders to shop smartly, avoid excess waste and over-packaging and recycle more in a bid to control the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill.

MAKE it a Green Christmas - that's the message today to households in south Suffolk as the festive season approaches.

Babergh council wants all its householders to shop smartly, avoid excess waste and over-packaging and recycle more in a bid to control the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill.

And the authority is offering three extra clear sacks - which will be collected along with the first blue bin collection after Christmas Day - for each household to put any additional recyclables collected over the holiday period.

Babergh has also revised rubbish collection dates over the holiday period and will be providing a Christmas tree composting service, starting in January.

Babergh's Jonas Grist said: “We all know that the Christmas festivities produces huge amounts of wrapping paper, cards, toy packaging, trees and, of course, excess food, among others.

“Each year the UK produces around 10 million tonnes of packaging waste and not all of it will be recycled. Unfortunately a lot of it will and end up in landfill sites.

“We want people to be aware that by avoiding over-packaging and taking responsibility for the amount of waste they produce, especially at Christmas, they can make a difference.

“By taking advantage of the extra sacks provided this year by Babergh, there is no need to throw out those extra recyclables because the blue bin is full.

“And try and resist the urge to buy so much extra food. It is estimated a third of it will just end up in the bin - remember shops will open again just after Christmas for you to stock up on perishables.

To claim your free clear sacks, go to Babergh's offices in Corks Lane, Hadleigh, during office opening hours before Christmas Eve.