THE festive season is one of excess, but this needs to change when it comes to waste.

People living in Tenbury and the Teme Valley are being urged to cut back this year.

Christmas is the most wonderful, and the most wasteful, time of the year, according to Worcestershire County Council.

They say that more than 30 per cent more waste is created over Christmas and it need not happen with a bit of thought.

It is estimated that two million turkeys and 17.2 million Brussels sprouts go uneaten every year. Add this to six million Christmas trees and one billion Christmas cards and that is a huge amount of rubbish being produced.

“The amount of waste produced at Christmas is quite shocking,” said Emma Stuart, Waste Prevention Project Manager with the County Council.

“Christmas decorations such as plastic and glass baubles, food waste, waste from toys and other gift packaging significantly increase the amount of waste generated.

“We are asking residents to think twice about purchases they make this Christmas, both food and gifts.

“I’d also like to remind people to ensure they recycle the correct items.”