Over the next few days houses across south Norfolk will be filled with wrapping paper and plastic tubs and trays as people celebrate and enjoy the festive season.

And South Norfolk Council is reminding residents of the list of items that can now be and should be recycled.

The items that can now be recycled are paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, empty aerosols, plastic pots, tubs and trays.

The list also contains waxed food or drink cartons, shredded paper, envelopes, wrapping paper and greeting cards, aluminium foil, foil trays from takeaways and food and drink cans.

Everything should be rinsed to prevent contamination as items can be rejected and stopped from being recycled.

Keith Kiddie, cabinet member for environment and regulation, said: 'The more we can recycle the more that can be sold on and then we don't have to raise our council tax.

'The amount of rubbish that is generated is truly enormous even in a small populated area like south Norfolk. If we can eliminate the problem and save money and help the environment then that's good.'

The new recycling revolution started in October, and during that month South Norfolk Council collected 300 tonnes more recycling than they did in October 2013.

Residents are asked to put any extra recycling that will not fit in their bins into bags next to their bin.

The recycled items will be sent to the recently revamped Norse Commercial Services plant in Costessey, which can now handle an extra 25pc of material on top of the 60,000 tonnes it deals with each year.

For more information about how you can recycle and reuse, visit http://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/recycling

What do you think of the items that can be recycled? Email dma.letters@archant.co.uk