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In the last few years the Greater Manchester Waste Authority, which runs public tips and disposes of refuse collected by Manchester City Council and other local authorities, has run a tree recycling scheme.

The authority operates collection sites for the discarded fir trees after Christmas and arranges for them to be shredded for use as wood chipping paths in parks and woodlands and in civic garden maintenance.

Between Christmas 1997 and 1999, more than 400,000 trees have been recovered and shredded which amounts to 434 tonnes of waste being diverted from landfill sites.

Greater Manchester Waste Authority has agreed to contribute ?1,500 towards the cost of promoting the scheme again this year and outlets selling Christmas trees will be encouraged to display posters and leaflets