Christmas can be a lonely time for household items which get replaced by shiny, new presents sparkling in all their finery under the tree.

These pre-loved toys, pieces of furniture, electric goods, utensils, tools, games and other trinkets too often get thrown on the scrap heap.

Instead, a charity is encouraging everyone who finds themselves with unwanted ‘stuff’ once the turkey is digested and sherry drunk, to give it a new home and raise money in the process.

South Bucks Hospice has a special outlet at the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) at High Heavens, in Booker.

Located handily close to the abyss of the rubbish tip, volunteers want to salvage good quality items to be re-sold to generate funds towards providing a high level of palliative care.

Bucks County Council, which runs the recycling centre at High Heavens, is urging householders to dispose of their yuletide waste as carefully as possible.

For those items destined for the scrap heap, residents are being asked to bring their cardboard, batteries, glass bottles, textiles and electrical items into their nearest HWRC.

Lesley Clarke, council cabinet member for planning and environment, said: “There is a huge amount of waste thrown out around Christmas and New Year, so we are keen to ensure that we can recycle or re-use as much of it as possible.

“The more refuse we stop from ending up rotting away in landfill sites, the better it will be for our planet.

“I hope people have a great time this festive season, but also trust they will spare a thought for the environment and dispose of their waste sustainably.”

Unfortunately, wrapping paper will need to go into the general rubbish bin for most of us, as this is not currently recyclable in the Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks Districts. It can be recycled in the Aylesbury Vale District.

Waste officials are keen to stress that other paper and Christmas cards can be recycled in all areas.

The average total Christmas food bill comes to £169 per household, with most families wasting around a third of what they buy.

The advice is to think about how much is needed and make the most of the freezer.

It is estimated that every Christmas tree bought in the UK this year put end to end, would be the equivalent of a return trip to New York City.

And the garden waste area at High Heavens can turn your festive foliage into compost for farmers in the area.

Tinsel and decorations will need to be removed first.

Cllr Clarke said: “We are very proud of the fact that, as a county, we now recycle more waste than we throw away.

“This year, our recycling rate increased to 54 per cent which is fantastic, but we need to do even better and I hope everyone includes recycling and increased re-use of unwanted items among their New Year’s resolutions.”

For more ideas on reducing waste or about HWRC, visit www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk and www.buckscc.gov.uk/hwrc

For more information on how to make the most of food, visit http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/