It's that time of year again, when the decorations come down and your Christmas tree looks lifeless.

But to soften the post-Christmas blues by putting unwanted trees to good use, Ealing Council has encouraged people in the borough to recycle their trees by setting up a total of 19 drop-off points across the borough.

For the fifth year running an additional, free kerbside collection will operate throughout the borough as well as the drop-off points.

READ MORE:What Christmas and New Year rubbish can be recycled?

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “Christmas is a time for giving, so give some thought to how you can recycle more at this time of year.

"We see an extra 192 tonnes of waste sent to landfill around Christmas time and we all need this figure to come down.

"That's why we are making it as easy as possible to recycle your real Christmas tree by continuing our doorstep collection service.

"Help is also at hand for people who don’t have the green box recycling service or for those who miss their collection day; they can take their trees to one of our 19 drop-off points across the borough.

"All of the trees that we collect are turned into nutrient-rich compost so it’s a great way to get your new year off to a green start."

The recycling scheme will run from January 4 to January 29 and all trees must be smaller than 20cm in diameter and must have their decorations removed.

Christmas tree drop-off points

• Acton Green Common
• Acton Park
• Berkeley Fields (Berkeley Avenue)
• Churchfields, Hanwell (car park)
• Cleveland Park
• Ealing Central Sports Ground (Horsenden Lane South)
• Ealing Common (Junction of Grange Road and The Common)
• Elthorne Park (Boston Road)
• Islip Manor Park (Eastcote Lane car park)
• North Acton playing fields
• Perivale Park (Cowgate Road)
• Pitshanger Park
• Ravenor Park (Oldfield Lane South and Ruislip Road)
• Rectory Park (Parkfield Drive)
• Southall Park (Green Drive)
• Southfields Park
• Spikes Bridge Park (West Avenue)
• Springfield Gardens (Rosemont Road)
• Walpole Park (Lammas Park Gardens)

Residents can find out their collection day here .