Chris Dodgson at Kempshott Sainsbury's

THE people of Basingstoke have had a lot of bottle over the festive season - and thankfully they know how to use it.

As residents recover from the excesses of Christmas and the new year, scores have been making their way to local recycling sites to dispose of the empties that have built up over the season to be jolly.

The Sainsbury's store at Hatch Warren is among the many local sites that has facilities to recycle a range of items, and environmentally-conscious residents have been bringing along their bags of bottles.

Store manager Peter Smith said: "Our bottle bank has certainly been filling up over the last few days!

"We have been served very well by the local authority. Normally, they empty our bottle bank once a week, but they came on Monday and Friday last week, and they are also coming twice this week."

Mr Smith added: "Containers will now be placed in the foyer of the store for customers to recycle their Christmas cards.

"As a store, we are very supportive of recycling, and, as a brand, our customers have high expectations.

"Every month, we run a make a difference' day, and in the past have given away free low-energy light bulbs, environmentally-friendly toilet rolls and our bags for life."

Chris Dodgson, of Bronze Close, Beggarwood, is married with two young children, and spent Christmas with his family.

Mr Dodgson, 36, who brought an array of bottles in a Sainsbury's recycled Bag for Life, said: "The bottles are not all mine - some of them were for cooking!"

Pauline Tamar, 51, of Ellington Drive, Hatch Warren, dropped off three bin liners of bottles and cooking jars. She said: "I had eight people round on Boxing Day, so it's been a good Christmas."

David and Carol Lucas, of The Drive, Oakley, were also among the festive visitors to the bottle bank. Mr Lucas, 51, said: "This is mainly from Christmas Eve, but we usually come here every week to recycle, so there is no build-up of bottles."

Dozens of recycling centres and bottle banks across the Basingstoke area are now ready to take waste generated over Christmas.

For those wanting wanting further information on where to go to recycle your holiday waste, you can visit www.integra.org.uk or www.basingstoke.gov.uk

10:13am Thursday 3rd January 2008

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