IT IS the time of year to tear down the tinsel, put back the baubles, and drag that Christmas tree outside to recycle, as the festive season comes to an end.

There are twenty special recycling zones in the borough where you can dispose of your tree until 15 January. Real trees which are under two metres tall with a trunk diameter of under 15cm can be left in one piece to be collected by Camden Council at any of the sites. Larger trees must be cut into smaller sections and tied together.

Real trees can be recycled at: Camden Garden Centre, Purchese Street Open Space, Cumberland Market Gardens, Goldington Crescent Gardens, Camden Gardens, Harrington Square Gardens, Chalcot Square Gardens, East Heath Road Car Park, Jack Straw's Castle Car Park by Hampstead Heath, Eton Avenue, Netherhall Gardens, Boma Garden Centre, Regis Road Recycling Centre, Talacre Open Space, Fortune Green Open Space, Kilburn Grange Park, Russell Square, Brunswick Square Gardens, Calthorpe Project and Highgate Enclosures in Highgate Road.

Last year over 6,000 trees were turned to compost in Camden.