Rome's refuse collection service AMA has requested that people recycle their Christmas trees, rather than dispose of them illegally in street bins, at any of the city's 13 collection centres for bulky waste or 200 mobile collection points, between 7 and 19 January.

There is no fee for the eco-friendly service which is organised by AMA now in its eighth year.

The collected trees will be sent to the AMA facility in Maccarese, 20km west of the capital, to be turned into high-quality fertiliser and compost. In the cases of healthy, potted Christmas trees the forestry department will replanted them at its headquarters in Arcinazzo Romano, 50km east of Rome, as part of its environmental education programme.

AMA has also advised that artificial Christmas trees, which cannot be recycled, must be disposed of in the same way as other bulky waste at its 13 designated collection centres.

For details of collection points tel. 800867035 (Mon-Thurs 08.00-17.00, Fri 08.00-14.00) or see the AMA website.