Dumping Christmas trees illegally carries fine of up to €500

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 between 7 and 13 January, from 07.00-12.00 and 14.00-19.00 on weekdays, and 07.00-13.00 on Sunday.

In addition, on Sunday 12 January, residents of even-numbered municipi can avail of collection services in their local area from 08.00-13.00.

There is no fee for the eco-friendly service which is organised by AMA and is now in its ninth 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 replant 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.

Dumping trees illegally carries a fine of up to €500.

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