For the last 20 years the Woodland Trust has collected Christmas cards for recycling with collection points at various retailers across the UK, most recently with collection boxes in branches of Marks and Spencer.

However they have decided that they are not going to run their recycling scheme in 2018, having changed the way that they work with Marks and Spencer's, who are allowing customers with Sparks cards to donate the Woodland Trust via that scheme.

So what can you to with your Christmas cards when you take them down on Twelth Night in 2018?

Where You Can Recycle Your Christmas Cards in January 2018

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have taken up the mantle of Christmas card recycling and will be collecting your Christmas cards for recycling with collecting boxes in branches of Sainsbury's.

They will also be collecting used wrapping paper and defunct fairy lights as well.

But you will have to act quickly - the collecting boxes will only be available from Boxing Day until 8 January 2018.

How You Can Save More Trees This Christmas

They are also urging us to buy cards made from FSC labelled Christmas cards.

Many retailers sell cards with the FSC label, good places to look are with FSC licensed retailers, such as Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer's, Morrison's, The Woodland Trust and The National Trust.

If you are not able to take your cards to a branch of Sainsbury's you can still recycle them by putting them in your household recycling collection. However you should not place cards that have glitter or embellishments such as bows, jewels, ribbons etc. Either remove these from the cards before recycling or place those cards in your domestic waste.

Here are some other ideas for recycling old Christmas Cards and some charities which collect used postage stamps to raise money.