THIS is the end of the line of Bolton’s forest of Christmas trees.

Now the fairy lights have finally come down, the tinsel has gone and the baubles have been removed, Bolton’s recycling chiefs are making sure the trees themselves do not go to waste.

The Viridor Laing waste plant in Raikes Lane Industrial Estate is now taking in around 200 pine trees a week.

They are piled high in a recycling skip, ready to be transported to another plant outside of Bolton, where they will be transformed into compost.

Because of their ungainly shape, the skip would normally only be able to fit around 20 trees.

But a 360 JCB Chopper crushes the pine branches into a much more dense product. When the container is full it can hold up to 300 trees, or around 10 tonnes of green waste.

Charge hand Alan Brown said: “We’re getting about 25 to 30 trees a day. When it snowed we stayed open, we just got on with the job.

“We recycle all sorts here from fridges and televisions to Christmas trees.”

People can take their Christmas trees to the site to be recycled for free.

Viridor Laing and the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) have set up Recycle for Greater Manchester.

The organisation wants people in Bolton to do their bit and recycle their own tree.

Communications manager for Recycle for Greater Manchester, Jennifer Perkins said: “Recycling your tree reduces waste and benefits the environment so be sure to arrange to have your tree collected or make a quick trip to your local recycling centre.”

Bolton residents can take recycling and rubbish Hurstwood Court, Raikes Lane Industrial Estate, Union Road, and Nightingale Farm, Blackhorse Street, Blackrod.

The green waste that Bolton Council collects is taken to a transfer facility in Every Street, Bury. There it is shredded with other green waste, from Bury Council and taken to an In- Vessel Composting facility.