Plans to dispose of Christmas trees are already in place, even though the lights may have only just been switched on!
The East Cheshire Hospice Christmas Tree Collection service is already accepting registrations for its January operation.
Visit www.echtrees.org.uk, or call the customer care hotline 01625 708939, to arrange to have trees collected on the weekend of Saturday, January 11, and Sunday, January 12.
Next year marks the 20th year of the service which has raised more than £1m for the Hospice.
The organisers are encouraging the public to buy real Christmas trees due to their environmental credentials.
More than 700 trees were registered in the first week after applications opened on November 18 and the figure has risen to well over 1,000.
Hospice Marketing Manager Amy Chatwood said: “The Christmas Tree Collection has always been a huge success thanks to the generosity of our supporters and we’re confident the anniversary collection will be just as popular.”
Co-founder Richard Raymond said: “I’m humbled and amazed by the scale of the operation and once again Pete Chapman and I want to thank everyone for their support in so many different ways.
“A Christmas tree from a sustainable source is known to be the eco-friendly alternative to a plastic version. We recycle all the trees enhancing the environmental credentials of buying a real tree.”
Around 300 volunteers will be out in force covering Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Bollington, Prestbury, Poynton, Congleton and Knutsford. The post codes are CW12, SK9, SK10, SK11, SK12 and WA16.
The collection, sponsored by AstraZeneca, will see a fleet of around 40 vans, half of them supplied by Cheshire Vehicle Rental, picking up trees for recycling at the Ansa Park depot.
Transport technology company TRU will provide route-mapping software to simplify the logistical challenge.
  
