RESIDENTS are being reminded they can recycle any broken or damaged hard plastic garden furniture.

County council waste strategy officers say the broken or disused items can be recycled into a wide range of new products.

All household waste and recycling centres are open from 8am to 5pm seven days a week but until 8pm on Thursdays between April and September.

Waste strategy officer Rachel Burns said: “Last weekend saw a lot of us checking our garden furniture before a cup final or royal wedding BBQ.

“Almost inevitably a lot of us found a chair or table had suffered over winter and was no longer fit for use, or that hard plastic outdoor toys were past their use-by date.

“Now when you take them to one of our seven tips around the county they can go off to be recycled into a huge range of products from new garden tables and chairs to children’s school rulers.

“But they must be made completely of plastic, we can’t accept items with metal components.”

Ms Burns is advising residents that one of the best times to visit is late opening late opening on Thursdays or before 10am or after 3pm when the recycling centres are less busy.

She added: “You don’t want to waste your weekend queueing at the tip.”

You can apply online for a free e-permit to use a van or trailer at the waste recycling centres. For a full list of what you can recycle, how and where visit the council’s website oxfordshire.gov.uk