RESIDENTS across North Yorkshire are being encouraged to donate or recycle unwanted electronic items over Christmas and New Year.

The amount of electronic waste thrown away in the UK has been rising by about five per cent each year, and North Yorkshire County Council said equipment which was still in working order could be given to charities and organisations which reuse furniture, with details of the nearest sites available at letstalklessrubbish.com

Broken items can be recycled at the region’s 20 waste recycling centres.

Information about their opening times is available at northyorks.gov.uk/hwrc

Coun Chris Metcalfe, the authority’s executive member for waste management, said: “In 2010/11, residents in North Yorkshire managed to divert 4,291 tonnes of waste electronics from landfill.

“With the number of electrical goods being thrown away increasing, donating them for reuse or recycling is becoming more important.”