SAINSBURY’S in Alton is providing an in-store Christmas card recycling service to support the Forest Stewardship Council.

Customers can recycle their cards via an in-store collection point at the front of the Draymans Way store until January 13 when Sainsbury’s will make a donation to the Forest Stewardship Council based on the volume of cards collected in all its stores.

Last year, the supermarket giant’s customers donated 87 tonnes, the weight equivalent of more than 500 reindeer, resulting in a donation of more than £12,000 to the Forest Stewardship Council to support its work to promote responsible management of the world’s forests.

Rich Morris, Sainsbury’s Alton store manager, said: “We’ve always had a brilliant response from customers in previous years and with their help we’re hoping to make an even bigger contribution this time.

“The recycling initiative is a great way to support the invaluable work of the Forest Stewardship Council and help customers to tackle Christmas waste and put it to positive use.”

In addition to festive cards, customers can also recycle wrapping paper, which cannot be placed in normal domestic recycling bins, ribbons and Christmas lights.