Booths is ringing in the changes by offering its customers the chance to recycle both their old mobile phones and Christmas cards this year.

For the first time, the green-thinking retailer is stocking recycling boxes for cards and there will also be a freepost recycling service for phones in each of its 26 stores to help make it a greener Christmas.

Booths Colin Everest says: "We want this to be our greenest Christmas ever. Our customers have been hugely supportive of our drive to reduce the number of plastic bags so we know they are all keen to do their bit for the environment.

"These two new recycling schemes are quick and simple - but can make a big impact."

Around 11 million people are expected to be given new mobiles this year and many will just throw the old ones away without realising the damage they may cause.

Booths is teaming up with The Wildlife Trust - the UK's largest voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the UK's wide range of habitats and species - in a bid to reduce the number of phones that end up in landfill sites.

Freepost envelopes will be available in Booths stores throughout Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire to allow customers to send off their old handsets to be re-used or recycled.

All of the money raised will go to The North West Wildlife Trusts which works to protect the local environment and wildlife.

Michelle Waller from The Wildlife Trust says: "It's wonderful news that Booths has decided to partner The North West Wildlife Trusts to promote this scheme to its customers.

"The scheme will result in a reduction in the number of handsets that go to landfill whilst raising valuable funds for Wildlife Trusts across the North West."

It's been reported that around 20% of people in the UK throw away their old phones. Even though a mobile is small, it contains dangerous electrical components and should be disposed of safely.

Booths - which was recently named as a finalist for High Street Recycling Champion in the 2007 Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management is also launching a Christmas card recycling scheme for the first time this year.

More than a billion Christmas cards are sent each year - yet one in five people still throw their old cards in the bin.

Christmas card recycling boxes will be placed in Booths stores from Boxing Day until January 31st 2008.

All of the cards collected will be sent to paper mills where they will be recycled into new products. The money raised will go to the Salvation Army.

Salvation Army spokesman Paul Ozanne says: "I'm absolutely thrilled that big business and caring agencies can work together for the benefit of the community. It is so encouraging."

The Salvation Army was established in 1865 and is the world's largest and most diverse caring agency working in 114 countries.