SOCCER legend Big Ron Atkinson has been encouraging Blackburn folk to kick rubbish into touch in the New Year.

The former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager urged everyone to go green by using their kerbside recycling scheme or taking their festive empties to the nearest recycling bank.

Around 3,000,000 tonnes of rubbish will have been thrown away by the end of the Christmas period -- enough to fill Ewood Park more than 50 times.

According to Rethink Rubbish, every household in Blackburn will have created a whacking 268lbs of rubbish -- more than a Premiership footballer holding the championship trophy.

The television pundit offered the following tips to waste-friendly residents: recycle Christmas cards by dropping them off at any WH Smith or Tesco store; and take real Christmas trees to garden centres for recycling.