The Morrisons supermarket chain has said it will raise money this year for good causes supported by The Salvation Army through two new in-store recycling services.

Two recycling bins will be positioned at convenient points in over 345 stores across England, Scotland and Wales where customers can deposit their used plastic carrier bags and Christmas cards for recycling.

This year an estimated 1 billion Christmas cards (17 for every woman, man and child) will end up in landfill sites while an estimated 150 million plastic carrier bags are used in the UK each week, many of which also go to landfill sites.

Morrisons hopes it can help to reduce this figure while at the same time raise much needed money to help Salvation Army-supported good causes by encouraging its customers to recycle. Once collected, the cards will be fully recycled.

Alistair Hall, purchasing manager at Morrisons with responsibility for packaging, waste management and recycling, said: "We are delighted to offer our customers these additional recycling services, which are both quick and easy to use, and help the environment and The Salvation Army causes."

Meanwhile, The Salvation Army is also encouraging its members to raise money for charity by selling their unwanted Christmas presents on eBay as part of the eBay for Charity scheme.

The initiative was launched in conjunction with the BBC Children in Need appeal in 2005 and has been designed to support charities without incurring costs.

Items being sold for charity are identified with a distinctive ribbon symbol along with a description of the charity that will be receiving the proceeds of the sale. Buyers place bids for these goods in the usual way, knowing their money will go to a worthwhile cause.

Sellers can choose which charity they wish to give money to from a simple drop-down box on the 'add item' page, and can determine what percentage of the proceeds they wish to donate.