We tried that - just a few days before the official days. One of the neighbours called the police. We went to the police station (with a friend to interpret). They explained that the local law stated you were only allowed to put out the paper from 18:00 the night before collection. I asked whether it would be alright if we collected the paper and cardboard that evening, and the following evening put it back. The police officer agreed that we could do that. He said if we did, then we probably wouldn't get a fine. I got the impression he considered the neighbours' complaint to be rather a waste of time. Everyone in the police station found our suggestion highly amusing.

The neighbours who'd made the complaint looked on smugly while we collected the paper, carefully seperating out what wasn't ours, and put it into the back of our car. They looked so sick when we returned the next day and unloaded it all...

On the night we visited the cop shop, there had been a break-in at a local jewellers. Police were unable to attend as they were dealing with a serious littering incident.

So - do check with your local police whether it's ok to leave it out early. Some communities are fine with it.