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Bins & Waste

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Bins & Waste

Reduce Your Waste

We're dreaming of a green Christmas

We all know Christmas can be a crazy time - lists to write, shopping to organise and parties to attend! There's so much going on that recycling may fall to the bottom of your priority list, but Christmas is actually the ideal time to recycle everything you can. 

From plastic food and drink packaging to cardboard boxes and wrapping paper, there's a range of packaging that can into your recycling bin. During the festive season the UK will get through an astonishing 300,000 tonnes of card, which is one of the easiest items to recycle. Make sure to flatten any cardboard boxes and paper bags to make space in your recycling bin or take them to your local recycling centre.

Christmas and New Year celebrations also mean fridges and cupboards are fully stocked with food and drink - plastic drinks bottles and pots, tubs and trays can go straight into the recycling bin after a quick rinse to remove any residue. Cardboard sleeves for food packaging and your favourite cake and biscuit selection boxes can all be recycled too! Food waste such as vegetable peelings, turkey bones, plate scrapings, tea bags and coffee grinds, and any out of date food can be put in your green garden bin for recycling. 

Grab the prosecco and raise a glass in celebration that glass bottles and jars can be recycled again and again, so could turn up for you to use next Christmas!

Since it's the time for giving, we though we'd share some ideas to help you with the 'three wise Rs' this Christmas...

Reduce

  • Why not buy a voucher or an experience as a Christmas gift this year? Instead of cutting down those trees, let’s cut down our use of cardboard
  • Food for thought- when heading to the supermarkets, plan your Christmas meals so you buy the correct amount of food and buy loose rather than pre-packed vegetables to cut down on waste packaging.

Reuse

  • If you have an artificial Christmas tree make sure to keep reusing it for as many years as possible
  • If you’re feeling creative then why not use up scrap paper, photos or magazine cuttings to make your own Christmas cards this year for a personal touch!
  • Make space for your brand new Christmas gifts on the 25th by donating old toys to charity for someone else to use and enjoy.
  • Christmas is usually a time when we enjoy lots of food. Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for many tips and ideas on using up your leftovers.

Recycle

  • Your waste collection days will be changing over the festive period. Check out your collection days on the online calendar
  • A wide range of materials can be recycled as part of your kerbside collections - found out more on the What Goes in Which Bin page
  • Remove any ribbons, bows and other adornments before recycling wrapping paper. Try to only buy paper wrapping and avoid shiny, metallic and glittery wrapping as these cannot be recycled.
  • All real Christmas trees can be recycled too! Either chop down to the height of your bin and place next to it on your garden collection day or take to your local recycling centre. View the opening times and a complete list of what is accepted. 

Keep up to date with lots of festive tips and advice from your Waste Minimisation team by