With Halloween and Bonfire Night now behind us, attentions for the majority of us will be turning towards Christmas. The festive season is an opportunity to treat the ones we love, get merry and eat far too much. As much as we enjoy the festive period, it is also the time in the year where we see a significant increase in the amount of domestic produced waste. On average 30% more rubbish is disposed of in dustbins across the country, including:
- Glass
- Cans
- Christmas trees
- Cards
- Wrapping paper
- Plastic
However, with a little thought towards reducing, reusing and recycling our festive waste it is possible to limit the impact we have on the environment around us. As you begin preparing for the festive period there are a few simple steps you can take. Reduce
- Try to reduce the number of carrier bags you use during your Christmas shopping. Consider reusing carrier bags or opt for a reusable shopping bag instead.
- When wrapping presents do not use more paper than is necessary. You may also want to consider using a Christmas stocking as an alternative for smaller gifts.
Reuse
- Instead of spending extra money on tags for presents, use pinking shears to create your own from old Christmas cards.
- Consider using an artificial Christmas tree that can be used year after year. If you are a traditionalist and want the real thing you may want to get a tree with roots so that it can be planted in the garden in the spring.
- Brought your children an electronic toy? Consider using rechargeable batteries instead of disposables.
Recycle
- Use recycling bins to dispose of any paper or cards after the festive period.
- We get through considerably more glass, cans and plastic over Christmas and New Year. Try to recycle these where possible.
- Got leftover fruit and vegetable peelings? Compost them!
Festive Facts
- Each year approximately one billion Christmas cards are sent in the UK and many will end up being disposed of in bins.
- 25,000 hectares of Christmas trees are currently growing in the UK. That is about twice the size of the city of Manchester.
- 10 million turkeys will be sold in the UK, weighing 55,000 tonnes – that is the equivalent of 620,000 14 stone Santas!
