Defra urges public to recycle Christmas waste

Newly-appointed Resource Minister Dan Rogerson has called on members of the public to recycle as much of their Christmas waste as possible.

According to WRAP figures, the UK uses around one billion cards over the festive period, and throws away enough wrapping paper to ‘stretch to the moon’.

Defra said it expects ‘Britain will generate millions of tonnes of rubbish’ this Christmas, and as such is calling on people to make a concerted effort to recycle as much material as possible and limit the amount of waste sent to landfill to ‘help make a real difference to the environment’.

Rogerson said: “This Christmas, Britain will generate millions of tonnes of rubbish and it doesn’t need to end up in landfill.

“Recycling is a simple way to save resources. It’s easier than ever before for people to do their bit over the holidays and help make a real difference to the environment.”

What you can recycle

Many materials are accepted for recycling at both kerbside services and at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

Cards

Most cards (and present tags) are made of cardboard so they can either be put out for recycling as usual (if your council runs a kerbside cardboard collection service) or taken to an HWRC.

Alternatively, some large supermarkets, such as Sainsbury’s, have temporary recycling points for Christmas cards. If you’re an online shopper, some delivery drivers will also be accepting Christmas cards for recycling – check with your supermarket chain.

Wrapping paper

Non-shiny wrapping paper can be put out for recycling in kerbside recycling boxes (where paper recycling is in operation) or can be taken to HWRCs or many larger supermarkets. Unfortunately, shiny wrapping paper generally cannot be recycled, but if you shred it, it can make attractive packing fodder.

Glass bottles and cans

Glass bottles (such as Champagne bottles) and drinks cans can be recycled through kerbside collection schemes and local recycling points.

Christmas trees

‘Real’ Christmas trees are also recyclable and local councils often arrange special collections in early January. Check with your local council to see if they can be put in your recycling container or whether they need to be taken to the recycling centre.

The trees are usually shredded into chippings or for composting which can then be used locally in parks or woodland and areas.

Plastic packaging

Many councils now accept plastic packaging for recycling (although cellophane and plastic film is often exluded from this), so any plastic bottles can usually be put out with the rest of the recycling.

Many councils run amended timetables over the holiday period, so check with you local council to find out when collections are, or what the opening times are for recycling centres over the festive period.

Food waste

Leftovers from Christmas dinner can be made into a soup or frozen for future meals, but any other remnants can either be put out for food waste collection (where applicable) or be taken to an HWRC for composting/to be turned into energy. Don’t forget that cooking oil can also be recycled at many HWRCs now too.

Unwanted presents

Although we’d like to think we’d be grateful for any present, there’s no shame in returning, re-selling gifts on eBay, or ‘re-gifting’ unwanted presents. Charity shops are a good outlet for unwanted gifts too.

Louise Bowe, from WRAP’s recycling campaign, Recycle Now, added:  “It’s really quick and easy to check what can be recycled where you live – just pop your postcode into www.recyclenow.com or check on your local council website.

“The materials we recycle have real value – take a look at the Recycle Now website to see how your rubbish gets turned into new things! It’s definitely worth checking at any time of year to make sure we are recycling everything we can.”

Find out more about how you can recycle at home and details for your council.