Christmas Recycling Ideas

Christmas - The Perfect Time To Recycle!

Turkey, check! Christmas pudding, check! Presents all wrapped and sitting under the tree, check! Recycling…recycling?!

Christmas – it's the time for giving and receiving; but it’s also the time for endless shopping lists and last minute panics to grab the only set of crackers or ‘must have’ gadget from the shops. With so much to remember, recycling could be sitting at the bottom of your list – but did you know that the festive period is a good time to recycle as much as you can?

With so much food and drinks consumed, presents unwrapped and even the Christmas tree, you’re sure to be left with a heap of waste cluttering the home. It might be tempting to just throw it all in the bin, but nearly all of it can be sorted and recycled easily.

Whether you’re not too sure about what’s collected at your kerbside, or confused about which materials go in which container, www.recyclenow.com is a quick and simple way of finding out what is accepted for recycling and where.

Eat, Drink and Recycle

So the fridge is fully stocked and the cupboards are bursting at the seams, but what happens with all that packaging once you’ve indulged in your favourite snacks and the odd tipple (or two!)? Food tins and drinks cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and some plastic packaging can all be recycled.

That juicy turkey with all the trimmings, scrumptious desserts and Christmas cake are all waiting to be eaten, however, often you’re left with plate scraps, vegetable peelings or even out of date uncooked food. But fear not, you can still do your part by recycling that food waste. Bones, raw meats, coffee grounds and even tea bags are just some of the items that can go in the kitchen caddy for recycling. Out of date food needs to be unwrapped before recycling and often the packaging can be recycled too.

All Present and Correct

Of course there’s also the wrapping paper and the cards. For Christmas cards, Marks and Spencer offer a recycling collection from 2nd January to 31st January 2015. Not all wrapping paper is recyclable, but a simple way to check is to scrunch it up. If it springs back into shape, it can't be recycled.

If you're still not sure, you can always ask your local council if they accept wrapping paper and Christmas cards or do a quick search on the Recycle Now website. The amount of packaging paper we use every year is the same weight as 124 London Eye’s – so if it can be recycled, let’s try our best to do it!

Gifts Galore

Nearly all of us will be hoping for a new addition for the wardrobe or the latest electrical item this Christmas, but it doesn’t mean your old items still can’t be put to good use. If you find yourself with one too many jumpers or scarves, how about donating them to a charity shop? Perhaps add it your textile recycling collection, or usewww.recyclenow.com to find your nearest bring bank.

When it comes to gadgets, it’s always ‘out with the old and in with the new’. But items can also bepassed on to others for free. If your old items are beyond repair, that doesn't mean they need to end up in landfill. Electrical items can be collected as part of your normal kerbside recycling service or can be taken to the local household waste recycling centre.

And finally one last thing, remember your tree! All 'real' trees are recyclable and many councils arrange for special collections in January. Trees are usually shredded into chippings which are then used locally in parks or woodland areas – doing your bit can make a huge difference.

And there you have it! All these hints and tips should help you enjoy a clutter free Christmas, and set you on an easy road to recycling into the New Year!