Last Christmas in the UK, we used almost 300,000 tonnes of card packaging. That’s enough to cover the Angel of the North more than two million times. The problem is – if we don’t recycle it, precious resources and energy will be wasted.
That’s why North Yorkshire County Council is reminding residents they can recycle cardboard and many other materials at its 20 household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) this Christmas and New Year.
HWRCs recycle a wide range of materials, including glass, plastic bottles and broken electrical items, and turn natural Christmas trees into compost. Sites are open 8.30am to 4pm every day except Wednesday. The sites will be closed on December 25, December 26 and January 1. Site locations and details of materials that can be recycled can be found at www.northyorks.gov.uk/hwrc.
County Councillor Chris Metcalfe, Executive Member for Waste and Countryside Services, said: “Across the county, lots of card will be used this Christmas. For example, buying a gift could involve online delivery card packaging, the Christmas card and tag you sent with it and cardboard packaging around the gift itself. And when you consider that 20 per cent of the year’s sales are made at Christmas, that’s an overwhelming amount of card potentially going in the bin.
“That’s why we’re encouraging people to recycle theirs this Christmas, through the regular kerbside recycling collections where that option is available or through our household waste recycling centres.”
Tips for recycling commonly wasted card at Christmas include:
- Christmas cards can be recycled but remember to tear off non-paper items like badges and batteries.
- Cardboard packaging, including that from online shopping, can be recycled. Simply flatten to save space and remove any plastic or polystyrene. Try not to leave it out in the rain – if cardboard is wet then mould sets in, meaning it can’t be recycled.
- When the epic kitchen clean-up is done, remember dishwasher tablet boxes can be put in with your recycling.
Unfortunately, Christmas wrapping paper is of a low quality so cannot be recycled at our HWRCs.
People can also reduce waste at Christmas by careful planning of meals and being crafty with the leftover turkey. The Love Food Hate Waste campaign, www.lovefoodhatewaste.com, has hints and tips on portioning and planning meals, food-saving ideas and recipes for the Christmas leftovers.
Give the gift of compost
Give your loved one a Christmas gift to remember – a compost bin!
With bins available from £12 plus delivery, it’s an easy way to reduce waste and produce free compost to benefit your garden. Fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, cereal boxes, toilet roll tubes, Christmas wrapping paper and even sticking tape are among the wide range of items that help to produce perfect compost. Find out how to buy a bin at www.letstalklessrubbish.com.
With Christmas bringing new clothes, electrical equipment and other gifts, get ready by clearing out your cupboards. Clothing, furniture, household wares and working electrical items can be donated to charity shops and furniture reuse organisations. Charity shops can also be the perfect place to pick up a unique or unusual present. Find your nearest shops and organisations at www.letstalklessrubbish.com.