Christmas 2011 recycling tips

There’s snow time like the present to be thinking about how to reduce your waste over this year’s festive celebrations.  Here are some top tips to help you save money and have an eco-friendly Christmas and New Year!


Reduce


- This year email your Christmas greetings to your friends and family. You can often send e-cards for free on the internet and so save money on postage and packaging


- Plan your meals and portion sizes in advance and try asking your guests to RSVP.  You may find that you can buy less and throw less out - saving money too! Visit http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/ for a handy portion calculator for Christmas meals and parties.


- When shopping for Christmas treats, keep an eye on packaging. Try and buy food with as little packaging as possible – choose loose fruit and vegetables instead of pre-packed goods.


Re-use


- If you are buying electrical items like toys for Christmas, invest in a good battery recharger which means you can reuse you batteries again and again - saves money too!

- Before recycling your old Christmas cards, reuse the front image and turn it in to a gift tag for next years presents!


- If you have a clear out in the New Year take your unwanted gifts to your local charity shop or to your local Furniture scheme.


Recycle


- Make sure you recycle all your paper, cans, glass bottles and jars, and plastic bottles using your kerbside collection service


- Remember you can recycle clean tin foil, biscuit tins, aerosols and aluminium packaging along with your cans.


- Put real Christmas tree out for recycling with your garden waste collection service


- Wrapping paper and Christmas cards can be recycled in your kerbside paper recycling box

 - Any fruit and vegetable peelings from your Christmas dinner can go on the compost heap. See www.recyclenow.com/compost for more ideas.

‘Tis the season to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!.....