Reduce your Festive Footprint!
In Gloucestershire over the festive period, it’s estimated we generate about 29,000 tonnes of waste or a staggering 10% of the years total rubbish during the holiday period. The average family will throw out an EXTRA five sacks of waste!
However, it is possible to reduce your festive footprint, by generating less waste and managing the waste you do have so it doesn't all go to landfill. To reduce your festive footprint, see some of the top tips below:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle at Christmas!
You can reduce the amount of packaging you buy! It is also important to know that not all packaging can be recycled e.g. plastic food trays, cellophane etc.
- Visit your nearest household recycling centre.
- Why not send an e- card.
• Use gift boxes or bags, which can be reused next year.
• Use a traditional stocking instead of wrapping paper.
• Why not reuse last years cards to make tags for presents this year?
• Buy rechargeable batteries and a charger for those electronic gifts instead of single use batteries.
• Compost uncooked vegetable peelings, egg boxes etc.
• Not got a composter? What a great present idea!!
• Turkey curry! – Leftovers are great for quick meals and traditional favourites from bubble and squeak to a warmed roll with a slice of ham and mustard. Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for more delicious recipes!
• Recycle your Christmas cards and cardboard packaging in the cardboard banks.
• Use children's Christmas drawings from school as wrapping paper – grandparents will love it!
• You can recycle your Christmas Tree for more information about recycling your real Christmas tree in your district here.
• You can take your Christmas Cards to be recycled at any WHSmith, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer from January 2010. By doing this money will be raised for the Woodland Trust to plant trees throughout the UK.