Seasonal recycling tips
The Christmas holiday season is here, with all its festive cheer as well as all its excess.
Cards, wrapping, boxes and packaging as well as decorations and maybe a real Christmas tree.
Once the celebrations are over – what to do with it all? What can be reused and recycled, and what should just go in the bin?
Here’s some tips for disposing of your real tree responsibly:
- Cut into manageable pieces so it fits inside your garden waste bin with the lid closed. Collections are currently paused, please check your calendar for your next garden waste collection date
- Take to your local recycling and household waste site – find it
- Book a collection with hospice charity LOROS, and your tree will go to a hub and be recycled into eco-friendly biofuel. Collections take place from Monday 6 January to Wednesday 10 January. Book with LOROS
What about the gift wrapping and extra packaging? Generally, with any wrapping, if it's paper or cardboard and not shiny, metallic or containing glitter or fabric, it can be recycled. Gift bags and paper can be reused for another year, just remember to remove any completed gift tags.
All tape and embellishments should be removed. Tissue and crepe paper, ribbons and bows cannot be recycled, so either reuse or place in the black bin.
Polystyrene packaging is not suitable for recycling. What about other items though? Be a recycling hero and see how to recycle this Christmas.
Decorations such as tinsel or plastic baubles are generally not recyclable. If you’re not keeping this year’s decorations next year, could you give them a new lease of life or donate them?
Grocery packaging such as plastic bottles, trays, tubs and pots and metal and glass containers should always be washed to remove any food contamination.
Batteries are not for the general waste bin – as they are a fire hazard – but instead can be placed in a clear bag, like a sandwich bag and left on top of your recycling bin.
For more information and tips on recycling visit Leicestershire’s Less waste website.