The festive season is a time to enjoy good food, gifts and decorations, but it can also bring a big increase in household waste. According to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the extra waste from Christmas in the UK is significant, from discarded wrapping paper to surplus food. With a few steps, you can enjoy all the joys of the season while reducing your environmental impact.
Decorations and gifts – a greener approach
- If you choose a real Christmas tree, consider one with its roots attached so you can keep it outdoors for reuse or plant it after the season. If it’s rootless, check your local council for recycling options, many trees are chipped for parks or composted.
- Artificial trees may last many years, but they aren’t easily recyclable, if yours is in good condition consider donating it to a charity shop or community group.
- Homemade decorations using materials you already have, e.g., dried orange slices, origami paper stars, fabric scraps are a great sustainable option.
- When it comes to wrapping, consider reused fabric or recycled paper, avoid glitter-laminated papers (they aren’t recyclable) and look out for the FSC mark or 100% recycled labels. The “scrunch test” is a handy tip: scrunch the wrapping paper into a ball, if it stays, it can be recycled; if it bounces back, it can’t.
- For gifts, homemade jams, baked goods, knitted items, or experience-based gifts (e.g., membership, workshop) all reduce waste compared with mass-manufactured items.
Avoid food waste – why not plan ahead
- Shop locally when possible for your festive dinner, local meat, vegetables, sweet treats, to reduce food miles and support nearby businesses.
- Got more food than you need? Don’t throw it away. For example, excess turkey can be frozen (up to 6 months) and defrosted in the fridge or microwave on defrost setting.
- Think about portions when shopping, plan menus to avoid too many leftovers, and use up foods in creative ways (leftover veg soups, turkey sandwiches, etc.)
- If you have vegetable peelings, cores, pods, etc, consider composting them if your garden or compost bin allows.
Bin collections and recycling
With the holiday period underway, collection days may change over Christmas and New Year. You can check your local council’s website to confirm when your bin collections will happen. A little planning means you won’t be left with full bins or missed collections.
Remember to recycle those old lights, batteries and packaging responsibly. Many local councils provide drop-off points for electrical items and batteries.
Enjoy the celebrations, and let’s keep them as sustainable as they are joyful. A little thought now means less waste, less stress and a greener start to the new year.
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