To a greener Christmas…

Households worldwide create 30% more waste than usual over the Christmas period. This extra waste amounts to a staggering volume of trash – the worlds’ cities generated more than 2 billion tons of solid waste in 2016, at 0.74kg per person per day.

Most festive season waste still ends up in landfills. Statistics SA says more than 78.8% of households support recycling, but 75.8% don’t separate waste for recycling.

You can have a greener Christmas by reusing and recycling your waste.

Gift wrapping paper can be recycled as long as it’s not plastic cellophane, or has a metallic compound and glitter. If you can easily rip wrapping paper, recycle it. The same goes for envelopes, paper cards and flattened cardboard boxes. While plastic shopping bags can

be recycled, bubble wrap can’t.

Plastic bottles, ice-cream containers and milk cartons can go into the recycling bin, but they should be clean and empty. The average time it takes for a plastic bottle to completely degrade is at least 450 years, but some can take up to 1 000 years. Soft drink cans can be recycled.

Wine bottles and glass containers can be recycled. Estimates are that it takes 1 million years to degrade.

If you have the real thing, your Christmas tree can be reused for compost.

Plastic Christmas tree – try to reuse it; Christmas tree lights – light bulbs can be disposed of in retail store containers; batteries: electronic gifts and battery-powered children’s toys. Dispose of batteries at hazardous waste bins.