‘All we want is... for you to recycle’
FESTIVE MESSAGE TO HELP WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING UP
LEICESTERSHIRE County Council has revealed some surprising recycling rules this Christmas, including removing sticky tape off all wrapping paper before recycling.
Tissue paper, string and bows need to be removed and disposed of separately and fairy lights and some Christmas decorations must go to specialist sites.
Other items, like envelopes and cards can be creatively transformed into other useful items for next year.
Waste management company Biffa suggests that more than 100 million bags of rubbish are sent to landfill each Christmas. Of this, it is estimated three-and-a-half black bags full of festive packaging will be thrown out per household - which is around 3 million tonnes.
Part of the waste generated will be the 54 million platefuls of food discarded over the period and around 500 tonnes of Christmas lights will been thrown away in the UK this year.
This is on top of the £42 million of unwanted Christmas presents thrown out in landfill each year.
In a festive but firm tweet, the county council said: “All we want for Christmas is… for you to recycle.
“Remember to remove any tape and flatten the card from your Christmas deliveries to help save space in your recycling bin!”
Here are some of the things you need to know about recycling everything festive: Artificial trees are not recyclable and will need to be disposed of in
your general waste bin (if small enough to fit) or taken to a recycling and household waste site for disposal.
Aluminium foil and foil trays can be recycled in your kerbside recycling collection. But make sure foil and trays are clean and dry to avoid contaminating other recyclable materials in your collection. Foil should be screwed into a ball at least the size of a ping-pong ball.
Bottles and cans can be recycled in your kerbside collection. Remember to rinse them out first, drain and then pop the lid back on before recycling. Cards and envelopes can be
recycled in your kerbside collection. Cards can be recycled there too as long as they are not too shiny and don’t contain any glitter or other embellishments.
Clothing, bags and belts can be sold or donated to charity. Unless your council has a dedicated collection bag, textiles can also be taken to a clothes bank or your local recycling and household waste sites for reuse or recycling. Christmas crackers should be placed in your general waste bin. The majority of decorations are not recyclable and need to be disposed of in your general waste bin or taken to a recycling and household waste site for disposal. This includes baubles (glass or plastic) and tinsel. If the decorations are in good condition they could be donated to charity.
Lights are Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and should be recycled but not in your regular kerbside recycling bin. Some councils offer a special WEEE collection service; check with your council. Alternatively, all Leicestershire recycling and household waste sites have WEEE collection points.
Paper and card gift bags can be reused, or recycled. Wrapping
paper that’s not shiny or covered in lots of glitter can be recycled in your kerbside recycling collection. However, shiny metallic and laminated paper can’t be recycled and should go into your general waste.
Many councils offer the collection of real trees via garden waste collections. Trees may need to be cut and trimmed to 1m lengths. Real trees with a trunk diameter of 15cm or less can also be taken to recycling and household waste sites. Remember to remove pots, holders, decorations. Trees left for Leicestershire councils as above will be composted if free from artificial snow.