Recycle more this Christmas

BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council is urging residents to recycle more and waste less during the festive season.

Extra household waste is often generated over Christmas and the council is reminding residents that there is no limit to how much they can recycle, with any extra recycling put in cardboard boxes or clear sacks next to the green bin for collection.

If residents are recycling large cardboard boxes then they must be flattened next to the recycling bin, while polystyrene and plastic packaging must be removed before leaving cardboard out.

There are lots of items that can be recycled, including cardboard packaging, paper, newspapers and magazines, food tins, drinks cans, aerosols and plastic bottles.

Christmas wrapping paper cannot be recycled and needs to go into the grey waste bin.

Christmas cards can be recycled, but only if they do not contain glitter, ribbons or bows.

For a second year, garden waste customers will be able to put their real Christmas trees out for collection with their garden waste.

Christmas trees over six foot need to be cut in half and decorations must be removed.

Real Christmas trees can also be recycled at one of several drop-off points across the borough between Saturday, January 2, and Sunday, January 31.

For more information, visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/christmas-tree.

Christmas can also mean more glass recycling.

Glass boxes or glass bins should be placed next to the green recycling bin by 7am on collection day.

All bottles and jars should be rinsed out and any corks or tops removed, and glasses boxes or bins should not be overfilled otherwise they will not be emptied.

Residents should not put bottles or jars out for collection in any other container as they will not be collected.

Cabinet member for environment and enforcement Hayley Eachus said: “Extra rubbish will be inevitable over the festive period, but a lot of that can be recycled including glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, aerosols, tins and cans.

“We can all make changes to contribute to a more sustainable start to 2021 and recycling more is among them.”

For more details, visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/recycle or call the council on (01256) 844844.