Trim down the waste

People across Renfrewshire are becoming more mindful of waste this Christmas, according to a survey.

A survey by Zero Waste Scotland found 86 per cent of folk in the west of Scotland agree we have a responsibility to cut down on waste over Christmas.

The poll also found 69 per cent of those who responded are planning on minimising their waste in comparison to other years.

Zero Waste Scotland has launched its # ChristmasTrimmings campaign to help Scots with practical ideas and tips on small changes to cut their carbon footprint and have a more sustainable season.

Things like asking for a second- hand gift, giving a subscription gift, making your own wrapping paper and cooking what people want to eat to minimise leftovers are all included.

Jenny Fraser, consumer campaigns manager at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “It is wonderful that such a high percentage of people agree that we need to cut down on waste and that many recognise the environmental implication of buying new.

“Four fifths of our carbon emissions as a country are linked to the products we consume, through the production, manufacture and transport of materials. We need to reduce this significantly if we are going to address the climate crisis.

“While almost half of people in Scotland say they wouldn’t consider purchasing a pre- loved gift, there are very good environmental reasons for doing so and previous research shows four out of five Scots would be happy to receive such a gift.”

For more information and suggestions on ways to reduce your waste, visit zws. scot/christmastrimmings