Day 1 - Polystyrene
When recycling your cardboard packaging. Remember to:
- Always remove polystyrene from boxes before putting them in your recycling (blue) bag
- Polystyrene CANNOT be recycled and goes in your non-recycling (grey) bin
- If you put polystyrene in your recycling (blue) bag it will be classed as contaminated and your recycling will not be collected.
Day 2 - Cardboard boxes
Are you online shopping boxes piling up? Before recycling:
- Remove tape, polystyrene and plastics
- Flatten and fold boxes to save space
- Put cardboard in your recycling (blue) bag
Any side additional cardboard that does not fit in your recycling (blue) bag must be flattened and folded and presented correctly on your collection day. You can also request an additional recycling (blue) bag online.
Day 3 - Advent Calendars
When you’ve finished your advent calendar, remember:
- Cardboard OUTER BOX CAN be recycled in your recycling (blue) bag
- Plastic inner tray that has NO FOIL attached CAN be recycled in your recycling (blue lid) bin
- Plastic that HAS FOIL attached CANNOT be recycled and go in your non-recycling (grey) bin
A quick sort makes a big difference - thank you for recycling right this Christmas!
Day 4 - Wrapping paper
Did you know not all wrapping paper can be recycled!
- Plain, non-foil and glitter paper CAN be recycled in your recycling (blue) bag
- Foiled or glittery paper CANNOT be recycled and goes in your non-recycling (grey) bin
- Do the ‘scrunch test’ - if it stays scrunched, it’s recyclable - if it springs back, it’s not.
Day 5 - Christmas cards
After the holidays, sort your Christmas cards:
- Plain card with no glitter or foil CAN be recycled in your recycling (blue) bag
- Cards with foil or glitter CANNOT be recycled and go in your non-recycling (grey) bin
- Or reuse old cards for craft projects and make your own gift tags for next year
Day 6 - Christmas crackers
Did you know not all Christmas crackers can be recycled! You can only recycle crackers in your recycling (blue) bag if it has:
- No foil
- No glitter
- Made from plain card
Foiled or glittery crackers CANNOT be recycled and go in your non-recycling (grey) bin
Day 7 - Plastic bags
Plastic carrier bags and black bags are soft plastics and CANNOT be recycled!
Putting them in your recycling (blue lid) bin will contaminate your recycling – meaning your recycling goes to waste
- Plastic bags go in your non-recycling (grey) bin
- Or you can recycle them at your local supermarket or why not reuse them to line bins at home such as the food waste (brown) bin
Day 8 - Sweet tubs
Those empty sweet tubs don’t need to go to waste!
Reuse idea! Sweet tubs make great storage containers – perfect for Christmas decorations, craft bits and bobs, toys or baking ingredients
When you are finished with them – plastic sweet and chocolate tubs can be recycled in your recycling (blue lid) bin - a sweet win for the planet!
Day 9 - Sweet wrappers
- Foiled sweet wrappers CANNOT be recycled in your recycling (blue lid) bin
- Put them in the non-recycling (grey) bin or take them to your local supermarket that can recycle soft plastics
- Do the ‘scrunch test’ - if it stays scrunched, it’s recyclable - if it springs back, it’s not.
Day 10 - Crisp packets
Crisp packets might look shiny, but they’re not recyclable in your recycling (blue lid) bin.
- Keep them out of the recycling bin
- They go in the grey non-recycling bin only or take them to your local supermarket that can recycle soft plastics.
Day 11 - Glass bottles
Raise a glass – then recycle it! Cheers!
- Rinse glass bottles such as wine, drinks bottles and jars before recycling in your (blue lid) recycling bin
- Or reuse jars for storing food and other items or for creating crafts
Day 12 - Food waste
Reduce and recycle your turkey leftovers this Christmas.
Reduce first:
- Turn leftover turkey into tasty baps for breakfast or sandwich for lunch the next day
- Use what you can in soups, salads or pasta dishes
Recycle second:
- Anything you can’t reuse – such as, bones, skin, trimmings or scraps – goes in your food waste (brown) bin for recycling.
Remember – keep Christmas delicious and waste free!
Check the handy online recycle guide to find out what goes in each bin.