Over Christmas, every person in England will throw away on average 50kgs of rubbish.
However, with a little extra thought, we can all help reduce these wasteful statistics and be kinder to the environment this year.
Christmas Refuse & Recycling Arrangements
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Normal Collection arrangements will resume on Monday 5th January 2009
Recycle your Christmas Tree
Over 5 million trees will be bought in the UK this year, most of which will be thrown away generating 160,000 tonnes of extra rubbish!
Think green instead this Christmas and ensure your tree is recycled in one of the following ways:
- At a Council Collection Point.
The Council will be providing fenced off areas for the collection of Christmas trees at the following locations between Monday 5th January - Monday 12th January 2009.
George Lane Car Park, Marlborough
Station Road Car Park, Devizes
There will also be a compound in Ramsbury New Surgery Area on Monday 5th January 2009.
- Next to your Green Wheeled Bin.
If you have a green wheeled bin, why not place it next to your bin. If you don't have a bin, why not subscribe to the service so you can continue to recycle all year round.
Please note that the Council is unable to collect Christmas trees that are placed out next to your black wheeled bin.
- At a Household Recycling Centre.
The Household Recycling Centres are based in Devizes and Everleigh and will take a wide range of materials for recycling and composting. Please note that the centres are not open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Years Day.
Why not buy a tree with roots, which can be planted in your garden until next Christmas? Not only will you be helping the environment, you'll be saving money too.
You can an artificial tree year after year and when you've finished with it, why not take it to your local charity shop to further extend its life.
Recycle your Christmas Cards
In the run up to Christmas, the Royal Mail delivers more than 160 million cards, letters and packets per day. However, a massive one billion Christmas cards could end up in bins across the UK!
Christmas cards can be recycled at the following locations in Kennet up until Monday 26th January 2009
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Alternatively, take part in the annual National Campaign by taking your cards along to any WH Smith, Tesco (excluding Metro), TK Maxx or Marks and Spencers (excluding Simply Food) between the 2nd - 31st January 2009 for recycling.
Sainsburys in Devizes will also take your cards for recycling.
Why not keep some of your cards and reuse them for gift tags next Christmas.
Please remember that Christmas cards can NOT be recycled in your black recycling box, so please make use of these local facilities.
How to Reduce your Waste
We all produce too much waste over Christmas, from excess packaging on gifts to leftover food scraps.
However, with a little thought, we can all reduce the amount we sent to landfill this festive period. Kennet District Council's aim is to encourage residents to reduce the amount of rubbish that is thrown away and provide useful ideas on how they can reuse items and recycle more.
- Avoid unnecessary packaging on gifts and goods.
- If you are having a party, try to buy in bulk as you will not only save money but it will also help the environment. Don't forget to recycle all your empty bottles and cans in your black box.
- Say No to Unwanted Bags (SNUB) and take a reusable bag with you when out shopping, or reuse your old carrier bags. Cloth bags also make nice Christmas presents.
- Home Compost your vegetable peelings, garden cuttings and old plants. Bins are available from just £17. Alternatively, invest in a food waste digester and get rid of all your leftover sprouts and turkey.
- Subscribe to the Council's garden waste service for just £28 a year and have your garden waste collected from your door.
- Buy your Christmas fruit and vegetables without packaging from your local market.
- Buy recycled wrapping paper and reuse it wherever possible. Or, use gift bags and boxes, which can be reused. Wrapping paper can not be recycled through the black box scheme so please try to reuse your paper where you can.
- Why not pass on unwanted toys and gifts to your local charity shop or visit a car boot sale to make some money for all the January sales!
- Old shoes and clothes can be taken to a charity shop or put in your black box for recycling.
- Old mobile phones can be taken to Oxfam or to the Household Recycling Centres. Some suppliers will also take them back.
- Pass old furniture to Kennet Furniture Recycling (01380 720722) who will collect good, unwanted furniture for distribution.
- Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposables.
Gift Ideas
- Buy sustainable gifts such as gift vouchers or theatre tickets. Alternatively, why not sponsor an endangered animal or take out a magazine subscription?
- Buy gifts made from recyclable materials or from sustainable origins.
- Buy durable toys that can be used over and over again.
- Buy your gift cards and paper made from 100% recycled materials or donate the money you would usually spend on cards to charity.
- Use young children's drawings from school as wrapping paper - grandparents will love it!
- Why not make a gift hamper and mix in your own home-made cakes and preserves with Fair Trade goodies and food from local Farmers Markets.
- Why not buy solar powered gifts, for the energy conscious among you?
Some interesting Christmas facts
- This Christmas, over 10 million turkeys will be sold in the UK - that's a massive 55,000 tonnes or the equivalent of 620,000 Santa's! And we will spend over £305 million on turkeys alone.
- 15,000 tonnes of sprouts will be bought in the Christmas period, enough for 14 each!
- Last Christmas, people in the UK consumed 5.5 million jars of mincemeat, 12 million jars of pickles and 6.5 million jars of cranberry sauce. Don't forget to recycle yours this Christmas.
- In the run up to Christmas, the Royal Mail will deliver over 160 million cards and packets a day! This year, why not think about sending emails instead and donating the money you save to charity.
- The festive period will result in three million tonnes of waste, isn't it time to make it your New Year's resolution to recycle more this year?