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With decorations, gifts, cards and wrapping, we can end up creating a lot of waste in the run-up to and on the big day. There are lots of ways to make your Christmas a little greener this year.
If you've still got presents to wrap, remember to avoid the foil or glittery paper and swap to any paper that passes the Recycle Now scrunch test. If your wrapping paper stays in a ball when it’s scrunched up, it can be recycled in your orange bin. You can also look at reusable options like fabric tied with ribbon.
Christmas crackers are a table essential, make sure you seek out paper based crackers which are easy to recycle, or get creative this week with homemade crackers that you can personalise for your friends and family, avoiding single use plastic toys.
If you're heading out for the big food shop later, remember to plan ahead to avoid wasting food. You can write a menu and shop to that, and if you do end up with some leftovers, keep reading for some festive foodie leftover ideas.
We've all heard of the classics to use up our leftovers like bubble and squeak or boxing day turkey curry. But there are lots of other ways to use up any food left over from the big feast. Organisations such as Love Food Hate Waste and Hubbub have loads of tips and recipe ideas to help get you started, here are some of our favourites:
A whopping 7.5 million mince pies are binned each year! Try making these Chocolate, orange and mince pie brownies for something different. Or check the packaging as many shop bought mince pies are suitable for home freezing. Always freeze before 'use by' date shown and allow to defrost before enjoying at a later date. Enjoy warmed through with a splash of custard for an easy pudding.
If you're fed up of left over lunches, lots of foods can be frozen to enjoy another day.
Turkey, once cooked, will last for a couple of days in the fridge or it can be frozen. Just make sure you defrost it overnight and eat within 24 hours. If you cut it up before freezing its great thrown into a stir fry for a quick dinner.
Cheese can be frozen too! Grate your cheese and then freeze it – you can just grab a handful whenever you want a topping for a pasta, pizza or shepherd’s pie.
Leftover soups are often great for freezing if you make up a big batch. Make sure to allow the soup to cool completely before freezing in reusable bags or cliplock containers. Or freeze the turkey carcass to make a stock for soups in the New Year.
The Household Waste Recycling Centre on Barkers Lane has revised opening times over the festive season.
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve: 9am to 1pm
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day: closed
All other days: open 9am to 5pm. Last entry to site is 4.50pm.
An appointment is no longer required to visit the site but a permit may be required if you are visiting the site in a van, with a trailer or disposing of DIY waste. Check to see if you need a permit online at www.bedford.gov.uk/hwrc and to request a permit.
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