Do you ever put things into the recycling bin in the hope they can be recycled, even if you are unsure?
This ‘wishcycling’ may feel like the right thing to do, but if too many of the wrong things are put into recycling bins it can result in a whole load of recycling being rejected by the recycling facility.
Here are a few simple hacks to help you get recycling right this Christmas.
Please do:
√ rinse out your containers to get rid of any food residue
√ remove any non-recyclable parts of an item, such as glittery sections of a card, before putting them into the recycling bin
√ check the Recycle Now tool if you are unsure if an item can be recycled
Please do not:
× put bags of recycling into your orange lidded bin, always put recycling in the bin loose.
× put items of rubbish (such as tissues, food waste, nappies or bags/sacks of mixed rubbish) into your orange lidded recycling bin
Christmas is nearly here and while many of us will do a last minute dash to the shops on Christmas Eve, planning ahead can help to reduce waste, avoid the last minute panic buys and also save a few pennies too! Here are some tips to help you have a greener Christmas this year:
- Find unusual gifts and support a charity you love by buying second hand gifts
- Make, bake or create your own gifts this year, from a jar of home-made biscuits to a hand knitted scarf, the possibilities are endless.
- Re-gift something you have at home which you no longer need or know someone else will enjoy.
- If you’re ordering gifts online, try ordering in batches to reduce the number of deliveries and reduce the packaging too.
- Avoid glittery or foil wrapping paper and cards which cannot be recycled.
- Make the swap to brown paper which is recyclable in your orange lidded bin, it’s easy to liven up with a bit of festive ribbon which can be reused next year too.
- See what you can find second-hand from a local charity shop or buy something ‘new’ from Facebook marketplace, eBay or Vinted.
- Got lots of clothes but nothing to wear? Re-wear something you already have, but try it with a different pair of shoes or accessory to make it feel new.
Why wait until January to have a clear out? Now is the perfect time to let go of the things you no longer want or need, making these things available to others who could really use them while also making space for anything you might have written on your Christmas list!
It could be a gift you were given last year which was buried at the back of the wardrobe, an outfit you haven't worn in years, a gadget you've grown out of or piece of furniture that no longer meets your needs. No matter how big or small an item is, someone is bound to find a use for things you no longer need.
Great news... there are lots of ways to pass on your unwanted items to someone else:
- donate unwanted items to a local charity shop
- donate larger items to a local reuse organisations such as IMPAKT Preloved, Emmaus Village Carlton or British Heart Foundation
- advertise items on your local Freegle or Freecycle group for free
- use online sites such as eBay or Vinted to sell your items on
Did you see there is a new Library of Things coming to Bedford? This will offer residents the opportunity to borrow a wide range of items, from tools and gadgets to party supplies and outdoor equipment, rather than having to buy new items.
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