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Welcome to this Christmas edition of the Green Team newsletter!

This edition is solely dedicated to helpful advice and tips for recycling and managing your household waste over the festive season, whether that's where to put your wrapping paper or how to have less leftover foods over the holidays.

But first - here's a (very) brief but important update on our waste and recycling services over the festive season:

• All bin collections will remain as normal over the festive period.
• Please place your bins out as normal on your collection day for our collection teams - and then return them off the street once they have been emptied.
• Our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will be open every day between 24th December and 9th January (other than Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.)

Click here for more information about our HWRCs

Click here for more information about Recycling and Waste

From all of us on the Green Team, we wish you a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.  

Recycling tips over Christmas 

Cardboard

Cardboard has become increasingly common for delivering Christmas presents in, which typically leads to an increase in cardboard waste.

If you do have extra cardboard that won't fit in your blue bin over the festive season, simply flat pack it and put it in a sturdy cardboard box for collection.  

Cards

Some Christmas cards can be recycled, for instance - if they contain no glitter, ribbons or embellishments. Where possible, aim to buy sustainable and recyclable cards - or alternatively send letters or E-cards instead.

Glitter, ribbons and sticky paper will need to go in your normal waste.

Wrapping Paper

Do the ‘scrunch test’ with wrapping paper to see if it can be recycled. If the paper stays scrunched up, then it can be recycled. If it unfurls and goes flat (or flattish!), then it can’t be recycled and should go in your black bin. Where possible, aim to buy recyclable wrapping paper to help the environment!

Batteries

600 million batteries are thrown away each year in the UK. If you use them a lot, why not try and invest in rechargeable ones? These can last up to 200 times longer and save you money in the long term. Just like the rest of the year, Batteries need to be disposed of correctly as they can cause fires and explosions.

Find your nearest battery recycling point here

Christmas Trees 

If you want to get rid of a Christmas Tree, you can either take it to a HWRC and put it in the green waste skip, compost it at home, or chop it up and put it in your green bin ready for collection in March. The same applies for wreaths made of natural materials.

What NOT to recycle

Putting the correct things in the correct bins at home is the best way we can get the most out of our recycling. Please aim to keep these items out of your recycling bins at home this Christmas:

• Sticky tape
• Cards with lots of glitter, ribbons, or embellishments on them
• Plastic sweet wrappers
• Food contaminated packaging (e.g., foil trays, pizza boxes)
• Old clothes beyond repair (these should be taken to recycling banks or HWRCs)
• Batteries - please take these to a battery recycling point

Food waste 

Did you know - 

• Around 30% of our general waste is food waste? Approximately 60% of this is avoidable and could have been eaten or drunk if used up in time – we could all save at least £720 a year by reducing our food waste.
• An estimated 4.2 million Christmas dinners go to waste every year.

Our tips to help waste less food this Christmas and beyond:

• Planning perfection - Planning is the best way to save money on the weekly shop while cutting waste and helping the planet.
• Know your dates - The dates commonly found on packaging often cause some confusion.
• Savvy storage - The way we store food has the potential to extend its useable lifespan massively.
• Perfect portions - Preparing or cooking the right amount of food is a great way to cut waste and can save a lot of money too.
• Love your leftovers - Leftovers are made up of fabulous food that you have bought and made into great meals so why wouldn't you use them up!
• To find out more visit the 'Love Food, hate Waste' website here

New rules for disposing of sofas/chairs/upholstery

From 1st January 2023, any item of upholstered domestic seating will no longer be accepted at landfill and must be destroyed through incineration (due to the potential of containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)). 

To comply with this Environment Agency guidance we need to make changes to how this waste is collected and disposed/treated. 

These items must now be separated into a different skip at the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), if you are unsure, please speak to a member of staff. 

*Please note: Our HWRCs can accept this type of upholstered domestic seating at all site with the exception of Conisbrough*

Want to be included in our next newsletter? 

Do you want to get people involved in a local litter pick? Have you been involved in something green you want to celebrate? How about sharing your own wildflower areas? Send in your submissions to communications@doncaster.gov.uk to be included.