![Presents wrapped in brown paper](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKSC/2023/11/8603360/5118628/juliana-malta-ywutubgmzsu-unsplash_crop.jpg) If you’re feeling festive and planning for Christmas then we’ve pulled together all you need to know this Christmas-time to reduce waste and save money.
Make a meal of planning
Somerset is recycling more food waste than ever – but after Christmas food waste often rises - in January 2022 we saw an additional 22%. It’s good it’s being recycled, but cutting food waste altogether is even better for the environment.
Meal planning for the festive period means buying only what you need and eating all you buy. Planning ahead can also help to keep costs down – head to our website for ideas. Or visit the Love Food Hate Waste website for recipes and ideas for using up leftovers.
Cut the card to help the planet and the Somerset economy
Another way to reduce waste at Christmas is to think outside the box and avoid buying presents that need packaging. Each January the amount of cardboard collected rises, seeing as much as an extra 682 tonnes – a whopping 44% increase.
- Buy gifts that don’t need boxes – vouchers for restaurants, attractions or pampering treatments; subscriptions for a streaming service; or memberships for trusts or clubs.
- Go off-line – shop on the High Street and cut out the extra packaging that comes with online delivery.
- Shop on-line but local – local retailers can often deliver to your door and they tend to use less packaging than the big multi-nationals.
![Wrapping paper and ribbon](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKSC/2023/11/8603376/5118629/freestocks-4u5nfnssblc-unsplash_crop.jpg) As you prepare to get Christmas wrapped up, remember that once gifts have been given, recycle your wrapping paper.
Avoid wrapping paper with foil, plastic or glitter as this cannot be recycled.
Any paper wrapping you cannot reuse, remove sticky tape, bows and decorations – save bows, ribbons, string for birthday gifts and put it with card in your black recycle box.
Do not use a black rubbish sack to put out any wrapping paper you want recycled.
Not sure if it’s recyclable? Scrunch it!
Step 1: Scrunch the wrapping paper into a tight ball.
Step 2: Open your hand to see if the paper stays scrunched together or bounces back open.
Step 3: If the paper stays scrunched in a ball, then you know it can be recycled. If it bounces back open then it likely contain foil or plastic and it can’t be recycled.
Lots to recycle?
If you have a large load of wrapping paper, you can take it to any recycling site. Each will have a special drop-off point for wrapping paper; do not put it in the skips for card.
The Fixy van
Give the gift of unwanted smart tech to Fixy! We’re back on the road and will be at Eat Festival’s Christmas market in Taunton on Saturday 16 December, 10am to 4pm.
The Fixy team will be accepting donations of unwanted smart tech for reuse, including laptops, tablets, mobile phones, digital cameras and other smart devices (see online for details) – data will be securely wiped by Donate IT before items are passed back into the community.
We’ll also be promoting the network of volunteer-run repair groups and opportunities to get involved. Find local community repair groups across Somerset on our web page Somerset’s Repair Network.
Fencing is currently being installed around the bays at Yeovil Recycling site. This means that during the next two weeks there will be a reduced number available.
Once installed, the new fencing will allow the site to stay open while the material in the containers is compacted. This will prevent queues and the need to close the site for safety when this happens.
Thank you for your patience while this work is carried out.
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