Reduce, Recycle and Reuse This Christmas

Recycling and Waste Newsletter

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Christmas 2021

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle this Christmas

wrapping paper

Christmas is creeping closer and the shops are starting to stock their shelves with seasonal treats, so our minds are already turning to what food we should be eating, the presents we want to buy and how we want to decorate our homes.

If you're already planning your festivities, have you thought about how you can make this Christmas a more sustainable one?

West Devon Borough Council are keen to help support residents to choose the most environmentally friendly gifts and wrapping paper this Christmas. With climate change a global concern, highlighted by the recent COP26 conference, it is important that everyone do their bit to try to reduce waste.

Cllr Lynn Daniel, West Devon Borough Council's Lead Member for Recycling and Waste, said: “Our recycling rates are already really good, thanks to our residents’ ongoing efforts. This Christmas we know that everyone is busy, but we’re asking that we all do our bit for climate change by choosing our festive presents and food carefully to try and reduce packaging wherever possible.

“After choosing your gifts, perhaps look at how you choose to wrap your presents. Why not try wrapping with material or brown paper instead of glittery, glossy wrap, which can’t be recycled due to the fibres within it? This doesn’t have to look plain or boring as there are some truly beautiful wrapped gift examples online. Visit Recycle Devon and WRAP online who have great tips and advice.

“You could also think about supporting a charity as a gift idea. This is a great alternative to buying a present for someone who doesn’t need anything or is tricky to buy for.

“When shopping for Christmas food, if possible buy local instead of from supermarkets, or use refillable containers to reduce plastic waste. Anything to reduce our impact on the environment. If that isn’t possible, then recycle as much as possible by recycling the smaller items like the mince pie containers and cranberry sauce jars along with the larger items like the large scooter or bike cardboard boxes.

“Christmas always means there will be lots of extra cardboard packaging. However, the good news is this can be flattened and placed into recycling boxes, but please help us by making sure this is under 75cm long, so our vehicles can collect them.

"Let us all do our bit to save the planet for future generations.”

Recycling & Waste Collections - Dates for Christmas

Christmas Waste Poster

Some of the trickier items to recycle...

Christmas creates a lot of waste - it's not always obvious what is recyclable and what isn't, so here's a quick guide on what to do when disposing of some of the more tricky items you might have this Christmas...


Advent Calendar

Advent Calendars

You can take apart most Advent Calendars and recycle their three main elements; the cardboard outer sleeve in your green box, scrunched up foil and the inner plastic tray can go in your white sack!


Aluminium Trays and Foil Packaging

Did some of your tasty treats come with aluminium or foil trays to cook them in? Clean them off and they can go in your white recycling sack.

Aluminium Trays

Wrapping Paper

Wrapping Paper

Sadly we can't recycle most wrapping paper - however if your paper is brown, it can go in with your green box recycling.


Sweet Tubs

Tucking into a tub of delicious chocolates or sweets is one of the tastiest things about Christmas! Most sweet tubs are now made from widely recyclable plastic, which can go in your white sack.

Sweet Tubs

Did you know..?

  • 300,000 tonnes of card is used across the UK during the festive season in households alone. When laid side by side, that would cover the return distance between London and Lapland an astounding 100 times!
  • The UK Waste sector is responsible for 25 mega tonnes of CO2, equivalent to powering 7 million homes per year.

Useful Links

Typing Hands Links

The Borough Council has produced a handy guide to Christmas, so recycling information and Christmas dates are ready at hand when you need them:

www.westdevon.gov.uk/Recycle-Christmas

Recycle Devon have also got a huge range of helpful information on their website, including: