is for Advent calendars

The start of December is the start of Christmas season for many. Reusable calendars are a great way to reduce your waste and can be used for many years. There are many options on the high street, (someone I know even made one by hanging 24 old socks on a washing line). 

If you choose a calendar with foil wrapped chocolates, we can recycle the foil, please scrunch it together into a tennis ball sized ball so that it can be picked up by our sorting machines and place it in your black recycling box.

is for cards

If you choose to send cards to your loved ones, please make sure that they don't contain foil or glitter. Cards containing foil or glitter cannot be recycled. All other cards can be recycled in your green recycling box. Find out more about recycling your Christmas cards. 

More and more people are choosing to give a donation to charity rather than to send cards to friends and neighbours they see. You could also send a video message to loved ones who live far away!

is for cardboard

We collect a lot of cardboard following the Christmas festivities, and the amount continues to grow with the increase in online shopping. Support your local retailers and reduce your cardboard packaging by using your local high street for your Christmas shopping.

All cardboard packaging should be torn, folded, and flattened to fit inside your green recycling box. Large boxes that cannot fit into your box should be taken to your local cardboard recycling bank or recycling centre. 

Find out more about recycling cardboard packaging.

is for crackers

Recycle the cardboard outer sleeves and tissue paper hats in your green box, and the paper jokes in your paper recycling sack when you’ve had a bit of a giggle. The banger strips cannot be recycled and should be placed in your black bin for disposal. Enjoy your plastic toys for as long as possible.

is for fairy lights

Before throwing these away, check if your local repair café can repair them. If they cannot be fixed, please take them to your local recycling centre or another electrical item drop off point. Find out where you can recycle electrical items.   

is for Furoshiki

Never heard of it? Furoshiki is the Japanese art of wrapping using fabric rather than paper. Why not check it out and give it a go? Fabric used to wrap presents can be reused multiple times.

is for gifts

Many of us give and receive gifts at Christmas. Wish lists are a good way to make sure your presents are well used and enjoyed. If you are stuck for ideas, Recycle Devon have written a handy guide containing zero-waste gift ideas. 

is for hosting

If you are hosting family and friends this Christmas and New Year, remember to check for any dietary needs before you buy food and drink to reduce your waste.

All bottles and cans can be rinsed and recycled. Glass should be recycled in your green box and cans in your black box.

If you have more waste than usual following a party, please take extra bottles and cans to your nearest can or bottle bank.

Is for jumpers

For many, Christmas jumpers are an essential clothing item for the festive season, and often a good way to raise money for local charities, so buy a good one and wear it for many years!

If you fancy a change, consider embellishing clothing you already own or swap with a friend.  Alternatively, visit a local charity shop or an online preloved clothing app.

If you are looking for inspiration on how you can refashion a jumper you already own here are some ideas How to Make a Christmas Jumper | Love Your Clothes Or How to make a DIY Christmas jumper | Hubbub Foundation

is for leftovers

Even with the best planning in place, it can be easy to over cater at Christmas. Christmas leftovers can be reused in many different recipes or labelled and put in the freezer to be eaten later.

Anything that cannot be used can be bagged and placed in your food waste container to be recycled. 

Find out more about reducing food waste at Christmas.

is for mince pie cases

Many of us love a mince pie or two over the festive period.  Once you’ve eaten them, collect your foil mince pie cases together and scrunch them up into a tennis ball sized ball to be recycled in your black recycling box.

is for occasion wear

Whether it is for the annual office party or another glitzy gathering, we like to don a sparkly outfit at Christmas. If you don’t want to wear your Christmas outfit more than once, did you know that you can rent occasion wear from companies online? Alternatively, search charity shops or second hand clothing apps for preloved items. 

is for quince

(Q is tricky letter). Quince is in season at this time of year and often used in jams.

Fruit chutneys and jams make great gifts for foodie friends or as part of a Christmas hamper to be eaten with cheese.

Just remember to rinse out any jars when finished and recycle them in your green recycling box.    

is for trees

Real Christmas trees can be recycled in your garden waste bin if you are a subscribed to the garden waste collection service.

Otherwise, they can be taken to one of our Christmas tree drop off points in the new year.

Just remember to remove all your decorations.

is for turkey

A common centrepiece of a Christmas lunch. Find out everything you need to about how to store your turkey, leftover recipes and keeping it to eat on a later date on the love food hate waste webpage on all things turkey.

Is for vegetables and veg peelings

Sprouts, parsnips, carrots, and potatoes, if you peel your vegetables, remember to recycle your veg peelings in your food waste container.

Its worth checking what your guests are likely to eat before you shop and only buy the quantity you will need. 

Any extra you end up with can be used in another tasty recipe or taken to your local community fridge.  

When buying vegetables try to buy loose rather than pre-packaged in plastic.

is for wrapping paper.

Paper based wrapping paper can be recycled in your green recycling box with your cardboard. 

Wrapping paper is too low in quality to be recycled with your paper.

Before recycling your wrapping paper, give it the scrunch test to check if it contains any foil or plastic, if it stays scrunched up it can be recycled.  

Find out more about recycling wrapping paper.

is for xtra waste

So not strictly beginning with an x, we know many of you will have extra waste and recycling over the Christmas period. 

If you have more than will fit into your boxes, please either store it and put it in your box on your next collection or take it to your nearest recycling bank or recycling centre. 

is for zero waste shops

If you are looking to reduce your waste this Christmas, remember to check out your nearest zero waste shop to see what they have on offer.