is for Advent calendars
Reusable advent calendars have increased in popularity in recent years. They are a great way to reduce your waste
If you choose a chocolate advent calendar, you can recycle the foil. Please collect it together and scrunch it with other foil into a tennis ball sized ball so that it can be picked up by our sorting machines, then place it in your black recycling box.
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is for batteries
Many gifts include batteries. Once they come to the end of their life, collect them together until you have a small bag full and pop them on top of your green recycling box. Batteries should be placed in a clear plastic bag to keep them dry and so that the crew can see them. Batteries can cause fires when crushed and should not be placed in your black bin.
is for bows
Bows can't be recycled. Ideally, we’d recommend decorating your presents in other ways. If you choose to use them, collect them up so that you can reuse them again next year.
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.
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.
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is for decorations
Buy to last and enjoy your decorations for as many years as possible. If you need to replace them, please donate your old decorations to your local charity shop so that others can enjoy them. Broken baubles and tinsel that has lost its sparkle should be put in your black bin.
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 received. If you are stuck for ideas, Recycle Devon have written a handy guide containing zero-waste gift ideas. If you follow them and pledge to reduce your waste this Christmas you could win a £25 gift voucher.
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, please take extra bottles and cans to your nearest can or bottle bank.
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is for ice cream
Ice cream is a regular accompaniment to Christmas desserts. Plastic ice cream tubs can be reused for cooked food, packed lunches and other storage before being recycled in your black recycling box with your other plastic packaging.
You can also make Christmas pudding ice cream if you have leftover Christmas pudding on Christmas day.
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 or How to make a DIY Christmas jumper | Hubbub Foundation
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is for kingly crown
Tissue paper crowns are often found in crackers and worn on Christmas day. Please recycle these with your cardboard and wrapping paper in your green recycling box.
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.
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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.
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is for nuts
Nuts are a popular snack for many over the festive season. Nut shells can be placed in your food waste container with your food waste.
is for occasion wear
Whether it is for the annual office party or another glitzy gathering, we like to wear sparkly outfits 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.
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is for packaging
Breakable items will often come packaged in polystyrene, plastic bags, or bubble wrap.
Plastic bags and bubble wrap can be recycled at some supermarkets through plastic bag recycling schemes.
If you cannot get to a collection point, please put them in your black wheeled bin.
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 foodies or as part of a Christmas hamper to be eaten with cheese.
Rinse out any jars when you have finished them and recycle them in your green recycling box.
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is for ribbons
Ribbons and bows cannot be recycled. Reuse them if you can and consider if you can decorate your presents in other ways, perhaps using fabric ribbons that can be reused many times.
Ribbons you cannot reuse need to be put in your black wheeled bin.
is for sweet wrappers
Foil sweet wrappers from Christmas tree chocolates and wrapped Santas etc. can be scrunched together into a ball and recycled in your black recycling box.
Scrunching your foil together into a tennis ball sized ball will ensure it is picked up by our machinery and recycled.
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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 a Christmas tree drop off point in the new year.
Please check you have removed all your decorations before recycling your tree.
is for turkey
Many of us will enjoy eating turkey on Christmas day. You can find out everything you need to about storing your turkey, leftover recipes and keeping it to eat on a later date on the love food hate waste webpage.
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is for unwanted gifts
If you receive unwanted gifts, please donate them to your local charity shop so they can be enjoyed by others.
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. This also allows you to choose the exact quantity you need.
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is for wrapping paper
Paper based wrapping paper can be recycled in your green recycling box with your cardboard.
Wrapping paper is too low quality to be recycled with other paper in your paper recycling sack.
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.
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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 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 yule logs
We assume these will be eaten in entirety and won’t need to be recycled :)
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