Recycling after Christmas

Follow our tips on recycling after Christmas, from where to recycle your Christmas cards to using up leftover food – it’s easy when you know how…

It’s tempting just to throw out the wrapping paper, Christmas tree and any unwanted presents, but it’s just as easy to recycle everything –saving energy and the environment too.

Christmas trees

Recycling your Christmas trees couldn’t be easier. If your tree is potted, then find a place in your garden and plant it – you will be able to use it year after year. If it’s not potted, your local council should pick it up with your usual garden waste collection. Most councils will recommend you do the following:

• Cut your tree into smaller pieces, so that it can fit into your garden waste bags or if it’s over six foot, so it’s a more manageable size
• Remove all decorations, stands and lights, as these can’t be composted
• Look out for Christmas tree drop-off points – locations can usually be found on your local council’s website.

Christmas cards

All those lovely cards that your friends and family have sent this Christmas don’t have to be thrown away, there are lots of ecofriendly alternatives:

• Recycle your Christmas cards at any Tesco store with card and paper banks
• Look out for Christmas card recycling schemes, such as the Woodland Trust, and find collection bins at many high-street retailers
• Put your cards out with your local recycling collection
• Reuse your cards as gift tags for presents or decorative paper chains.

Unwanted presents

Every Christmas we all receive at least one awful present or occasionally get the same present twice! But what do you with them? Here are some great ideas for making sure your unwanted gifts find a loving home:

Donate to charity shops

Take your gifts to your local charity and not only will they go to a good home, they will raise money for the charity too.

Regift

There’s always a slight worry with regifting that you will give said unwanted present back to the person who gave it to you in the first place! But what might not be right for you could be perfect for someone else – you just need to rewrap it! Make sure the present is still intact and still has its labels.

Give away

Websites such as snaffleup.co.uk and freecycle.org make it easy to unburden those no longer wanted items. Most of the time you just post it on the site and interested members will come and pick it up.

Sell it

If you’re feeling the pinch in January, why not sell or auction presents online? There are lots of sites to choose from, including ebay, eBid, Gumtree and Amazon.

Leftover food

If you’ve got mountains of leftover food, check out the Love Food Hate Waste website for lots of inspiring recipes.

Try these for turkey, vegetables and Stilton!