Tips issued for people living in Wiltshire to reduce Christmas waste
We're being encouraged to shop sustainably this Christmas
People in Salisbury have been given some 'top tips' on shopping sustainably and reducing waste this Christmas.
Wiltshire Council is encouraging us to do our part in recycling as much as we can by thinking about the way they shop for Christmas.
Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment, said: "Christmas is a special time of year and is the season of giving and celebrating, but there is no doubt that lots of extra waste will be generated over this period too. Last Christmas the amount of household waste and recycling produced in Wiltshire was nineteen percent higher than the rest of the year. Therefore, we’re asking people to do what they can to reduce waste and recycle more, from gift packaging to leftover food.
“I would encourage people to shop more sustainably and with the environment in mind by choosing loose fruit and vegetables where possible to reduce plastic waste, choosing quality long-lasting gifts over quantity if they can, and buying recyclable wrapping paper.
“I’d urge people to make use of the convenient kerbside recycling collection services available to you and put the right items in your recycling bins. We thank everyone for their support in doing what they can to recycle.”
While Christmas shopping, we are encouraged to follow these tips where they can to reduce the chances of their gifts going to waste and to be more sustainable:
• Choose recyclable wrapping paper. Wrapping paper made from paper and free of glitter can be recycled. Laminated or foil paper can’t. If people can scrunch it and it doesn’t spring back, then they can recycle it.
• Think less is more – according to research carried out by Censuswide in 2022, around half of UK adults say they have received gifts they don’t want at Christmas. Choose quality items that will last a long time and that loved ones will use.
• Save money and resources by gifting pre-loved items this Christmas – find second-hand gems that family and friends will love.
• This tip applies all year round. When food shopping, people should avoid plastic waste by choosing loose fruit and vegetables where they can. WRAP research has shown that if all apples, bananas and potatoes were sold loose, 60,000 tonnes of food waste could be saved by enabling people to buy closer to their needs.
• Consider gifting an experience – give the gift of memories by gifting an experience. This reduces the demand for physical resources but also gives the recipient something to look forward to after Christmas.
When recycling, we're asked follow these tips to recycle as much as possible:
• Gift bags made from paper or card can be recycled. Gift bags made from other materials can't be recycled but they can be kept for next year and reused.
• Plastic bags and polystyrene (typically used for packaging) cannot be disposed of in blue-lidded bins as these materials can damage the recycling processing machinery. Extra items that cannot fit inside the blue-lidded can be placed beside the bin in a suitable container, such as a plastic storage box. Paper and cardboard should be placed inside the bin to prevent it from getting wet. Wet cardboard and paper is not suitable for recycling.
• For those signed up for garden waste collections, people can leave their real tree next to their green bin on their first scheduled collection in January to be collected for composting. Trees over 5ft should be cut into manageable pieces and placed in the garden waste container or the crew may not be able to collect.
More people are receiving electronic gifts thanks to ever-evolving technology. But these items can't be disposed of in general waste or recycling and they're linked to many fires at waste facilities across the country every year,
. People can help to prevent fires and keep staff safe by following this guidance:
• Electricals smaller than a 'shoe box' can be recycled using the small electricals collection service. People can simply leave these items beside their blue-lidded bin or recycling sack in a supermarket carrier bag.
• If people have replaced batteries in Christmas lights, or are disposing of electrical items powered by batteries, they can remove the batteries and place them in a clear sealed bag next to their blue lidded-bin or recycling sack on collection day.
• Large electrical items should be recycled at household recycling centres.
There's also a reminder from the Council that garden waste wont be collected for two weeks over Christmas.
The last collections will take place on Tuesday 24 December and will resume on Thursday 9th January 2025.