Time to 'think outside the box'? Waste bosses say many homes are already noticing increased levels of cardboard

The Somerset Waste Partnership are encouraging residents to look at things like memberships or vouchers as gifts this year to help reduce waste - or as they put it ‘think outside the box’.

Mickey Green, Managing Director of Somerset Waste Partnership, said: “This isn’t about telling people what they should and shouldn’t buy, it’s just encouraging people to consider some different options.

“Buying experiences rather than ‘stuff’ keeps the packaging down and can make very special gifts, especially when we all need something to look forward to in the New Year.

“And if you can buy local and help businesses in your own community, so much the better.”

With the second lockdown closing all but essential shops and Christmas and Black Friday coming soon the partnership claim ‘mass online shopping looks likely to generate tonnes of extra cardboard packaging’, adding: “Cardboard is recycled from the kerb every week, but producing it and collecting it have a financial and carbon cost - not to mention putting a strain on collection crews.”

SWP is asking people to consider options that not only give boxes a miss, but give loved ones something to look forward to in 2021, such as:

• vouchers for restaurants, attractions or experiences,

• digital subscriptions to newspapers, magazines or streaming services

• memberships for trusts or clubs that give you free days out

Mr Green added: “Whether it is a meal out, a day out, or a pampering treatment – if you shop local you will also be helping support our hard-pressed businesses in these tough times.

“Boxed or not, thinking local is a good idea anyway. It is not just the big national or international retailers which can deliver to your door and local companies are more likely to keep packaging to a minimum.

“Somerset’s local authorities are all encouraging people to shop local in the coming weeks and beyond.

“Last year, SWP’s kerbside collections picked-up 12,223 tonnes of cardboard, with increases before and after the festive season. During April, May and June this year COVID saw 24% jump in cardboard collected – an extra 650 tonnes – compared to 2019 figures.

“Christmas always creates lots of waste cardboard and if you have large loads, SWP’s recycling sites may be the best way to dispose of it over the festive period.

“Although cardboard is part of the weekly kerbside recycling, collections days are disrupted by the festive holidays and it would be helpful for crews if large loads went to recycling sites.

“All 16 sites are open on their usual winter hours over the Christmas and New Year period, except for three days - Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Day.

“Please use real wrapping paper wherever possible, putting it in the correct recycling box after use or, even better, keeping what you can to reuse next year.

“Glittered, plastic or metallic wrapping cannot be recycled so put it straight into your rubbish.

“If you have lots of wrapping paper, you can take it to a recycling site - do not put it in the cardboard skips, there will be special drop-off point at all sites.

“Separating your recycling at the kerb is the best way to make sure it gets properly recycled and recycled close to home. Last year 90% of Somerset’s recycling stayed in the UK thanks to kerbside sorting.”

The partnership has also revealed its top tip to avoid a festive ‘Wastemas’ or ‘Christmess’

1 Give better. For great gifts, demand wish lists, invest in presents of real quality that last and are valued, help everyone look forward by giving digital subscriptions and vouchers, and use real paper wrapping - not plastic or metallic - that can actually be recycled. Buy local to invest back into your own community (and see less cardboard and plastic knocking at your front door).

2 Clear early. Avoid the Christmas logjam of a trash mountain, bad weather, and what can follow: missed collections. Make good use of recycling boxes and your local recycling site now to get tidy early, recycle all internet delivery waste, and not get caught out "panic wasting". Need any recycling container? Go now to the Managing Waste Containers tab on My Waste Services atsomersetwaste.gov.uk.

3 Chow down now. For the best festive food, make sure you buy what you need and eat all you buy with a meal plan for the holidays, checking your stocks before shopping, eating into the freezer and fridge first to make space, then using up those lovely leftovers.

4 Deck the halls with anything but plastic. Winter foliage and decorations of paper and card - especially home-made - beat plastic any day, as does a real tree unless your false one lasts for many years, and baubles that recycle anything from buttons to old family photos. (If not in your compost bin or garden wildlife corner, Christmas trees must be taken to any recycling site or - if you subscribe - put out with your garden waste collection.)

5 Manage any mess. After the celebrations, reuse and recycle all you can. Confirm what goes kerbside in your patch, and check collection dates at My Collection Day at somersetwaste.gov.uk. Got a lot? Drop all your recycling and rubbish off at a recycling site; except for three days - Christmas, Boxing and New Year - all are open on their usual hours. Any food that cannot stay in the fridge or freezer can go in the food waste bin - or, if suitable, in your compost bin. Save cards - to make gift tags - and wrapping, ribbons, gift bags and decorations for next year.