Recycling at Christmas

Food waste increases significantly at Christmas. The most wasted Christmas foods in the UK are:

• potatoes (710,000 tonnes)
• poultry (100,000 tonnes)
• carrots (96,000 tonnes)
• enough gravy to accompany Christmas dinner for the whole country

Before you take on the ‘big shop’, check what you already have in the cupboards and what you actually need – if Auntie Maureen is the only one who likes sprouts, why not buy a few loose instead of a whole bag?

We often buy more food at Christmas than we need because of FORO (the fear of running out!) but joining our fight against food waste will help you save money and space in your food waste bin.

Another great way to make your Christmas food shop more sustainable is by visiting one of our community food hubs, run in collaboration with UKHarvest. They are open to all West Sussex residents and offer surplus food for a small donation.

If you do find that you have more food than appetite, you can visit BBC Good Food for tasty leftover recipes.

For food waste that cannot be used, such as potato peelings and turkey bones, most households in West Sussex have a separate food waste collection service.

Food waste caddies are collected every week. You can use them for vegetable peelings, plate scrapings, bones and other inedible food waste.

Find out what you can put in your food waste caddy in our guide to food waste collections.

Using your food waste collection helps reduce the amount of waste that goes into your general waste bin and is better for the environment.

If you are unsure about festive collection dates, check your local council website or download your local council app.

Search on the App Store or Google Play if you live in Arun, Adur and Worthing, Chichester, Horsham or Mid Sussex, or visit the MyCrawley website if you live in Crawley.

The app also shows what you can put in each recycling bin. You can also find useful information about local car parks and festive events, including Christmas light switch-ons.

If you are buying wrapping paper, try to aim for a roll that doesn’t have any plastic in it as this can’t be recycled. This is also true of ribbons, bows or string. 

The easiest way to check paper on gifts you’ve been given is to try the scrunch test:

1. Scrunch the wrapping paper in your hand.
2. If it holds its shape, you can recycle it.
3. If it springs back, put it in the general waste bin.

Some of our favourite tips for sustainable Christmas wrapping include:

• wrapping presents in scarves or cloth (these can then be reused)
• making gift boxes out of old Christmas cards
• decorating your presents with reusable or recyclable accessories such as paper ribbons or natural twine instead of plastic bows
• giving gifts in reusable bags
• making your own wrapping paper with old newspapers and reusable decorations (for example, ribbons)
• using old Christmas cards as gift tags

Keeping a box or bag ready for the wrapping paper when you are opening presents saves mess on the big day and makes it easier to keep any reusable wrap, non-recycle ribbons or bows separate.

It also means less mess once the gifts are out, which means more time playing with your new toys!

Gift-giving is a huge part of Christmas. With all the festivities, it’s easy to forget about the waste we produce.

Below are some things you can do to reduce waste when buying presents this year.

Before starting Christmas shopping, it’s important to prepare. Speak to loved ones about what they want or need and make a list before stepping foot in the shops.

This can help prevent panic buying or purchasing something the recipient may not need, just for the sake of giving a gift!  

As you head out Christmas shopping, don't forget to take your reusable shopping bags. Not only will this help you cut back on waste, it can also save you money as most shops charge per bag.

It’s also a good idea to take your reusable coffee cup for your festive drinks or take your reusable water bottle. Christmas shopping is thirsty work!  

Visit our Festive Eco Fair on Saturday 21 November at Field Place in Worthing, for a selection of local sustainable creators, makers and crafters selling their wares

A great way to reduce waste while gift-giving is to opt for Secret Santa among friends, colleagues, or even family! It reduces waste from wrapping, saves money and allows you to invest time and effort into a meaningful gift.

Why not buy a pre-loved item for your loved ones? It’s usually cheaper, better for the planet and often supports a good cause.

You could also check out our reuse Shops at the Worthing and Billingshurst Recycling Centres – they are a great source of unique gifts!

Giving experience gifts is a great way to create memories, not waste, and spend quality time with someone. West Sussex offers a variety of attractions perfect for this.

A wonderful way to reduce waste is by making your own gifts. Try baking sweet treats or making stockings from leftover materials. There are loads of easy tutorials online to get you inspired!