Recycling at Christmas
Did you know that Christmas is the most wasteful holiday? It creates an estimated extra 3 million tonnes of waste and recycling each year in the UK, including items like wrapping paper, Christmas cards, food and packaging, as well as old items replaced by new ‘stuff’ we accumulate.
As part of the countdown to Christmas, we’ve pulled together our favourite ways to reduce waste over the festive period including:
- tips on how to think mindfully about the presents you buy
- sustainable gift ideas
- how to reduce waste when wrapping presents
- throwing a Christmas party that is low waste, but high on fun!
We would love to hear your top tips to reduce waste over the festive period. Send us your ideas on X (Twitter), Instagram or Facebook by using the handle @WSRecycles.
Gifts
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.
Start with a list
Before starting your Christmas shopping it is 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 buying something the recipient may not need, just for the sake of giving a gift.
Don’t forget your reusables
As you head out Christmas shopping, don't forget to bring 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 bring your reusable coffee cup for your festive drinks or bring your reusable water bottle. Christmas shopping is thirsty work!
Secret Santa
A great way to reduce waste while gift-giving is to opt for a 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.
Shop second-hand
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!
Give experiences, not things
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. Check out some ideas.
Make your own presents
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!
Wrapping
Did you know that consumers in the UK use around 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year? That’s enough to gift-wrap the entire island of Guernsey!
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
Remember to use recyclable wrapping paper when you can. Just make sure it is not too sparkly and passes the scrunch test:
- Scrunch the wrapping paper in your hand.
- If it holds its shape, you can recycle it.
- If it springs back, put it in the general waste bin.
Decorations
Approximately 500 tonnes of Christmas lights and 8 million Christmas trees are thrown away each year. You can reduce waste with your decorations by:
- swapping plastic tinsel for ribbon or homemade paper chains
- considering a real Christmas tree, as evidence shows it’s more environmentally friendly than artificial ones - many of the district and borough councils in West Sussex offer kerbside recycling collections for real Christmas trees, or you can recycle them at any of our Recycling Centres
- fixing broken fairy lights by replacing bulbs at home or taking them to a repair café
- getting creative by making wreaths from garden materials or bunting from old fabric or paper
Parties
If you’re hosting a Christmas party, try to reduce waste and be the best low-waste host you can. Our favourite tips are:
Ditch the disposables
Avoid disposal cups, plates and cutlery and consider getting extra plates from a charity shop - mismatched crockery can look just as good as a matching set, and you can keep it for the next party, or donate it back after you’ve finished using it.
Choose reusable decorations
Invest in decorations that can be reused every year.
Use fabric over plastic.
Use fabric tablecloths instead of plastic ones as you can wash and reuse them. You could also use fabric napkins that you can wash for a further reusable festive touch.
Make your own crackers
This year, try making your own crackers from old materials you have at home. It reduces packaging waste and lets you personalise the gifts and jokes inside. Check out this tutorial on BBC Good Food.
Shop for second hand party outfits
Make use of your local charity shop or websites like Vinted which are usually cheaper. Or, better yet, ask yourself if you really need a new outfit this year. Can you wear something you already have at home?
Fight Against Food Waste
Food waste increases significantly over the festive period. 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!
When food is wasted, all the resources (water and energy) used to produce it are wasted too. This year, we encourage people to reduce food waste by making the most of Christmas leftovers. For tasty leftover recipes, visit BBC Good Food.
To reduce food waste, only buy what you need. Ask yourself if the foods you buy will be enjoyed in their entirety.
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. You can find more information on our Community Food Hub page.
For more tips on reducing food waste, visit our Fight Against Food Waste page.
Recycling
We understand that not all waste can be avoided, so remember to recycle as much as possible. Recyclable items include:
- Christmas cards
- wrapping paper (that passes the scrunch test)
- paper bags
- glass bottles and jars
- plastic bottles (squashed with lids on)
- plastic pots
- tubs (including sweet and chocolate tubs)
- trays (including black plastics)
- toothpaste tubes
- tins
- cans
- foil
- Pringles tubes
Make sure your recycling is:
- clean - free from food and drink leftovers
- dry - keep your recycling bin lid shut
- loose - not in plastic bags
Soft plastics such as films, wrappers and carrier bags can be recycled at participating local supermarkets.
Check with your local district and borough council to see if they can take extra recycling after Christmas. If you have large cardboard, fold or tear it to fit in the bin with the lid closed.
More information on what can and can’t be recycled at home can be found on our preparing your household recycling web page.
Post-Christmas clear out
When clearing space for new items after Christmas, make sure you dispose of old items responsibly. Consider donating reusable items to charity shops or selling them on platforms like Vinted or Facebook Marketplace.
For broken electrical items, ensure they’re disposed of properly to avoid fire hazards. For guidance, visit our small electricals web page.
If you’re heading to a Recycling Centre or are unsure of how to dispose of an item, check out our handy A-Z guide.
For more information, including opening hours and to book an appointment, visit our Recycling Centre pages.
Watch our video to find out more information on how to prepare for your visit.