Think Before You Buy this December with West Sussex Recycles
Did you know that Christmas is the most wasteful holiday? Christmas creates an estimated extra 3 million tonnes of waste each year in the UK, including items like wrapping paper, Christmas cards, food and packaging, as well as old items that are replaced with the extra ‘stuff’ we accumulate.
As part of the countdown to Christmas, we’re sharing our favourite ways to reduce waste over the festive period; We will be including:
- tips on how we can think mindfully about the presents we buy
- sustainable gift ideas
- how to reduce waste when wrapping presents
- how to throw a Christmas party that is low waste, but high on fun!
Our team have been sharing with us some easy ideas for ways in which to have a sustainable Christmas and we wanted to share them with you too.
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, Christmas can be a busy time so it can be easy to forget about the waste we produce. To help with this we asked our team what they do every year to reduce their waste when buying presents:
- Start with a list - before starting Christmas shopping it is important to prepare. Speak to loved ones about what they want or need for Christmas and make a list before stepping foot in the shops. This can help prevent panic buying, or buying something the recipient may not need, for the sake of having a gift to give!
- Secret Santa - a great way to reduce waste whilst gift giving is to opt for a Secret Santa amongst friends, colleagues or even family! It reduces waste in terms of wrapping, saves money and allows you to invest time and effort into a meaningful gift.
- Shop second-hand - why not buy a previously loved item for your loved ones? It's 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 some quality time with someone. West Sussex offers a variety of attractions perfect for this. Check out some ideas.
- Give a gift card - giving gift cards reduces waste and ensures the recipient gets something they truly want or need!
- 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)
- using plastic-free tape to wrap presents
- 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 ribbons and bows
- giving gifts in reusable bags
- using old Christmas cards as gift tags.
Remember to recycle wrapping paper by using the scrunch test:
- Scrunch the wrapping paper in your hand.
- If it holds its shape, it can be recycled.
- If it springs back, it needs to go in the general waste bin.
Decorations
Approximately 500 tonnes of Christmas lights and 8 million Christmas trees are thrown away each year. Here’s how you can reduce waste with your decorations:
- Swap plastic tinsel for ribbon or homemade paper chains.
- Consider 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. Alternatively, you can recycle them at any of our Recycling Centres.
- Fix broken fairy lights by replacing bulbs at home or taking them to a repair café.
- Get creative! Make 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. 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
- make your own food - home-cooked snacks can cut down on packaging waste
- opt for reusable decorations - invest in decorations that can be reused every year
- fabric over plastic - use fabric tablecloths instead of plastic ones, as they can be washed and reused
- reusable napkins - consider using fabric napkins for a festive touch that can be washed and reused
- 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
Festive outfits
In West Sussex, textiles make up around 2.3% of household waste, with an estimated 9,000 tonnes of textiles ending up in general waste bins each year. Globally, textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined.
Follow our tips to be party-season ready without the waste this year:
- Buy your Christmas jumper or partywear second hand - Make use of your local charity shop or websites like Vinted to pick up festive staples. These are usually cheaper and help fight fast fashion. Better yet, ask yourself if you really need a new outfit this year or simply wear something you already have at home
- Organise a clothes swap - Refresh your festive wardrobe by hosting a clothes swap with family, friends or colleagues. Clothes swaps are a great way to get 'new-to-you' clothes that may become new wardrobe staples
- Borrow clothing - If you need something specific like a costume for your child, ask other parents or friends if they have something you can borrow
- Repair what you can - If your old Christmas jumper has a hole or your favourite jeans are missing a button, instead of buying something new, try your hand at sewing and repair what you can. A simple fix can often bring old clothing back to life. Visit the iFixit page for more information
Food
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), and enough gravy to accompany Christmas dinner for the whole country!
When food is wasted, all the resources (water, energy, etc.) used to produce it are wasted too. This year, we encourage people to reduce food waste by making the most of Christmas leftovers. Visit the BBC Good Food website for tasty leftover recipes.
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. For more information visit our Community Food Hub page.
For more tips on reducing food waste visit our Fight Against Food Waste page.
A great way to reduce food waste is to ensure you only buy what you need. Before you head to the supermarket this festive season, ask yourself if foods will be eaten and enjoyed in their entirety.
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 (lids on)
- plastic pots
- tubs (including sweet and chocolate tubs)
- trays (including black plastics)
- tins
- cans
- foil
- Pringles tubes
All household recycling needs to be:
- 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 for their excess recycling policy. 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
Once Christmas is over and you start looking at clearing some space for new items, make sure you are disposing of old items correctly. Consider the items reuse value and look at donating it to your local charity shop or selling it on apps like Vinted, or Facebook Marketplace.
For broken electrical items, ensure they’re disposed of properly to avoid fire hazards. Visit our small electricals web page for guidance.
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 web page.
Watch our video to find out more information on how to prepare for your visit.