Have A Green Christmas

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An average Christmas in the UK can generate as much as 3 million tonnes of waste including:

• Around 160,000 tonnes of food waste
• Over 80 square kilometres of wrapping paper (enough to cover an area the size of Guernsey)
• 6 million trees
• 80,000 tonnes of old clothes & textiles
• The Royal Mail estimates it will deliver approximately 150,000 cards and parcels every day in the run-up      to Christmas (that adds up to a massive 1 billion for the UK alone – most of which just end up in the bin)

Not to mention the increase in energy usage from new electrical appliances and Christmas lights!!

On this page you can find out how to reduce the waste you produce over the festive season and recycle what you do produce , as well as how to save energy (and money!) and have a green Christmas!

Reduce Waste At Christmas

It is always better to reduce waste in the first place and probably cheaper too!  You could send email greetings cards, for example, instead of sending ones made of card.  You could also use newspaper and magazine covers to wrap presents or your childrens discarded art work for that personal touch!!  

Many gadgets bought require batteries, which cost money and need to be disposed of (find out how to recycle them below).  Why not buy rechargable batteries instead, which will last alot longer and save you money into the bargain!

For lots of other ideas on how to reduce waste when you are doing your Christmas shopping, visit the ShopSMART page using the link in the Also See section below.

Recycle At Christmas

Recycle Your Christmas Cards and Christmas Trees

Christmas cards can be recycled at WH Smith in the Bentalls Centre in Kingston Town Centre.  They can also be recycled along with your cardboard.  

You can also leave your Christmas trees outside for collection and composting over a two week period commencing Monday 8 January 2007.

Recycle Batteries

The Council does have a container to receive domestic batteries at the Villiers Road Recycling Centre. There are also reception facilities at branches of Currys Stores or batteries can be posted to:

           Energizer Ltd
           Recycling
           Freepost
           LOL2311
           Dunstable
           Bedfordshire
           LU5 4YY

Recycling Points and Recycling Centre

Don't forget you can recycle all of your cardboard, textiles, shoes, as well as paper, plastic, glass and tin at recycling points around the Borough as well as the Villiers Road Recycling Centre. Visit the Recycling Points using  the link in the Also See section below for your nearest point.

On Street Recycling

Recycle your newspapers and magazines, cans and plastic bottles on the go at one of the many on street recycling bins located throughout the borough. See the On Street Recycling page using the link in the Also See section below.

Composting

Compost your garden waste at home, as well as all of those vegetable scraps, teabags and some paper and cardboard or take it to the Recycling Centre at Villiers Road

Household Guide to Reducing, Reusing and Recycling

Request a copy of the guide to find out more about reducing, reusing and recycling in the Borough. Call Customer Care on 020 8547 5560 or download it using the Household Waste Guide link in the Also See section below.

Buy Recycled at Christmas

There are many very high quality and unique gift options now available that are made from recycled materials.  For example, jewellery, crockery, clothing and textiles, ornaments and many more items.  To find out why buying recycled is important as well as where you can buy it from by visiting the Buy Recycled page using the link in the Also See section below.

Save Energy at Christmas

Christmas is a time of particularly high energy consumption. The whole house is heated as extra family members return to the fold for the holidays. Lights, televisions and stereos are left on and cooking appliances are used more heavily as well as the many electric powered gadgets that are puchased as gifts.  

Being careful with your energy usage at this time of year can save your household considerable money.  Visit the Energy page using the link in the Also See section below to find out how to save energy at home.

You could also purchase gifts that use renewable energy, for example solar powered (or wind up) radio's and torches and mobile phone chargers.