Let’s Waste Less
this festive season!

‘Tis the season to recycle…

Christmas is a time of excess – more food, more presents, more packaging. And that also means we produce more waste.

Have a look at our top tips to stay sustainable and make the most of your waste this Christmas.

xmas image


Top 5 things you might need recycle this Christmas:

Wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, cards, and envelopes

Not all wrapping paper is actually paper. Some is made with plastic or foil. To check if it can be recycled, try the scrunch test. If you can scrunch the paper into a ball and it stays scrunched, you can recycle it.

Before recycling your cardboard boxes, take out all plastic packaging, bubble wrap and polystyrene. They are all made with plastic and can’t be recycled, so put them in your general waste bin.

Cards and wrapping paper with glitter can’t be recycled. This is because glitter is made from plastic and can’t be separated out in the recycling process. Put it into general waste.

Christmas decorations and tinsel

Decorations such as tinsel and baubles cannot be recycled. Plastic baubles are often made from materials that are not widely recycled in the UK. Broken decorations should go into your general waste bin. If unwanted decorations aren’t damaged and can be reused, donate them to your local charity shop or take them to your local recycling centre.

Christmas crackers

Most Christmas crackers can’t be recycled and should be disposed of in your general waste bin. Often mostly made of paper, if it doesn’t have glitter pop them in your paper and card bin.

Broken electricals, such as toys and fairy lights

Christmas tree lights, wires, cables and other electrical items can’t go in any of your bins at home. You can recycle them at your local Recycling Centre.

If you have used batteries, or items with hidden batteries, you can recycle them at any recycling centre. Don’t put batteries in any bin at home as they can cause fires.

Bubble wrap, Polystyrene, and plastic packaging

Most plastic packaging goes in your general waste bin, or you can put them in the non-recyclable waste container at a recycling centre.

Some shops and supermarkets allow you to return unwanted packaging for disposal. Supermarkets also will take plastic wrapping like bread bags, plastic carrier bags etc.

For anything else check out our A-Z Recycling Guide.

Have a very Merry Christmas

from the whole team at
Recycle for Greater Manchester




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