How to recycle and cut down on waste at Christmas

With shoppers rushing to finish their gift-buying and last-minute wrapping, a council has issued guidance on how people can recycle and reduce waste this festive season.

South Kesteven District Council has shared ways people can reduce, reuse and recycle waste during Christmas when there is so much more of it around.

Councillor Rhys Baker has warned residents to be careful when sorting wasted into each of their bins.

Baker said: "Please remember to recycle what you can, but first have a think about how you can reduce the waste and recycling your household produces."

The council has shared the following advice to boost recycling rates:

• Reuse wrapping paper and use old Christmas cards as present labels.

• Buy drinks in large bottles rather than lots of smaller ones. Empty, rinse and squash them before putting them in the bin.

• Buy Christmas fruit and vegetables loose, not pre-packed.

• Save and reuse shopping bags.

• Send electronic Christmas cards.

• Buy gifts that do not have much packaging, like vouchers or gift experiences.

• If new gadgets arrive for Christmas, recycle the old ones.

• Flatten cardboard boxes to make more room in the recycling bag or purple-lidded recycling bin.

• Fairy lights can be recycled with small electricals at recycling centres or collection bins at supermarkets.

• Leave batteries in a small plastic bag with any bin collection.

Glittery wrapping paper, foil and cards, plastic bags, takeaway containers, and crisp tubes and packets cannot be recycled, so must go in the black general waste bin.

Baker said: "The golden rule for Christmas recycling is: no grease, no grub, no glitter.

"In addition, please bear in mind that the festive period is the time when our bin crews get a well-deserved break, so please be patient if your waste and recycling days alter slightly during this period."

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