Reducing Christmas Waste: How We Can All Reduce and Recycle This Festive Season

The festive season brings joy and togetherness but also an overwhelming amount of waste. In the UK alone, the statistics around Christmas waste are shocking – revealing just how much plastic, food, and packaging we throw away each year. As awareness grows, more people are seeking sustainable ways to celebrate without adding to the environmental impact by reducing Christmas waste.

The Impact of Christmas Waste

According to recent studies, over 688,000 tonnes of waste are produced each year in the UK over Christmas. This includes everything from food waste to packaging, unwanted gifts, and holiday decorations, making it one of the most waste-heavy times of the year.

Food: Millions of tonnes of food are thrown away each year, with a significant portion of this occurring during the festive season. This is down to overpurchasing, poor food storage and a lack of awareness about food waste reduction strategies.
Plastic Packaging: An estimated 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging from gifts and food are discarded each Christmas.
Unwanted Gifts: Over 21 million people receive at least one unwanted gift, with about 5% of those being discarded rather than regifted or donated.
Cards: The UK discards around 30,000 tonnes of Christmas cards each year – equivalent to £2.8 million in landfill waste, with only one in four cards being recycled.

Best Practices for Reducing Christmas Waste

There are many simple and effective ways to reduce Christmas waste, from mindful gift-giving to sustainable decorating. Here are a few suggestions:

Choose Sustainable Gifts
Avoid purchasing gifts that may end up in landfills. Consider experiences, reusable items, or homemade gifts, which are not only meaningful but also sustainable. If you receive an unwanted gift, consider donating it to charity, regifting it, or reselling it rather than throwing it away.

Embrace Eco-Friendly Wrapping
Wrapping paper adds to Christmas waste, with many types being non-recyclable due to glitter or plastic lamination. Opt for recyclable kraft paper, reusable fabric wraps, or even newspaper. Not only does this help reduce waste, but it can add a unique, rustic charm to your gift.

Recycle Christmas Cards
With an estimated 8 billion Christmas cards sent annually in the UK, recycling is essential. Many supermarkets offer Christmas card recycling points, or you can check if local facilities accept them.

Mindful Food Planning
To cut down on food waste, plan meals carefully and avoid overbuying. Leftovers can be creatively reused, and any food waste should be composted when possible. A little planning goes a long way in reducing the amount of food that ends up in the bin.

Green Practice for Christmas Trees

Here’s how to make a greener choice:

Real Trees: A real tree is a more sustainable option if disposed of correctly. Many councils offer recycling services to turn Christmas trees into mulch, so check your local area for disposal information.
Artificial Trees: While reusable, artificial trees are not biodegradable and contribute to waste if discarded. If you already have one, you can keep it for many years, as it becomes more sustainable with each reuse.

Best Practices for Packaging and Paper

Many gifts come with excessive packaging, often in non-recyclable plastic. Choose gifts with minimal or recyclable packaging and recycle any paper or cardboard that comes with your presents. Flatten boxes to save space in your recycling bin and remove plastic or glitter that could interfere with the recycling process.

Cheshire Demolition: Committed to Sustainability

The UK’s Christmas waste statistics highlight the need for more mindful, eco-friendly practices. This festive season, let’s all take steps to reduce waste, whether through recycling, thoughtful gift-giving, or sustainable decorating. With a commitment to recycling, repurposing, and reusing over 99% of everything we handle, we’re dedicated to sustainable practices that benefit our planet.

Open Monday–Friday: 8am–5pm, Saturday: 8am / Gates close 1pm.

Festive Holidays Opening Dates
We are taking a well-earned break this festive period.
We are closing on Friday 20th December and returning on Monday 6th January.
The last day for skip collections is Friday 20th December.
We wish everyone a happy festive period.