Have a Green Christmas is the message from Stratford-on-Avon District Council this year, reminding its residents to reduce, reuse and recycle.
The District Council has some pointers for easy ways to have a greener, more environmentally friendly Christmas:
Tips:
" Buy a real Christmas tree with roots and plant it in the garden after Christmas.
" Use re-usable shopping bags or re-use old plastic carrier bags.
" Make a meal plan so you only buy the amount of food you need. Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/recipes for hints about using leftovers.
" Use a shopping list so you only buy the items you need.
" Buy your fruit and vegetables loose, avoiding packaging.
" If you have to buy goods in packaging, try to remember what can be taken in the blue lidded bin.
" Buy drinks in bigger bottles rather than small ones. One large bottle creates less waste than several smaller ones.
" Use gift bags or boxes instead of wrapping paper. A gift bag or box can then be re-used.
" Buy rechargeable batteries for all the childrens news toys and electrical gadgets. For every 500 charges youll save 499 batteries being thrown away, saving you pounds!
" Try sending e-cards this year and donate the money you normally spend on cards to your favourite charity. E-cards mean no paper but the sentiments are still there.
" Keep the Christmas cards you receive this year and re-use them next year as gift tags.
" Recycle your Christmas cards and support the Woodland Trust Christmas Card Recycling Scheme. Cards can be recycled at WH Smith, Tesco including the Alcester Express store, Marks & Spencer main Stratford store and TK Maxx stores from 2 January to 31 January.
" Donate unwanted Christmas presents to a charity shop.
" After the Christmas and New Year festivities use the Councils recycling service to collect your glass bottles and jars, wrapping paper (not plasticized or foil type), food and drink cans (this includes the large metal sweet and biscuit tins).
" To maximize space in your blue bin, remember you can fold down cardboard and crush cans and plastic bottles in order to fit in more recyclable items.
For more green Christmas tips go to www.recyclenow.com
We are looking to local residents to be as responsible as possible to reduce the Districts waste. I hope that these tips will give some pointers for keeping waste to a minimum over the festive season, Says Councillor Simon Jackson, Portfolio Holder for Environment.
For further information about the collection services over the Christmas and New Year period, please contact the Council on 01789 267575 or check local media.
