December 2007 News
Dreaming of a Green Christmas
Christmas is coming whether you like it or not. Some people plan months in advance, others leave it to the last minute, but however you choose to play it, the festive season can generate a massive amount of household waste.
Here's some useful information on how to enjoy a green Christmas.
Stuck for a pressie?
Can't think what to get your loved ones for Christmas? Well there’s a wide range of recycled products out there that might just be the novel gift you’re looking for.
And at the same time as solving your present dilemma, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment.
It’s also a timely reminder that dropping your empties into your Green Box or local bottle bank for example, is only the first step in the recycling process.
Once a material has been collected, sorted and sent to a reprocessing plant, it is then turned into a new product.
Recycling ultimately depends on there being a market for the materials collected, so making a conscious effort to seek out and buy green goods helps to close the recycling loop.
The Recycle Now website has a wide range of gift ideas and you can shop online in the following departments:
- Everyday products
- Recycling gadgets
- Furnishings & tableware
- Toys
- For the garden
- Stationery
- Clothing and accessories
- Gifts for him
- Gifts for her
- Gifts for kids
Party time
Planning a festive bash? As more overpackaged convenience food and products go on sale at this time of year, why not put the environment first and follow our top tips for a greener festive period, it couldn’t be easier!
Getting ready
- Try and work out how many people are coming to your party and only buy what you need.
- Make a shopping list, this should keep you focused on what you need, rather than buying stuff on impulse that will only go to waste.
- Buy any fruit and vegetables loose, and not pre-packed. Skins are natural packaging!
- Invest in decorations you can reuse, rather than buying ones that won’t last.
Setting up
- Use your normal utensils, instead of disposable cutlery and plates; this will reduce the amount of rubbish you throw away.
- If you are having a large event, use a glass hire service from a local supermarket, rather than buying plastic cups, which are a huge waste, as you cannot recycle them in Hackney.
- Keep all meat in the fridge and take it out as and when you need it. Freeze what you don’t use.
- Avoid leaving out large quantities of salads, fruit, and bread as they go off quickly. If any of these foods are left over, you can either home compost them, or recycle them in a Blue Bin
Top tip
Why not put your Green Box next to the bin, to collect empty drinks cans, plastic bottles, and glass bottles and jars. Your guests can place their empties straight in to be recycled.
See the wood for the trees
The Woodland Trust and Recycle Now have teamed up again to launch their annual Christmas card recycling scheme.
This year organisers hope to raise enough funds to plant 24,000 trees by collecting 100million cards.
Recycling greetings cards is a simple way everyone can cut down their festive waste, and make a positive contribution to tackling climate change.
It is estimated that recycling 93million cards last year saved 2,400 tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases.
During January, collection bins will be placed in Tesco in Morning Lane, and Marks and Spencer in Mare Street.
Residents can also recycle their festive cards at a Woodland Trust collection point in the Town Hall reception.
Alternatively, residents who live in street level properties can recycle their cards in their Green Box collection.
More information
Please call: 020 8356 6688, email recycling@hackney.gov.uk or visit the Recycling page.
Page updated: 4 Dec 2007