Christmas Recycling

Advent Calendars

Reduce

❄ Avoid single use calendars

Reuse

❄ Buy a reusable calendar and add homemade sweets and treats

Recycle

✔ Cardboard - Recycling box 2

✔ Foil - Reusable white sack (scrunch it into a ball first)

✔ Plastic trays - Reusable white sack

Cards

Reduce

❄ Send an e-card instead

Reuse

❄ Old cards can be reused as gift tags - just cut them up

Recycle

✔ Cards with no glitter, stuck on bits or shiny bits - Recycling box 2

✕ Glittery cards, cards with shiny bits or stuck on decorations - Black sack

Aluminium Trays & Packaging

Reduce

❄ Avoid single use trays

Reuse

❄ Use a reusable roasting tin

Recycle

✔ Foil trays - Reusable white sack (please rinse to remove grease)

✔ Foil wrappers - Reusable white sack (please scrunch into a ball)

✕ Plastic lined foil - Black sack (If you can't scrunch it into a ball or it doesn't stay scrunched, it's probably plastic lined)

Food Packaging

Reduce

❄ Try options with less packaging

Recycle

✕ Crisp packets, sweet wrappers and film wrappers - Black sack

Wrapping Paper

Reduce

❄ This year, why not gift experiences rather than 'stuff'

Reuse

❄ Reusable gift wrapping is a good option, and there are lots of choices available

Recycle

✔ Brown paper - Recycling box 1

✕ All other wrapping paper and sticky tape - Black sack

Leftovers

Reduce

❄ Plan your portions with this handy planner from Love Food Hate Waste

Reuse

❄ Be creative and cook up your leftovers into something new

Recycle

✔ Turkey, chicken or meat carcasses - Food waste caddy

✔ Uncooked or cooked food waste - Food waste caddy

✔ Fruit and veg peelings, nut shells and fruit stones - Food waste caddy

Mince Pies

Reduce

❄ Make mince pies at home

Reuse

❄ Make leftover mince pies into something new - what about mince pie crumble for Boxing Day?

Recycle

✔ Leftover mince pies - Food waste caddy

✔ Cardboard packaging - Recycling box 2

✔ Foil cases (please rinse them and scrunch them together into a ball) - Reusable white sack

✔ Plastic trays - Reusable white sack

Sweet Tubs

Reduce

❄ Make your own sweets and treats at home.

Reuse

❄ Tubs and tins can be reused for storage

Recycle

✔ Foil cases (please rinse them and scrunch them together into a ball) - Reusable white sack

✔ Plastic tins - Reusable white sack

✔ Take metal containers to the local recycling centre

✕ Plastic wrappers - Black sack

Online Delivery Packaging

Reduce

❄ Buy local

Reuse

❄ Use cardboard for crafts, or upcycle it into storage around the house

Recycle

✔ Cardboard - Recycling box 2

✕ Bubble wrap, plastic packaging and polystyrene - Black sack

Christmas Trees

Can't decide between a real tree or a fake one? See the pros and cons of each at Recycle Devon.

Recycle

✔ If your real tree is six foot or less, and you're subscribed to the garden waste service, you can put your tree out for collection with your green sacks between 4 and 22 January.

✔ If it's more than six foot, or if you're not a garden waste subscriber, please take it to your local recycling centre.

✔ If your fake tree has reached the end of its life, please take it to your local recycling centre.

Drinks Containers

Reuse

❄ Glass bottles can make lovely vases, or you could insert fairy lights to make a light feature.

Recycle

✔ Plastic bottles (lids on) and metal lids from glass jars and bottles - Reusable white sack

✔ Juice cartons - Recycling box 1

✔ Glass bottles and jars - Recycling box 1

✕ Corks (natural and plastic) - Black sacks

Decorations

Reduce

❄ Make your own at home

Reuse

❄ Look for sustainable alternatives, and avoid buying new decorations every year

Recycle

✔ Crackers with no glitter, foil or stuck on decorations - Recycling box 2

✔ Please take broken fairy lights to the local recycling centre.

✕ Crackers with glitter, foil or stuck on decorations - Black sack

✕ Tinsel and damaged baubles - Black sack

✕ Homemade decorations (treated with paint or preservative) that have reached the end of their life - Black sack