Christmas recycling

On this page you can find useful tips about all this extra waste you may have over the festive season. Every action each resident makes, will help us maintain efficient collection service collecting the increased amount of waste following Christmas.

To allow space for more recycling, please flatten boxes and squash plastic bottles and pots. You can find recycling points at Recycling locator (external link).  

There is also more food waste over the festive season. We’d like residents to consider wasting less food, please visit the Love Food Hate Waste website (external link). Also home compost and/or recycle food waste in green bins.

  • Aluminium foil: You can re-use clean pieces. Recycle in your blue bin, make sure it is clean and scrunch into at least a tennis ball sized ball
  • Aluminium sweet wrappers: please save up small pieces of foil and scrunch into a tennis ball sized ball before putting in the bin - this is because very small items can get lost throughout the sorting process, and this will help ensure they can be recycled effectively. How to distinguish aluminium foil from plasticised aluminium? Do a scrunch test – if it pops up it cannot be recycled in blue bin, and if it stays crunched – it is aluminium and can be recycled in your blue bin
  • Aluminium trays: Clean and put in your blue bin
  • Aluminium pies cases: Clean and put in your blue bin
  • Batteries: Any shops selling larger amount of batteries, have collection points. So save used batteries and take them to your local supermarket. Batteries cannot be placed in your bins or sacks. Consider using rechargeable batteries. Modern rechargeable items hold their charge a lot longer than in the past, and can be charged quickly
  • Bubble wrap: Please re-use whenever possible. Some charity shops may accept it for wrapping items. If not possible, place in your black sack
  • Cardboard: Put in blue bin, flatten. Large boxes need to be torn into pieces that fit in your bin. Laminated cardboard e.g. sandwich packets contains plastic and can not be recycled with other card and has to be placed in your black sack. If you are not sure, try tearing the card and you may be able to see the plastic layers
  • Cellophane: Please re-use whenever possible. If not needed, place it in your black sack
  • Christmas trees, real: If your real tree is taller than a wheeled bin, please cut it into pieces that are not higher than your bin and place next to your green bin for collection. We collect real Christmas trees in January.  Please ensure there are no lights or decorations left on your tree, for further information visit Real Christmas trees
  • Christmas trees, plastic: if in a good condition, donate it or sell it on. Otherwise, take to Household Recycling Centre (external link)
  • Christmas decorations, made from paper: Please re-use or place in your blue bin if made from compostable materials. Twigs, branches, fruit, food belong to green bin. Others items re-use or black sack
  • Cling film: reduce its use whenever possible. Consider using other options to cover and store food. Cling film needs to be placed in black sacks
  • Confectionery wrappers: if not made of aluminium foil then please see aluminium above and check for 'TerraCycle' points or place in your black sack
  • Crackers: paper from crackers that is not metallic or glittered, can be recycled in blue bins. Please consider re-usable crackers to reduce waste
  • Drinks cans: rinse and crush before placing in blue bin
  • Electrical items: if not broken, check if your local charity shop can sell them. If not, take to Household Recycling Centre
  • Gift bags: please re-use when possible. Bags made of plain paper can be recycled in blue bin. Glittered or metallised have to be placed in your black sack
  • Glass bottles and jars including toiletries: empty and rinsed out can be placed in blue bin. Lids can be placed back on
  • Glass that is not bottles or jars: for example drinking glasses, Pyrex – wrap in bubble wrap or paper before placing in black sack, or take to Household Recycling Centre
  • Greeting cards, plain: Keep the fronts to make your own gift tags for next year. Recycle in your blue bin
  • Greeting cards, embellished and/or glittered: Keep the fronts to make your own gift tags for next year. If not, place in black sacks. The backs can be recycled in your blue bin
  • Greaseproof paper: it can be re-used several times if clean. Look out for reusable greaseproof paper, which you can cut to the shape of your favourite baking tins and then wash after each use.  Check whether your greaseproof paper has a silicone coating. If it does not, you can add it to your home compost bin or your green bin. If your greaseproof paper has a silicone coating, please dispose of it in your black sack. If you are not sure, please put it in your black sack
  • Fairy lights: if in working condition pass them on or donate. If not, take to Household Recycling Centre
  • Food tins: empty and clean, labels can be left on, recycle in your blue bin
  • Food waste - scrapings, cooked, uncooked, meat, cheese: Please consider food planning, using your freezer, storing food at an optimal temperature to minimise the amount of food waste. For great food waste reduction tips, visit the Love Food Hate Waste website (external link). Food waste can be placed in your green bin. Wrap it in newspaper or a paper bag to prevent it from sticking to the inside of your bin. A piece of cardboard at the bottom can also be helpful. Please note that plastic or cornstarch degradable bags are not acceptable
  • Sweet/biscuits/crackers tins metal or plastic tubs: re-use if possible, if not, place in your blue bin
  • Napkins, paper: if made of plain tissue, please place in your green bin. If metallised, they need to be placed in black sacks
  • Plastic bags and film: reduce their use whenever possible for example by buying lose fruit and veg. You can get re-usable nets to use for your shopping. Plastic bags and film have to be placed in your black sack. Stretchy plastics can be taken to supermarket collection points where available
  • Plastic bottles - drinks, cleaning or bathroom products: please make sure these are empty, rinsed out, squashed with lids, pumps, spray nozzles back on before placing in your blue bin
  • Plastic sweet and biscuit tubs: re-use if possible, if not, place in your blue bin
  • Plastic toys: pass them on or donate, if possible. If not, take to Household Recycling Centre or place in your black sacks
  • Plastic or bioplastic plates, cups, cutlery: try to avoid but if used please place in black sacks
  • Polystyrene: Polystyrene cannot be recycled in your blue bin. Please take it to your local Household Recycling Centre or break it down into pieces and place in a black sack
  • Ribbons: re-use when possible, if not, place in your black sack
  • Tinsel: re-use when possible, if not, place in your black sack
  • Tissue/kitchen towel: place in your green bin or black sack
  • Wrapping paper plain: re-use when possible. Pieces that cannot be saved can go to your blue bin
  • Wrapping paper metallic or glittered: it cannot be recycled so re-use whenever possible. Otherwise, it has to be place in black sack