Celebrations with a lighter touch
Not long now until the December countdown! If you’re wondering how to take a more ‘eco approach’ this Christmas, you may like to try some of these easy ideas. You’ll reduce waste… and save money too!
- Christmas cards and wrapping. Don’t buy cards and wrapping with glitter, foil, a plastic lining – or batteries! They can’t be recycled…so will create more rubbish.
- Sustainable swaps. Ditch single use plastic and go for the reusable version – for example gifts and everyday items for cleaning, food storage, personal care, even cloth nappies.
- Buy nothing new! Rent or borrow clothes and cookware for meet ups and occasions, or buy preloved and donate or give away later. Reuse last year’s decorations and fake tree if you have one. Even old scarves can be used as wrapping!
- Make your own. Use card, cardboard and recyclable paper for greeting cards, wrapping paper, decorations, Christmas crackers, placeholders – they can be recycled afterwards.
- Shop at Zero Waste stores. And where possible and shop locally to cut carbon emissions and food miles.
- Repair and reuse broken items. Visit a repair café where broken electricals and gadgets can be given a new lease of life or mend clothes.
- Save energy. Swap to LED bulbs on your tree, and throughout your home.
- Sign up to Rethink Waste. Find more ways to waste less and get rewards.
- Use Surrey’s Zero Waste map. Recycle items that aren’t collected from your kerbside, rather than throwing away.
- Reduce food waste. Use an app to keep track of what’s already in your fridge. Freeze extra food for later, find the best way to store food and know your portions.
How will this help?
We need to reduce rubbish and increase recycling. Recycling is cheaper than rubbish disposal. It’s also better for the environment, and provides savings for essential services. If you follow any of these suggestions you’ll help us do just that!