Did you know
that every hour the UK throws away enough waste to fill a theatre?
So think about
how much more we throw away at Christmas!
Everything from
wrapping paper to Christmas trees is chucked away after the festive fun is
over.
Our guide
reveals the little things you can do to help reduce waste at Christmas.
Paper
If all the
wrapping paper we throw away was laid out in a line it would reach all the way
to the Moon - that's a lot of paper! But it's very easy to recycle; lots of
councils will take it away for you or take it to a recycling bank which can be
found at most supermarkets.
Why not try
giving presents in gift bags? That way you can reuse them again next year and
save on paper!
Christmas cards
don't have to be thrown away, you can try cutting them up and making new cards
or gift tags out of them. You'll be extra organised for next Christmas and save
a few pennies!
Christmas Trees
If you have a
real Christmas tree it's a great thing to recycle. There are lots of councils
and companies who will collect it for you. It can then be shredded and used as
compost to help next year’s trees or as chipping to cover pathways.
How about
getting a living Christmas tree with roots? That way it will keep on growing
year after year and you can eventually plant it in your garden.
Christmas food
It's estimated
that we throw out over 7 million tons of food every year. So why not help out
in the kitchen and get creative with all that leftover turkey.
If you've got a
compost bin in your garden you can throw in all those veg peelings.
Birds love
Christmas leftovers too, any scraps of fruit cake and mince pies will go down a
treat. It will give them energy and nutrients to help them through the cold
winter months.
Presents
If you're given any
presents that don't fit or have old things that you won’t need anymore don't
throw them away. There are lots of charities out there who will pass on gifts
to people in need.
Source:
bbc.co.uk
1. Read the text. Are these statements true or false?
1.
We throw away wrapping paper the most after Christmas.
2. Wrapping paper is hard to recycle.
3. Gift bags can easily be used again.
4. Christmas cards cannot be used again.
5. It saves you money if you buy a Christmas tree with roots.
6. Five thousand tons of foods are thrown away each year.
7. Your Christmas food is good for birds.
8. Charities don’t accept presents anymore. They’ve already gotten too many.
2. Finish the sentence according to the text.
example: Think about what we throw away at …
Christmas!
choose from: shredded – the moon –
new cards – gift tags – chipping – kitchen – treat – veg peelings – wrapping
paper – Christmas trees – collect – gifts – cutting – companies – leftover
–garden –festive fun
1. Everything from … to … is thrown away after Christmas.
2. We throw away so many wrapping paper. If it was laid out in a line, it would
reach …
3. You can try … Christmas cards and making … or … out of them.
4. There are lots of councils and … who will … it for you.
5. Christmas trees can be used as … to cover pathways.
6. Why not help out in the … and be creative with that … turkey.
7. … can be thrown in the compost bin.
8. Charities will pass on … to people in need.
3. Now think of what you can do!
To reduce Christmas waste I could …
This would help saving …
I could contact … to help me with this.
He / She / They can …
I can help … (name a type of animal) by …
I’m happy to help reducing Christmas waste, because …
