How to reduce Christmas waste

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 …