The festive season is notorious for generating excess waste, with around 30% more produced than at other times of the year. According to government data, the UK throws away enough poultry to make 800 million Boxing Day curries!
To help reduce waste, leading waste management company and sustainability expert Waste Mission, is encouraging businesses and consumers to make their Christmas celebrations more environmentally responsible. In two newly released blog posts – “Christmas Recycling Guide” and “Christmas Waste Facts” – Waste Mission provides practical advice and eye-opening statistics to help reduce waste and promote recycling during the festive season.
Simple Steps for a Greener Holiday
With waste production surging over Christmas, Waste Mission’s “Christmas Recycling Guide” offers essential tips for reducing your environmental footprint. The blog highlights easy ways to improve recycling efforts, covering everything from wrapping paper to leftover food.
“Many people don’t realise that wrapping paper, decorations, and even leftover food can be recycled or reused,” says Nicola Guest, spokesperson for Waste Mission. “Our guide helps readers make better choices to enjoy the holidays while minimising their impact on the planet.”
Key tips include:
- Recycling wrapping paper and packaging: Learn which materials can be recycled and how to dispose of them correctly (and remember to remove plastic tape, tags or ribbons). A great tip here is the scrunch test for any paper not containing glitter or foil – if you can scrunch the paper into a ball and it holds its shape, it can be recycled.
- Repurposing festive items: Creative ways to reuse gift bags, ribbons, and decorations year after year.
- Safe disposal of electronics and batteries: Ensuring old gadgets and batteries are properly recycled to prevent environmental damage.
By following these simple guidelines, Waste Mission aims to make recycling easy and accessible, even during the busiest time of year.
Uncovering the True Cost of Christmas Waste
In addition to practical tips, Waste Mission’s “Christmas Waste Facts” highlights startling statistics about the environmental impact of the holiday season. The festive period generates an alarming amount of waste, from excess food waste to discarded packaging. This blog educates readers on the scale of the issue and emphasises the need for conscious consumption during the holidays.
Some key statistics include:
- Christmas wrapping paper: An estimated 227,000 miles of wrapping paper is used each year, enough to circle the globe nine times.
- Food waste: Over 2 million turkeys are thrown away in the UK alone during Christmas, contributing to a huge environmental burden.
- Plastic waste: The holiday season leads to a sharp increase in disposable plastic items, from toys to decorations, which often end up in landfills.
“We often forget how much waste is generated by things we consider ‘normal’ during the holidays,” Guest explains. “People can take small but impactful actions to reduce their waste by being more aware of these facts.”
Make a Difference This Christmas
Waste Mission’s holiday-focused blogs offer more than just information – they provide actionable steps for businesses and individuals alike to make this festive season more sustainable. Whether it’s recycling more effectively, cutting down on food waste, or choosing eco-friendly gifts and packaging, every little action counts.
To explore more ways to make your Christmas more sustainable, visit the full blogs here:
By making a few mindful changes this holiday season, we can all build a future a few shades greener.
