Christmas Information |
 Here you will be able to find out how your bin collection will change over the christmas period. It is important that you take note of the changes to your day of collection so that your waste can be disposed of. By following the link below you will open a document that outlines the changes to collection days for both general waste and recycling. Christmas Garden Waste Collection Calendar Helping you to have a greener Christmas
Christmas Wrapping Paper Time was when wrapping paper was just that - paper. These days it's just as likely to be made of foil, plastic or even a mixture of all three! This means a headache for us when it comes to recycling (and that's not even mentioning the added complication of tags, ribbons and sticky tape). So to keep things simple, this year we're asking all residents in Breckland to use one of the 50 paper banks across the district for wrapping paper and NOT to put it in your black bin. By doing this, there's less sorting for you and these specialist banks can handle all sorts of paper (even the non-paper kind!) so we're all recycling the maximum possible - so it's good news for the planet too. Batteries Unfortunately a lot of the presents we receive rely on batteries. The average household uses 21 batteries every year and these form part of the 22,000 tonnes of batteries which are sent to landfill on an annual basis. This Christmas try to buy gifts that can be operated by mains electricity or don't need batteries, such as wind up radios and torches. Or if not, invest in rechargeable batteries. A rechargeable battery can be charged up to 1000 times, so in the long run it works out much more cost effective. All recycling centres in Norfolk have a battery recycling collection so if you do use batteries please recycle them. Christmas Cards Christmas cards, like wrapping paper, are difficult to recycle due to the mixture of materials. All Christmas cards can be taken to collection points at Tesco's, WH Smith's, TK Maxx or Marks and Spencers. This scheme supports the Woodland Trust who recycled more than 82 million cards last year. Christmas cards can also be place in your local paper banks, or why not cut up your cards and use them as gift tags next year. Christmas Trees and Additional Waste Christmas trees and any additional waste can be taken to your nearest Recycling Centres, provided by Norfolk County Council. For queries about recycling centres call 0844 800 8004. Recycling Glass During the festive period an extra 750 million glass bottles and jars are used. Most people remember to empty drinks bottles but forget about recycling all the empty jars of mincemeat, cranberry sauce, mayonnaise, pickles and even the curry sauce jar they use to make left-over turkey curry. To find out where your local glass bank is, please visit www.recycle-more.co.uk or call 01362 656878. OUR TOP TIPS FOR REDUCING YOUR WASTE THIS CHRISTMASIf waste is not created in the first place, it won’t need to be recycled, re-used or disposed of. Here are a few useful tips to help you cut down on the waste you produce this Christmas. 1. Choose gifts that are durable, repairable, well made and will last. Avoid buying disposable goods. 2. SNUB – Say No to Unwanted Bags! Use a reusable shopping bag 3. Avoid gifts or food and drink with unnecessary packaging or complicated mixed packaging which makes it difficult to recycle. 4. Treat people to a special experience such as a trip to an exhibition, the theatre, a health spa or a football match. 5. Buy a gift membership that will support a charity or give free entry to special places. 6. Buy a real UK grown Christmas tree from a local shop. This can be planted in your garden or kept in a pot for the following year. 7. If you’re not sure what to buy why not give money or gift vouchers. 8. If you find yourself with a gift that you don’t want, don’t just throw it away. Unwanted gifts can be taken to a charity shop, sold at an auction or register with the Freecycle at www.freecycle.org.uk where you can offer any unwanted presents to anyone for free |
