Do you know what can be recycled at Christmas? The festive season is the worst time of the year for recycling waste, and more now than ever, households are being urged not to take the easy route out by chucking everything in the general bin. Instead, households should make the effort to learn what can and can’t be recycled.
Penny-pinching experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk recommend double-checking typically recyclable items such as paper, plastic and card as they may not be suitable if adorned in shimmery, glittery designs. Here's a quick breakdown of what can and can't be recycled.
1. Christmas cards and envelopes
Do – recycle if the cards and envelopes are made of paper.
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Don’t – recycle if they are covered in glitter or foil. Instead, dispose of in the general waste bin.
2. Wrapping paper
Do – remove all tags, bows, ribbons and Sellotape and try the ‘scrunch test’. If it stays in a ball once scrunched it can go in recycling.
Don’t – put it in recycling if it doesn’t stay scrunched, pop it in the general bin.
3. Food
Do – put all cooked and raw food into the food recycling bin.
Don’t – put any food in the food recycling that still has residual bits of cling film or foil, and don’t forget to remove pesky chocolate wrappers.
4. Food containers
Do – clean any disposable paper plates, trays and party cups and add them to the paper recycling bin.
Don’t – put dirty, food-stained disposable paper plates into the recycling bin.
5. Glass bottles and jars
Do – swill glass bottles and jars and put them in the recycling.
Don’t – take their lids off. The lids help them to be easily sorted and recycled separately.
6. Trees
Do – repurpose your real Christmas tree in the garden by turning it into mulch, using it as compost or using the tree as a stake. Some garden centres and councils will collect trees as it can be recycled for composting and wood chipping. Please visit your local authority's website for further guidance. Remember, if you have a potted Christmas tree, do plant it in the garden to give it life beyond the festive season.
Don’t – dispose of them in the paper recycling bin.
7. Old Christmas Lights
Do – follow the electronic disposal guidelines on the set before recycling and check with the local council for recycling information.
Don’t – just chuck a set in the general bin as believe it or not, many lights can be recycled.
8. Old toys
Do – take toys out of the packaging and put them in the general bin.
Don’t – forget to take the batteries out and dispose of them at the local battery collection point. These are available at most supermarkets and can be found online.
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17 beautiful Christmas flowers to buy this festive season
Bursting with gorgeous, rich colour, the Blue Delphiniums and Purple Bloom Chrysanthemums really stand out in this arrangement. We're in love!
We just love how pretty and elegant this bouquet is! Cherry red roses, snow white Alstroemeria and painted gold Eucalyptus, sprinkled with Salal leaves, make this a truly delightful arrangement.
What's Christmas without the poinsettia? The most festive of florals is a must at this time of the year.
These flowers look absolutely gorgeous. With snowy white tulips, glittery parvi eucalyptus and festive triple fir cones, it's an elegant choice for the festive season.
Christmas bouquet letterbox flowers
Bloom & Wild, £39
With velvety red roses, unusual leucadendron, berries and festive foliage, this beautiful Christmas bouquet will put a huge smile on everyone's face.
Festive Punch
If you're looking for some bright, colourful statement flowers then look no further. Filled with fragrant oriental lilies, roses, silver foliage and seasonal berries, this is at the top of our list.
With 5 red Amaryllis' and 3 gold painted birch twigs, this bouquet is truly elegant and makes the ultimate statement.
Elegant and stylish, this beautiful arrangement of white chrysanthemum, white large headed roses and white freesia, with pistache, gold asparagus fern and dried lotus pods, really sets it apart from the rest. The flowers are also arranged in a grey ceramic standing planter, which we love!
Sometimes, less is more. This simple Christmas display features long-stemmed Carnations in shades of red alongside Gypsophila and gold glitter Ruscus leaf.
This pet-friendly flower features white antirrhinum, cream large headed roses, white spray roses and peach germini with pine and birch. Vase included.
How many flowers can you see? This decadent festive luxury bouquet has it all, from Sorbet Avalanche Rose to Pinecones, Cinerea Eucalyptus, Cymbidium Orchid, and much more!
The Ember
Bloom & Wild, £65
A beautiful combination of hot pink and deep red, this bouquet includes 38 stems alongside shimmering seasonal foliage.
White Winter Wonderland Bouquet
Waitrose & Partners, £35
This beautiful arrangement of white chrysanthemums, delicate gypsophila and foliage will tie in wonderfully with a winter wonderland scheme.
Simple, chic and bursting with deep red, this Amaryllis bouquet is effortlessly stunning.
Celebration: Red Roses and Buttercup
FloraQueen, from £44.90
Containing a mix of red roses and white buttercups, beautiful skimmias and seasonal foliage, this bouquet will bring plenty of Christmas cheer.
A stylish bouquet of 10 red tulips with festive gold Eucalyptus and Birch twig – these letterbox flowers do the job nicely.
Looking for something a little different? This eye-catching bouquet features orange 'Pebble' Roses alongside copper foliage.
