REAP would like to wish everyone a great festive season. Our office in Mid Street will be closed from Wednesday 22nd December at 3pm until 9.30am on Monday 10th January 2022.
To help reduce waste this Xmas, have a look at our fun guide to less waste at this time of year. Best wishes to all!
Save waste at Christmas – All the joy without the guilt!
Did you know that across the UK at this festive time of year:
- 6 million Christmas trees end up in landfill;
- 2 million dinners are scraped into the bin;
- Enough gravy is chucked to fill an Olympic swimming pool;
- Enough tin foil is used to almost cover Perthshire;
- 300,00 tonnes of card packaging gets used and often not recycled
- 9 million slices of turkey (= 263,000 turkeys) get binned.
Wow!! But worry ye not – we can all do our bit for the planet without making it a Scrooge-like Christmas, in fact having more fun and getting creative. Here are some wee ideas that all the family can get stuck into!
Food
- Keep and use leftovers – turkey samosas, mince pie ice cream or trifle, Christmas dinner pie, Christmas pudding crumble and Brussels sprout soup are just a few of many ideas! Check out these links:
bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/christmas-leftovers
goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/tag/christmas-leftover - Freeze leftovers – gravy into ice cube trays for future stews etc.; you can even freeze cream if you whip it first.
- Cook less meat and veg but better quality (e.g. organic, local) – you’ll spend the same but get more goodness for you and the planet.
- Brush don’t peel your veg (lots of nutrients are in the skin) or if you do, make veggie crisps from the peel!
- Make sure food waste goes in your brown bin so it doesn’t go to landfill ; or better still compost it – contact us for help with this.
Presents and decorations
- Make presents – show your love by making your own biscuits, jams and chutneys (reusing jars too) or craft There’s loads of recipes and ideas online. The personal touch goes down a storm!
- Pre-loved presents – loads of barely used second-hand gadgets and kitchenware are out there online – save your wallet and
- Reduce packaging – look for presents with less packaging and with no non-recyclable packaging (e.g. polystyrene inserts)
- Or buy someone an experience, whether it’s gin tasting, theatre tickets, whale spotting or a massage.
- Unwanted gifts – why not sell or donate something that’s sat unused in your cupboard from last Christmas
- Wrapping paper – scrunch it and see – if it unfolds when you open your hand it can’t recycled. Avoid glittery and metallic paper
- DIY wrapping – have fun reusing your favourite magazines and comic books or even funny newspaper Use ribbon or string rather than sticky tape. Reuse gift bags and boxes.
- Cards – make your own , buy cards made from recycled paper, or send e-cards – especially your own design with a lovely photo
- Christmas crackers – 40 million get pulled and go straight in the bin, with non-recyclable plastic toys and glittery Do we really need them? Or search for retailers (e.g. John Lewis ) with greener ones.
- DIY decorations – get creative! Look online for ideas like bunting from old Xmas cards or baubles from old light bulbs, and natural decorations rock! Deck the halls with boughs of holly…and ivy, mistletoe and pine Make a wee tree from twigs and decorate with orange slices. Let your imagination run riot! Check out Pinterest
- Keep reusing decorations and artificial trees as they can’t be recycled. There are loads of second-hand bargains on eBay etc
- Recycle – your real Christmas tree (or buy a pot one) and batteries as well as the cans, bottles, wrapping, cards and packaging!
More Ideas!!
www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/our-tips-waste-free-christmas
www.changeworks.org.uk/news-and-events/blog/kiris-top-tips-for-a-waste-free-christmas www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/interiors/a1064/ways-to-avoid-waste-this-christmas/ www.countryliving.com/uk/create/craft/how-to/a956/country-inspired-christmas-gift-wrapping-ideas/ www.recyclenow.com/news/2019-10-23-plan-less-wasteful-christmas
