Recycle Western Riverside is dreaming of a green Christmas
3 December 2007
Residents in south and west London are being encouraged by the Recycle Western Riverside campaign to show they care for the environment as well as family and friends this Christmas by choosing cards and wrapping paper made from recycled paper - and remembering to recycle after the festive season is over.
An estimated three million tonnes of Christmas waste is generated each year during the season of goodwill and last year a billion Christmas cards were sent, which, if laid end to end, would stretch around the world almost four times.
There is no need to compromise on style or add to festive stresses when shopping with an eco friendly conscience, as Christmas cards and wrapping made from recycled paper are readily available.
To help you reduce your waste this Christmas and be kinder to the environment this year, Recycle Western Riverside offers the following advice for you.
Reduce that wrapping paper waste:
- Buy gift boxes or bags that can be re-used next year.
- Re-use last year's wrapping paper and jazz it up with a colourful ribbon instead of using tape so that the paper be used again and again!
- Stick to tradition and put presents inside a Christmas stocking, which can be reused (or worn!) next year.
- Use young children's Christmas drawings from school as wrapping paper - grandparents will love it!
If you are buying Christmas wrapping paper, go to one of the many shops and supermarkets which sell gift paper made from recycled paper and natural materials such as raffia fibres from mulberry tree bark. Otherwise, try to buy paper that can be recycled easily - plain paper with no glitter, holograms or foil.
Crafty ways with cards:
- Use last year's cards to make gift tags for this year by cutting out festive pictures or shapes.
- Cut strips off last year's cards to make festive bookmarks.
- Send e-cards to friends and family - the sentiment is the same without the card.
- Eat your words! Why not make biscuits or buns with Christmas messages in icing.
- Save money and the environment - donate the money you save on cards to a charity.
If you are buying cards, choose ones made from recycled paper.
After Christmas make sure any paper you haven't reused is recycled via your orange sack or recycling bank, or, alternatively, donate your cards to the Woodland Trust Christmas card recycling scheme. You can find collection bins in many high street retailers, including Tesco, WH Smith, Marks & Spencer and TK Maxx.
When recycling wrapping paper, don't forget to remove all tape, ribbons and bows from wrapping paper, and try to fold rather than scrunch it when you put it in the bin.
Sam Jarvis from the Recycle Western Riverside campaign says: "Christmas is a time when we all create too much waste. However, this can easily be reduced by buying cards made from recycled card and recycling them, or by using some of the top tips to wrap presents. These are really easy things to do and allow us all to still have a merry Christmas."