According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme's (WRAP) Recycle Now campaign, the UK uses around 290,000 tonnes of card packaging at Christmas. This amount of packaging is enough to wrap the Angel of the North two million times! As a result, Recycle Now is trying to encourage people to recycle card this Christmas instead of simply binning it.
As well as card packaging, the campaign is reminding people that all paper, including most wrapping paper, is recyclable. When it comes to wrapping paper, Recycle Now are encouraging people to carry out the 'scrunch test', which simply involves scrunching up wrapping paper. If the wrapping paper remains scrunched up in a ball, it can be recycled. If it springs back, it is probably made of a metalised plastic film which cannot be recycled.
In addition, Zero Waste Scotland has been campaigning to try and promote resource awareness this Christmas time. Food waste has been a particular target, and Zero Waste Scotland has teamed up with chef Tony Singh to advise how best to avoid food waste.
One of the simplest things that can be done is plan ahead. Make sure you don't go crazy during the Christmas shop and buy only what you need and what you will use. 50,000 tonnes of food and drink waste is created in December in Scotland, and simply becoming more resource-aware will not only save the environment, it will benefit your wallet too.
Have a green Christmas everyone!
