Over the Christmas period, we will see a significant increase in waste collected from households.

Nationally, around 30 per cent more waste is generated at this time of year. Much of this will be recycled (about 44 per cent in North Yorkshire) but approximately half of all the waste we collect from householders will be taken to Allerton Waste Recovery Park to be treated before the waste is burnt for energy recovery (52 per cent) and only a very small amount of difficult-to-manage waste goes to landfill (four per cent). 

We are asking you to help to reduce the amount of waste produced this Christmas and recycle as much as possible.

Here are our top five recommendations for reducing Christmas waste.

1 Reduce your food waste

An estimated 270,000 tonnes of food are wasted every year and at Christmas we tend to throw out more than ever. 

Try not to over-shop at Christmas. Just buy what you are going to eat and do not be lured into offers you do not need. Always shopping with a list will help with this.

Freeze leftovers, don’t throw them away. It is a good idea to free up space in your freezer in the run-up to Christmas, and to stock up on storage containers. Freezers act as a pause button for food, giving you more time to eat what you have bought. Check out these top freezer tips. Get your fridge ready for storing all that fresh food – check that your fridge is set at the right temperature of below 5°C.

See www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for great ideas on how to use up leftovers.

2 Think about cards and wrapping paper

Buy cards and wrapping paper that can be recycled easily. This includes brown wrapping and coloured paper wrapping. Remember the scrunch test. If it scrunches, it can be recycled. If it doesn't, it can't. Remember, anything with glitter, foil, bows or plastic embellishments can’t be recycled.

An alternative is to use reusable gift bags and keep passing them around friends and family.

3 Avoid unwanted gifts

Rather than buying something that might not be wanted, why not consider gift vouchers, memberships or eco-friendly gifts such as shampoo bars, or a bag for life?  A small handmade gift will be unique and personal. How about making someone their own cracker with recyclable paper and card with a small gift they’ll really want?

4 Don’t dump the Christmas jumper

Try not to add to the 206,000 tonnes of textiles thrown away in the UK each year. Re-wear last year’s jumpers or borrow/swap with friends.  Look in charity shops for your partywear and gifts.

5 Recycle all you can

Finally, recycle all you can at the kerbside, including all your glass jars and bottles; cardboard boxes; plastic bottles, food and drinks cans.  Make sure everything is clean and dry and flatten card and plastic bottles to make more space in your collection containers and our vehicles.

Christmas Trees can be recycled at all the household waste recycling centres in the garden waste containers.

Household waste recycling centres open 8.30am to 4pm every day, apart from Wednesdays. This year they will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27 December, New Year’s Day and 3 January.  

You can find your Christmas refuse collection dates here: Find changes to collection dates put them in your diary now so you don’t miss a collection.