21 Dec 2017

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Not sure what to do with the detritus left behind once Christmas festivities are over? Here are a few handy tips on what you can and can’t put in your kerbside wheelie bins.

The aftermath of Christmas gift unwrapping

  • Discarded wrapping paper under a Christmas tree.You can put any cardboard or paper left behind after Christmas presents have been unwrapped into the yellow wheelie bin.
  • Most gift wrapping is recyclable as long as it doesn’t have a plastic coating. If you’re uncertain try the tear test. If your Christmas wrapping paper tears it is paper and can be recycled.  If it doesn't tear, put it in the red bin.
  • Foil wrapping can't be recycled and must go in the red bin.
  • Any polystyrene used to package items should be put in the red bin.
  • If you have more recycling than you can fit in your bin, you can drop it off one of the EcoDrop recycling centres for free.

Dealing with Christmas breakages 

  • Broken cups and glasses cannot go into the yellow wheelie bin so if a glass gets broken during your Christmas festivities, wrap it in paper and place it in your red bin.

Unwanted Christmas gifts

  • If Santa brought you unwanted Christmas gifts, think about taking them to a charity shop or one of the EcoDrop  recycling centres. 
  • Don’t put unwanted clothing or plastic toys into the yellow wheelie bin. They can’t be recycled and could damage the sorting machinery at the EcoSort plant. Good clothing can be recycled through one of the clothing bins dotted around the city.

When the Christmas tree reaches its use-by date

  • If you’ve got a real Christmas tree that’s reached its use-by date, you can chop it into small pieces and put it in your green wheelie bin or take it to the EcoDrop  green waste drop-off.
  • If you want to get rid of a fake tree that is still in good condition, take it to one of the EcoDrop recycling centres so someone else can use it. If your fake tree has lost its Christmas sparkle you can dispose of it in the red bin.

Excess food

  • Food scraps (including chicken and turkey bones) and any left-overs you no longer can use can be disposed of in the green organics wheelie bin. 

Don't overfill

Merry Christmas!