Have a merry green Christmas
People in Torfaen are being urged to have a “green” Christmas to help boost recycling rates. Over the Christmas period about 30 per cent more rubbish is produced.
Glass, cans, Christmas trees, cards, and plastic bottles are all thrown away but with a little thought, we can all limit the impact we have and help boost Torfaen’s recycling rate of 37%.
Here are some handy tips:
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When shopping for Christmas presents use reusable shopping bags or reuse carrier bags.
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Do not over wrap Christmas presents - use a Christmas stocking instead of paper or use recycled paper.
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Try sending electronic cards.
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Cut up old Christmas cards and make tags for presents.
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Buy Christmas trees with roots so they can be replanted in the garden or buy an artificial tree that can be reused.
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Buy rechargeable instead of disposable batteries.
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Use your black box for recycling any card, glass, cans and plastic bottles that you dispose of.
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Take glass, cans, paper, plastic bottles and film, textiles and shoes to recycling banks in Torfaen. Alternatively take your waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centre in New Inn.
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Remember to compost fruit and vegetable peelings.
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Take your old Christmas tree to Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran to be shredded.
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If your area is covered by the green bin scheme use it for your kitchen and garden waste.
Councillor John Cunningham, Executive Member for Operational Services, said: “We want everyone to have a merry Christmas but we also want people to think of the environment during the festive period.”
The council is allowing residents already on the twin bin scheme to put out up to two bags of side waste for their first black bin collection after Christmas.