Keep Christmas out of landfill this year

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other holiday, this time of year is one of joy and connection.

It is also the season for generating more rubbish than normal – most of which ends up in landfill. With a few small changes and no impact on our fun, we could all help change the impact of our holiday waste.

The facts about holiday waste

But first, a look at the numbers to see exactly where we stand.

• 227,000 miles of Christmas wrapping paper is thrown away each year – that would nearly reach from the Earth to the moon!
• 50,000 trees are cut down annually to make this Christmas wrapping paper in the UK alone.
• 3kg of CO2 emissions is generated in the making of each 1kg of wrapping paper.
• 500 tonnes of Christmas lights are thrown away each year.
• 114,000 tonnes of plastic waste are produced during the festivities – including 3,000 tonnes of packaging just for turkeys.
• 5 million tonnes of food are thrown away in the party season. This includes 5 million Christmas puddings, 2 million turkeys and 74 million mince pies, which are discarded while still edible!

Making a difference

Making a positive impact on these numbers doesn’t mean enjoying the season any less. Instead, it’s important that we spare a thought for what we buy and how we handle holiday waste. For example, did you know that by recycling wrapping paper this year, you could reduce the energy needed for next year’s paper by a massive 70%? Swapping plastic, glittery, or foil-based wrapping or bags for paper versions also increases how much we can recycle. This could be extended beyond the presents under the tree to the table dressing, decorations, and other items used throughout the season.

When it comes to food, a similar bit of planning could make a huge difference. Most of us enjoy a little overindulgence, but avoiding excessive amounts of food is good for our waste, our waistlines, and our wallets! Try to prepare the amount of food needed rather than having more than could possibly be eaten. Make the most of any leftovers by portioning food for ‘picky bits’ over the next few days, and freezing any further food to be eaten at a later date.

Happy holidays!

If and however you celebrate the season, making mindful choices about wrapping papers, decorations, and food are important. With a few small changes we can all enjoy the magic and joy of festivities without sacrificing the planet.

>Since you’re here, why not read about People pulling their own teeth out due to lack of urgent NHS dental care?

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