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There are some simple things you can do to cut costs which are good for the planet as well as your pocket.
Please remember to put your recycling and waste out on the right day as collection dates change over the festive period to allow for the bank holidays.
Check your dates on our website.
If you’ve still got presents to wrap, bear in mind we can’t accept any wrapping paper in your kerbside recycling containers, it must go in the general waste.
Wrapping paper is difficult to recycle and it’s often mixed up with unrecyclable foil, glitter, ribbon, and tape.
If the amount of incorrect material is too high, the whole load is rejected by the paper mill, meaning higher costs and more transport emissions.
Homemade wrapping paper, cards and paper decorations are a great alternative.
Maybe use newspapers or pages from a charity shop book? They will make unique decorations and can be recycled afterwards.
Weston-super-Mare based artist Marta Hutt, of Lush Eclectic, shows how she makes paper decorations on her Instagram page.
A popular alternative is to use plain brown paper, which can be recycled with cardboard.
Using jars, tins or other reusable baskets and gift bags are other creative ways to wrap your gifts.
Home-made or second-hand gifts can be just as thoughtful and appreciated as buying brand new items.
Food waste and costs can be reduced at Christmas by shopping with a list, eating leftovers and recycling the rest.
Visit the Love Food Hate Waste website for recipes for leftovers and top tips on reducing food waste.
Christmas trees wanted for good causes
Real Christmas trees are once again needed by local organisations in North Somerset.
If you have a real tree, please consider donating it to a local good cause once the festivities are over.
Most of the trees are chipped for land regeneration and some are donated for animal enrichment within their habitat.
This means they become a valuable resource, as well as cutting down on transportation and carbon emissions.
Noah’s Ark Zoo and Farm in Wraxall is accepting trees between Monday 2 and Monday 23 January. Trees should be left in the main car park during zoo opening times (10.30am to 4pm).
St Peter’s Hospice, will collect trees on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January from selected postcodes across Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead and Bristol: BS4, BS5, BS7, BS9, BS15, BS16, BS20, BS21, BS30, BS41 and BS48. Tree collection must be prebooked on its website.
Weston Rotary is collecting trees in support of Weston Hospicecare. Trees will be collected on Saturday 7 January in BS22, BS23, BS24, BS25, BS26, BS27, BS29, BS40, BS49 postcode areas. There are 1,200 slots available, which must be prebooked online.
Christmas trees can also be taken to recycling centres where they will be treated as garden waste.
Residents signed up to the garden waste collection service can also put their trees out for collection when the service resumes from Monday 16 January.
Trees can either be chopped up and put in green waste bins or left whole alongside the bin.
They can be up to two metres in length and must have the pot and all decorations removed.