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While that is a great achievement, this year we’d like to reduce the amount of waste we have in the first place.
By making informed choices, we can still celebrate Christmas in style while helping the environment at the same time.
The biggest change this year is that we’re not accepting wrapping paper of any kind, even if it’s described as recyclable.
Wrapping paper is difficult to recycle because there are so many varieties and most are mixed with unrecyclable items such as foil, glitter, ribbon and sticky tape.
If too much incorrect material is presented, the whole lorry load could be rejected by the paper mill.
If you’ve still got presents to wrap, try using these alternatives to wrapping paper:
- brown paper – which can be recycled with cardboard (just take off any tape or decorative items)
- packaging – a spare cardboard box or jiffy bag can be decorated
- fabric - bring colour to your presents. Scarves, tea towels, handkerchiefs, bandanas, or large napkins could be used. Wrap objects in various shapes by learning the traditional Japanese cloth-folding technique, furoshiki
- old maps or newspaper – create a vintage look but avoid maps with a plastic lining
- jars, tins or gift bags - a lovely, reusable way to display gifts
- baskets –attractive and useful
- children’s artwork.
Find more Christmas recycling and reusing tips on the council website or follow our recycling and waste team on Facebook and Twitter.
No changes to collection days
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day all fall at the weekend so there will be no changes to recycling and waste collection days.
Just put your boxes and bins out on your normal days.
You can check collections days on our online collection calendar.
Recycle your real tree
Recycle your real Christmas tree once the festivities are over.
We’re working with local organisations to help unwanted Christmas trees become a useful resource.
Organisations accepting trees in the New Year include Noah’s Ark Zoo and Farm, St Peter’s Hospice and Weston Rotary in support of Weston Hospicecare.
Last year’s tree collections raised more than £26,000.
If you use our garden waste service, you can also put your tree out for collection on your first garden waste collection in the new year.
Either chop it up and put it in your green waste bin or leave it whole next to your green bin.
To help crews deal with all the extra recycling and waste generated over the festive period, there will be no garden waste collections between tomorrow (18 December) and Sunday 16 January.
Real trees can also be taken to a recycling centre.
Recycling rate among best in the country
North Somerset’s recycling rate is among the best in the country according to a new league table published this week.
We’ve ranked seventh overall for our 60.4 per cent recycling rate during 2020-21 in the league table published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Thank you so much to all our residents for your great efforts.
Recycling centres
North Somerset’s three recycling centres in Backwell, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
They will open as normal on other days. Check opening times before you travel.
Sites may get busy and you may have to queue. If so, please turn your engine off.