Wakefield Council is dreaming of a ‘greener Christmas’

​Wakefield Council, working in partnership with Renewi, is asking residents to think about recycling more during the festive period with the launch of its ‘Santa Says Recycle’ campaign.

The average household produces 30% more waste at this time of year, including seasonal items like Christmas cards, wrapping paper and mince pie foils as well as an increase in cans, glass bottles and cardboard packaging. The campaign offers practical advice to residents on reducing, reusing and recycling throughout December and January by ‘sorting out’ their waste.

​One of the best ways residents can manage their waste over the festive period is to sort items into the correct bins or sort their waste before taking it to the Household Waste Recycling Centre. Many items can be diverted away from landfill by simply putting clean items in the brown bin. Here are the most common festive items which should go into your brown recycling bin:

• Wrapping paper – if it can be scrunched up into a ball, it can be recycled
• Cardboard packaging – with any plastic or polystyrene bits removed
• Christmas cards – as long as they're not musical, shiny or glitter cards
• Empty glass jars and bottles – remember to rinse these out first and take the lids off
• Empty plastic bottles- remember to rinse and take the lids off
• Foil and tin trays – these also need to be rinsed before recycling; if they are greasy or have food on they should go in the green bin.

​Cllr Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Communities, said: “Thank you to all our residents across the Wakefield district who correctly sort and recycle every week. We hope that our new campaign will help people to increase how much they recycle, especially those items that we see more of over the Christmas period, because it really does make a difference.

“There are plenty of ways to sort out unwanted items for recycling or reuse, and we can all reduce the amount of waste we generate by making small changes. People can also help by sharing the ‘Santa Says Recycle’ campaign messages on social media so that everyone can see how to recycle.”

Larger unwanted items in a poor condition such as electricals and textiles, can be taken to the district’s Household Waste Recycling Centres and Bring Sites.

Residents are also being reminded to ‘pass it on’ this Christmas. Items that are in good condition can be donated to local charities, posted on the Freecycle website or sold on sites like eBay, or taken to local waste recycling centres and placed in the revalued container where a local charity collects useable items to help vulnerable members of the community.

Household waste recycling centres will be open as normal during the festive period, but will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Residents can take their real Christmas trees to their local centre for recycling too, after removing all the lights and decorations.

Bin collections will continue over the festive period, except for those who have collections which fall on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Bin calendars are being sent out to all residents with their collection dates.

For more information on what to do with your festive waste, follow #SantaSaysRecycle on social media or visit www.wakefield.gov.uk/christmasrecycling