Christmas Recycling Advice
Recycling at Home
Over the festive period, we generate extra waste and recycling, so it's important to do your bit to recycle as much as possible. This also helps to make space in your grey bin for any extra waste.
Flatten cardboard boxes to make space in the green recycling bin, and place polystyrene in the general waste bin. Squash plastic bottles to make more space in the blue recycling bin.
Don't forget – Place recycling into bins loose, no plastic bags are allowed as they contaminate the recycling bins.
For information on what you can recycle in your blue and green bins, please visit our what goes in your bins page.
Over the Christmas period there are changes to your bin collection days. Find your revised collection dates here.
Decorations
Reuse decorations from previous years instead of buying new. Make or buy a new one each year and build up a unique collection of decorations.
If your decorations break, here's our recycling guide:
Glass baubles – Not recyclable. Wrap up broken baubles safely in paper and put in grey general waste bin.
Plastic baubles – Widely made of plastic not yet collected for recycling. Place in grey general waste bin.
Tinsel – Not recyclable, place in grey general waste bin.
Natural wreaths – Materials including ivy, holly, mistletoe, and fir cones can be composted if free of glue, glitter, oasis foam, wire and decorations. Recycle in brown garden waste bin, recycling centre, or home compost. Save and reuse the base next year.
Artificial wreaths – Not recyclable. Save to use again next year and dispose of in grey general waste bin at end of life.
Christmas cards – Paper-based cards and envelopes can be recycled in your green bin. Cards with glitter or plastic cannot be recycled and should go in grey general waste bin.
Wrapping paper – Most wrapping paper can be recycled in your green recycling bin. If it contains plastic, glitter or foil it cannot be recycled and should be placed in grey general waste bin. Do the scrunch test - scrunch up the paper and if it doesn’t spring back, it doesn't contain plastic and can be recycled.
Gift bags – Paper bags can be recycled in the green recycling bin as long as they don't contain any plastic or glitter. Remove plastic or fabric bag handles before recycling.
Tags & ribbons – Plastic tags, ribbons & bows cannot be recycled and should be placed in grey general waste bin. Paper tags can be recycled in the green recycling bin.
Please remember to not place any plastic bags in the recycling bins.
Electricals & Batteries
Old, broken electricals and batteries should always be recycled. Anything that contains a plug, cables or batteries can be recycled. Recycle at a Household Waste Recycling Centre or find a recycling point at www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk (external link).
Christmas lights – Broken lights should be recycled at a designated electrical recycling point. Do not place in your wheelie bins.
Battery-powered decorations – Decorations powered by batteries should be recycled at a recycling point if broken.
Toys – Old electronic toys that are still working should be sold on Facebook Marketplace, given to friends and family or donated to a charity shop. Broken electronic toys should be recycled at a recycling point.
Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree
Before recycling your real Christmas tree, remove all decorations, lights and bases.
Reuse – If your tree is potted, keep it in your garden year-round, and use again next Christmas!
Garden waste collection service – You can recycle your real tree in your West Lancs brown garden waste bin, just make sure you cut it into small pieces first and that the bin lid can close. To subscribe to the service, visit www.westlancs.gov.uk/gardenwaste.
Household Waste Recycling Centre – Take your Christmas tree to your nearest recycling centre. Find more information on our webpage here.
Arrange a collection – You can arrange for the charity Rainbow Hub to collect your real Christmas tree to be recycled for a donation. Collections to take place Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January. Find out more here: www.rainbowhub.org/event/christmas-tree-collection (external link). Eligible West Lancashire post codes: PR4, PR7, PR8, PR9, WN6, WN8, L39, L40.
Artificial Christmas Trees
If you're getting a new tree, why not use your old tree to make another room more festive? Alternatively, you could give it to friends & family, or give away on Facebook Marketplace. Only dispose of artificial Christmas trees when they are no longer usable. You can dispose of at a Household Waste Recycling Centre or by booking bulky waste collection with us here.
Gifts & Shopping
Shop local & independent – Instead of buying online last minute, take the time to shop locally at independent businesses to contribute to your local economy.
Second-hand – You can find quality second-hand gifts at charity shops or online second-hand apps.
Gift an experience – Buy someone an experience that they can enjoy, or you can share together, rather than buying unwanted gifts. Some examples include tickets to a show or a restaurant meal voucher. Or why not gift someone a membership to their favourite magazine or charity.
Quality over quantity – It's better to buy one gift that someone will use and that will last, rather than lots of little gifts that people don't need.
Secret Santa – You can arrange a Secret Santa with your family or group of friends, so each person only has to buy one gift. You can set a price limit and maybe have a rule to shop second-hand for the gifts!
Wrapping – Use wrapping paper free from plastic and glitter, and use paper tape when wrapping gifts, as plastic Sellotape can't be recycled. Reuse gift bags and ribbons from previous Christmases and Birthdays, this also saves you money instead of buying new each time! Choose cards, ribbons, and tags free from plastic and glitter so they can be easily recycled. Alternatively, you can cut up last year's Christmas cards and make into gift tags for free!
Reduce Food Waste
Avoid food waste this festive season by following these tips!
Buy loose – Buy loose fruit and vegetables where you can at supermarkets, or from a fresh market stall, and buy meats from your local butchers. This way you can buy exactly how much you need and none gets thrown away.
Plan – Make meal plans for the festive period and create a shopping list so you buy only what you need. Need some help? Find the ultimate guide to Christmas food planning on Love Food Hate Waste here (external link).
Cooking – Save energy when cooking your Christmas meal by pre-cooking dishes with your other meals. Cook extra batches of your vegetables along with your Sunday roast and freeze. Make sure you remember to thoroughly defrost in the fridge prior to re-heating. See our hints-and-tips-to-using-household-items-efficiently.pdf document for more cooking tips to save energy.
Leftovers – Use leftovers for a lovely sandwich or bubble and squeak on Boxing Day. Find the best recipes for Christmas leftovers on Love Food Hate Waste here (external link).
