5 ways to have a low waste Christmas
According to WasteMINZ, New Zealand households generate around 30% more waste over the festive season from food, packaging, and wrapping paper.
Follow their “Make Memories, Not Waste” campaign for tips and tricks, otherwise here are five ways you can celebrate the festive season without costing the environment.
1. Make your own Christmas gifts and decorations
Often, the gift you make yourself has more meaning to the person receiving it.
2. Thrift a gift
We’re spoiled for choice in Stratford for places to pick up a second-hand bargain.
3. Donate unwanted items
If you’re planning on visiting the op-shops, you might want to donate some of your own items at the same time.
From clothing to kids’ toys, books, household electronics, sports equipment and more – if you’ve finished with it, there might be someone else out there who needs what you no longer want. Avoid the bin and give clean and usable unwanted items a second chance at life.
4. Choose alternative gift wrap
While they might look pretty, Christmas foil wrap, shiny or plastic gift bags are not recyclable.
Instead, opt for reusable or recyclable options like fabric, brown paper or reusable containers like tote bags, baskets and jars. A clean tea towel can double as a bonus gift and serve as a unique wrap.
If you do use foil wrapping paper, shiny or plastic gift bags, bubble wrap and plastic bows, these need to go into the rubbish bin.
5. Avoid wasting food
It’s easy to let our appetites outpace our plates. It’s easy for food to get forgotten or go to waste. But with some practical solutions and pre-planning, you can avoid filling up your rubbish bin with food waste.
Check out lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz for ways to use leftovers, how to stick to a food list, and keep food safe during the summer heat.
Kerbside collections over Christmas/New Years
All rubbish and recycling collections will remain unchanged over the Christmas and New Year period. This includes the Green/Yellow Lid Bins, Red Lid Bin, and Blue glass recycling crate.
And how about that pesky Polystyrene that comes in packaged items?! Polystyrene can't go in your kerbside recycling bin. Egmont Refuse and Recycling Ltd in Hawera accepts polystyrene for recycling. Fees will apply. Alternatively, talk to the business that you received the polystyrene from to see if they offer a take back service.
