Let’s waste less at Christmas! Festive items, reuse or recycle? 

With Christmas just around the corner, now is a good time to familiarise yourself with what to do with all the additional seasonal items we use at this time of year. Many of these items can be kept for reuse. Not only does this save you time and money the following year, but keeping items in use for longer protects our resources and reduces waste. 

We know these festive items can cause some confusion, especially at a busy time and so hopefully this A – Z list will add some clarity.

Batteries/ Bubble wrap/ Cardboard packaging/ Christmas cards and envelopes / Christmas crackers/ Christmas decorations/

Christmas tree – artificial/ Christmas tree – real/ Electricals/ Fabric gift wrap/ Fairy lights/ Gift bags/ Gift boxes/ Gift tags/

Polystyrene packaging/ Ribbons and bows/ Tissue paper/ Toys and games/ Wrapping paper/ Wreaths

Batteries – Recycle at a dedicated battery collection point.  

Check where you can recycle yours using the recycling locator.  

Never throw them in your normal recycling or rubbish bin as hidden or loose batteries can cause fires. If you can’t remove the batteries from an item, then take the whole item to a dedicated recycling point for waste electrical and electronic equipment.  

Bubble wrap – Keep to reuse or recycle from home  

You can also recycle the plastic air pillows sometimes used as packaging material (remove the air first) or clear plastic wrap. Please note that North West Leicestershire residents can take their soft plastic wrap materials to their local supermarket if they can’t recycle them from home. 

Cardboard packaging – Keep to reuse or recycle at home  

Remove excess sticky tape and flatten first. You can also recycle other cardboard packaging materials and brown paper packaging. Cardboard is also an excellent addition to a compost bin or heap. 

Christmas cards and envelopes – cards can be kept to use as gift tags next year 

Cards can be recycled from home, providing they aren’t too shiny, don’t contain glitter or other embellishments. All envelopes can be recycled.  

Christmas crackers  

Tricky to recycle because they’re made up of different components. The cardboard shell can be recycled providing it isn’t metallic, covered in glitter or other embellishments. Remember to remove all the other parts first. 

Look out for ones that say recyclable, eco-friendly options, or you could even have a go at making your own.  

Christmas decorations, including baubles and tinsel – keep to reuse 

If you no longer want them and they’re in good condition, then pass them on to someone else to enjoy. Broken baubles and ornaments with sharp edges should be carefully wrapped before disposing of in the rubbish.  

Christmas tree – artificial – Reuse 

Not suitable for recycling. If you’re wanting a change and the tree is in good condition, then pass it on to someone else to enjoy. If it’s damaged or broken, then it will need to go in the rubbish.  

Christmas tree – real  

Reuse – Some living trees can be replanted after Christmas if their roots are intact. Have you ever considered renting a Christmas tree instead of buying? Why not look up a rental service near you.  

Recycle – remember to remove all decorations, and the stand, or pot if the tree still has its roots.   

Check any collection arrangements with your local council. Alternatively, you can take it to your nearest recycling and household waste site. Trees must be no larger than 15cm wide (trunk diameter) and must be trimmed to 1m lengths Trees will usually be shredded into chippings and used in parks or woodland. 

Recycle your electricals – anything with a plug or cable can be reused or recycled 

Electrical items should always be taken to a dedicated collection point and never just be thrown away in the rubbish. Visit recycle your electricals to find your nearest collection point or alternatively take to one of our recycling and household waste sites. 

Fabric gift wrap – Reuse – it’s ideal for using again.  

Not suitable for recycling from home. 

Fairy lights/Christmas tree lights – Reuse 

If the lights are broken and not working, can they be repaired? If not, then they should be taken to a recycling point for electricals. Find your nearest collection point at:  www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk or alternatively take to one of our recycling and household waste sites.  

Gift bags – Reuse where you can   

They can also be recycled if they are made from paper or card, providing they are non-metallic, without glitter or embellishments. Remove the string or rope handle first.  

Gift boxes – Reuse where you can 

These boxes can be recycled if they’re made from cardboard, providing they aren’t covered in fabric, metallic paper or glitter, etc. Ideally, reuse. 

Gift Tags – Recycle 

Gift tags can be recycled if they are made from card and are non-metallic, without glitter or embellishments. Remove the string first. 

Polystyrene packaging – Reuse as packaging materials for other parcels 

Polystyrene, either in block form or chips, can’t be recycled from home and would need to be disposed of in your rubbish.  

Ribbons and bows – Reuse where you can 

Ribbons and bows are unsuitable for recycling from home.  

Tissue paper (and crepe paper) – Reuse where you can, either as wrapping paper or as a packaging material 

Tissue paper and crepe paper isn’t suitable for recycling because the fibres are too short.  

Toys and games – Reuse, rehome or repair 

Toys aren’t suitable for recycling but if they’re in good condition they can be rehomed, either sold or given away. If they’re broken or damaged, see if they can be repaired before putting them in the rubbish. If they have any electrical components, take them to a suitable electrical recycling point. 

Wrapping paper – Reuse where you can or recycle 

Large pieces of paper might be able to be reused.  

Recycle – Wrapping paper can be recycled if it isn’t too shiny, metallic or covered in glitter or other embellishments.  Remove excess sticky tape, gift tags, ribbons and bows first.  

Wreaths – Reuse if artificial or take apart to compost 

If it’s artificial then reuse it next year.  

If it’s made with natural components, such as holly, ivy, mistletoe, fir cones, etc, then it will need to be taken apart before composting. 

The natural foliage can be composted from home, put in your garden waste collection, or taken to a recycling and household waste site for composting, providing it isn’t covered in paint or glitter. Remember to remove any artificial decorations and wiring first. Place those bits in the rubbish as they aren’t suitable for recycling from home.