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How to successfully recycle Christmas rubbish in South Holland




From ripping Christmas cards in half, to rinsing out the brandy butter container and clearing the table on Christmas day what exactly needs to happen with all the waste created over Christmas?

With packaging, wrapping and more all needing to be thrown away recycling rules can get a bit confusing, especially when asking visitors to help who may follow different systems elsewhere in the country.

Here's show to deal with some of the more common Christmas waste items as the festivities move along.

There's rules to follow when it comes to what can and can't be recycled.
There's rules to follow when it comes to what can and can't be recycled.

Once you've started to eat through the 'Christmas food' there will understandably be some packaging waste. The rules here vary depending on how dirty and greasy the items get.

Stating with mince pies, the silver foils can be recycled in Lincolnshire. Just add them to the recycling bag.

While it might look the same, disposable silver foil trays used to cook the turkey in will be greasy so that needs to go in the general waste.

But the foil wrappers around sweets or chocolates can go in the recycle bin. Plastic ones would go in general waste.

Once the whole 'box' of chocolates is empty, plastic tubs like those which contain Quality Streets can be recycled as can metal tins. Empty bags need to go in general waste.

Even paper from around cakes such as a panettone, if greasy, should go in the general waste.

If your turkey was cooked in a disposable pan then it needs to be put in general waste.
If your turkey was cooked in a disposable pan then it needs to be put in general waste.

For those in the kitchen on the big day, it can be helpful to have two bins set up while the main meal is being cooked to help keep recycling and general rubbish separate.

When cracking open eggs, the empty carton is recyclable.

But for yoghurt-type containers, such as those containing cream and brandy cream as well as plastic dip trays, they need to be rinsed before they can be recycled.

When it comes to Christmas cards the style of the design is crucial to what happens next. Make sure to have scribbled down any info from a card such as a new address and take any money or vouchers from gift cards. Then, if the cards are plain the whole thing could be added to the recycling. But for Christmas cards which are extra special - those that come with glitter, foil, a decorative bow say or stickers, you'll need to take action.

Rip the card in half putting the plain back section in the recycling and the decorative front in the general waste.

There's a similar rule for wrapping paper. Any that is plain can be recycled, but glittery or foil embossed paper needs to go in the general waste. You need to remove any larger bits of sticking tape but it's "generally recyclable" with small bits of tape.

What you might need to remove is the tag if it has a fancy glittery design to go in the general waste along with the string. If the tag is made from plain paper or card it can be recycled.

If there's no foil, glitter or extra items cards can be recycled - otherwise rip them in half, and recycle the plain half of the card.
If there's no foil, glitter or extra items cards can be recycled - otherwise rip them in half, and recycle the plain half of the card.

If you have young children who like to add stickers to anything and everything, including wrapping paper, then that gift wrap is still recyclable.

Present bags should be reused where possible - perhaps to regift something next year - while paper ones can be recycled. Any that are glittery or foil should be added to general waste if beyond reuse. String or ribbon handles should be removed.

At Christmas with more people visiting and different types of rubbish the question of what is recyclable is a tough one
At Christmas with more people visiting and different types of rubbish the question of what is recyclable is a tough one

When clearing away the dinner table there can be lots of rubbish, from crackers and party hats to bits of food and disposable napkins.

Cardboard Christmas crackers - once the bang has been pulled - are recyclable, as long as there's no glitter or foil. If there is then they would need to go in the general waste.

And party popper casings – if all contents removed - are also recyclable.

But those paper tablecloths/napkins should be added to general waste due to food contamination

As Christmas Day come to an end the cracker paper party hats can be recycled as can the slip of paper with a cracker joke.

If there's any broken glass that needs to go in the general waste.

Real trees can be put out for garden waste collection, even by households not in the garden waste scheme.
Real trees can be put out for garden waste collection, even by households not in the garden waste scheme.

There's often a case of out with the old and in with the new. If you've been gifted new slippers then the old ones need to be put in textile recycling bags, taken to a recycling centre or otherwise added to general waste.

Fake Christmas trees should be reused or donated to a charity shop. If it's broken and beyond repair then it should be added to general waste.

Rachel Stamp, waste partnership and projects manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "It may be the season of giving, but don’t give glitter, grease or soft plastics - like carrier bags and plastic films - to your recycling bin this Christmas.

“If you’re in doubt about whether or not you can recycle something in your bins at home, leave it out, and then check it out on your district council’s website, or message us on social media."

Items that go into general waste in Lincolnshire are sent to the county council's energy from waste plant in North Hykeham and turned into electricity.



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