The Christmas period produces more waste than any other time of the year, so what do you do with wrapping paper, packing materials, the tree, and the turkey bones? We’ve got the low-down on how to correctly deal with the Christmas leftovers.
- Wrapping paper that is glittery, metallic, or has a plastic coating is not recyclable and should go in the red rubbish bin. Paper-based wrapping paper that tears easily is accepted in the yellow recycling bin.
- Plastic wrap, plastic strapping, courier bags, bubble wrap, plastic shopping bags and confectionery bar wrappers are all soft plastics and must go in the red bin.
- Broken cups and glasses cannot go into the yellow or blue bins so if a glass gets broken during your Christmas festivities, wrap it in paper and place it in your red bin.
- Christmas trees that are dying off can be chopped into small pieces and put in your green organics bin or taken to the Waimate Resource Recovery Park for disposal (standard charges apply).
- Fake Christmas trees that have reached the end of their life can be put in the red bin or be taken to the Waimate Resource Recovery Park for disposal (standard charges apply).
- Unwanted tinsel or Christmas ornaments can be donated to an op shop or put in the red bin.
- Food scraps (including meat, fish and bones) and any leftovers you can no longer use can go in the green bin.
- Batteries, vapes and rechargeable devices are not accepted in any of the kerbside collection bins – take these to the Waimate Resource Recovery Park for free and safe disposal.
- Clean polystyrene can be taken to the Waimate Resource Recovery Park for free and safe recycling. Place Styrofoam and dirty polystyrene in the red bin.
- Christmas cards are recyclable if they are paper based, but you must remove any decorations like glitter, foil or plastic first. These additions contaminate the paper recycling process, so tear them off and put them in the red bin before putting the paper part in the yellow bin.
