Greyhound Household Recycling has found that almost one third of all recycle bins left out for collection are contaminated. Concrete bricks, large household electrical goods, and even dead animals have been discovered in the bins by its collection crews. This was highlighted by the irishexaminer.com in their article on ‘Contaminated recyclable waste returned to Ireland’
As we approach one of the most wasteful times of the year, find out what provisions exist in your local area for the recycling of christmas paper and packaging. A number of local councils offer the opportunity to recycle packaging around christmas time in a similar fashion to their christmas tree disposal service. Make sure to look into these options in your area. The paper that can be made from recycled material uses up to 50% fewer chemicals than virgin paper.
There is a 25% increase in packaging waste at Christmas.
Christmastime is one of the most wonderful times of the year but it’s also one of the most wasteful. Each household generates approx. 40 Kilos of packaging waste over the Christmas period. This year why not make Santa happy and reduce the amount of packaging and wrapping paper by going green.
Think of Alternative ways of wrapping your presents….dispense with wrapping and use a bow or a ribbon. Don’t throw away your out of date Calendar use it to wrap your Christmas gifts. If you do receive gifts that are wrapped, keep the paper and reuse it. The message is all about reducing, reusing and recycling.
At Christmas time we will use over 1,100 tonnes of wrapping paper, enough to gift wrap the Spire in Dublin over 10 times
As Shakespeare might have said…to wrap or not to wrap that is the question: whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer strings and bows of outrageous packaging or to take arms against a sea of waste and by opposing end it……..
This post has been started as part of a campaign to remind people of how they can reduce the amount of unnecessary wrapping paper and packaging used at Christmas.
Reduce Paper Waste and Save Trees.
World consumption of paper has grown 400 percent in the last 40 years. Now nearly4 billion trees or 35 percent of the total trees cut around the world are used in paper industries on every continent.
Trees are used to make the paper for wrapping paper, paper bags, newspapers, printer paper, and many more products we use in our everyday lives. If you recycle your Christmas wrapping paper, make the effort to buy recycled paper or just use a ribbon, you will be reducing the need to cut down more trees. Trees are important because we need them to produce oxygen. Trees take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and make it into oxygen.
Don't Waste Christmas 