Recycling at Christmas
Christmas cards
Christmas cards without glitter (including eco/biodegradable glitter) or embellishments can be placed in your green recycling box along with your cardboard. We're unable to process any cards with glitter or embellishments - please place these in your refuse bin.
Wrapping paper
Only non-glittery (including eco/biodegradable glitter) and non-metallic wrapping paper can be placed in your green recycling box. Please try to remove as much Sellotape and decorative accessories such as ribbons and bows. We're unable to process foil-lined wrapping paper - please place this in your refuse bin.
If you're using brown wrapping paper this can be placed in your green recycling box.
Real Christmas tree collections
This year all residents can have their real Christmas trees collected by our garden waste service (until 31 January 2026). Residents can place their real tree out on a scheduled garden waste collection day (this is the opposite week to a recycling collection).
To ensure a tree is collected:
- Trunk must be no larger than 4 inches (100mm) in diameter
- Tree must be under 6ft tall – preferably cut in half to help crews load it safely
- Place the tree next to the blue food caddy, or if subscribed to our garden waste service, it can be placed inside or next to the brown wheeled bin
If a tree is too large or unsuitable for collection, it can be taken to the nearest recycling centre.
Note: All refuse and recycling should be placed at its normal collection point by 6.00am on the revised collection days as per your calendar. Alternatively, use our online collection day look-up facility.
Christmas recycling hints:
- If your blue kerbside caddy is full, you may place excess food waste into either a compostable liner or plastic bag and leave on top of your blue caddy for collection
- Plastic toiletry packaging such as shower gels and shampoo bottles can go in your black recycling box 1
- Tins, cans and plastics can all be mixed together; if you're running out of room in your black box(es), these can go out for collection in a white pedal bin liner
Before you put your left over turkey into your blue food caddy…
Did you know the average UK family throws away 22% of their weekly shop, worth £730 per year that could be spent on other things!
For tips on how to reduce your food waste, recipe ideas and advice on storage and keeping food fresher for longer, see the following helpful links: