• Christmas trees - Real vs. Fake
• Food waste at Christmas
• Environmentally friendly wrapping
• Preloved presents

• How to recycle a gift
• Christmas on Pinterest
• Recycling at Christmas
• Collection services
• Slim Your Bin

It wouldn't seem like Christmas without a tree, but which is the best option for the environment - real or fake - based on their full life cycle from production to disposal?  

Potted Christmas trees are the best option for the environment.  They won't be thrown away after Christmas and, if you're green fingered, can be reused for next year.  In the meantime, it will continue to grow and take in the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, creating a mini carbon sink.  The Royal Horticultural Society has this guide to help care for your potted and cut Christmas trees.  Survival rate of these trees isn't great as they do require care and attention throughout the year.

Cut Christmas trees are the next best option because they aren't made of fossil fuels and whilst growing take in carbon dioxide, taking in a estimated 1 tonnes of carbon dioxide per acre.  Cut trees should then be recycled through the green kerbside bin where it will be composted in an invessel composter.  

If you already have a plastic Christmas tree, it is important that you keep on using it. It is the least environmentally friendly option as it is made from fossil fuels, giving a large carbon footprint for production and disposal. However, the fact that they don't decompose is also their strong point as they will last for years.  You will need to use the tree for between 12-15 years to account for its carbon footprint, but even longer would be better. 

For more information on the carbon footprint of Christmas tree click 'More'.

It is estimated that we throw away over 7 million tonnes of food each year at Christmas. Much of this food could have been eaten as leftovers the next day.

Here are our tip top tips for avoiding food waste from planning through to using up leftovers. 

Wrapping paper

Not all wrapping paper is recyclable.  Although most are paper-based, they can be coated in plastic, making it very difficult to separate out the paper for recycling.  

Try to buy wrapping paper that is 100% paper and glitter-free.  Please check wrapping paper before recycling.  Father Christmas shows you how - click on the image above. 

Cards

Most cards are paper based and can be recycled, along with their envelopes, either in your household recycling kerbside collection, at local recycling points such as household waste recycling centres or at collection banks in supermarket car parks.

Any embellishments such as ribbons or glitter cannot be recycled so should be removed first by simply tearing off that section. Batteries should also be removed from musical cards and disposed of at battery recycling points.

Foil

Foil is one of the most important materials to recycle due to the environmental benefits it offers.  The good news is clean household foil and aluminium trays are widely recycled in household collection schemes, household waste recycling centres and at recycling points.  Collect any small pieces of foil in a tin can so they don't get lost.

Batteries

According to Directgov, over 12,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions could be avoided, if the UK can meet its recycling target of at least 45 per cent of batteries.  There are different types of batteries which can contain dangerous chemicals including: lead,cadmium, zinc, lithium and even mercury.  So, it's really important that they are disposed of correctly through recycling schemes and not placed in the the residual bin.  

Since battery recycling laws came into force in February 2010, most shops and supermarkets that sell batteries have collection bins in-store for used batteries.  You can also recycle them at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or check with your local council for kerbside collection services.

Collection services can change over the Christmas period, so please check with your local Council for more information. 

Tip:  If you have a digital home assistant, such as Alexa or Siri, ask them to remind you of the changes the day before they happen.