Now that Christmas Day 2024 is officially over most will be waking up this morning looking at their new gifts and surrounded by piles of wrapping paper, festive cards and empty cardboard boxes. There will also be food leftovers, sweet wrappers, empty cans and bottles, chunky blocks of polystyrene and real trees filling up living rooms up and down the country.
But now that the celebrations are coming to an end, how should you look to get rid of the festive waste that accumulates this time of year?
Each council across Wales has their own specific rules over how and when to recycle festive items and it even varies depending on the type of gift wrap or greeting cards you’ve used or received. Here, we’ve taken a look at the rules for different areas of the country so that no matter where you live, you’ll know what to do. You can read our piece on recycling centre opening hours here.
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Anglesey
Anglesey County Council advises people living in the area to employ a “scrunch test” for wrapping paper, meaning, if it scrunches, it can be recycled. It says all tape and ribbons must be removed from the paper before recycling. ‘Simple wrap paper’ can be recycled, but dyed paper, foil wrap paper, glitter, laminated or plastic additives cannot.
Conwy
Conwy County Borough Council says that if wrapping paper doesn’t have glitter or foil, it can usually be recycled in your top box. It writes on its website: “Take off any sticky tape, ribbons and bows first. Use the wrapping paper ‘scrunch test’ – if you scrunch the paper in your hand and it stays in a ball, it can be put into the recycling.
“With Christmas cards, tear off ribbons or sections of glitter and then put the cards in with the paper recycling. Batteries from musical cards can go in your battery bag. Christmas tree lights and electronic toys can be recycled in your pink bag. Natural materials such as ivy, fir cones, mistletoe and holly can be composted or put in your garden waste bin, as long as they are not covered with glitter.
“With packaging, remove all plastic or polystyrene packing from inside boxes before you recycle them. Flatten your boxes before you put them out. If you have a lot of cardboard, put it out over a few weeks. Can’t wait? Use the household recycling centres for free.”
Denbighshire
Denbighshire County Council says: “Christmas cards containing glitter and foil cannot be recycled. You can dispose of decorations that are not fit for reuse using the appropriate container for your recycling and waste collections service or at a recycling and waste park. Christmas decorations can be reused year after year or donated to local charity shops or schools for craft sessions.
“Recycle your real Christmas tree in your green wheelie bin or green sacks. Please cut it up before you put it out for collection. Real trees can also be taken to your local recycling and waste park. You can dispose of gift wrap containing glitter and plastic using the appropriate container for your recycling and waste collections service or at a recycling and waste park. Plain paper gift wrap can be recycled once any cello tape has been removed.”
Flintshire
Flintshire County Council points out that not all wrapping paper can be recycled. It writes: “The scrunch test is a simple way of checking whether something is recyclable. If the item springs back into shape after you have scrunched it up, then it can’t be recycled. If it doesn’t spring back into shape, then it can be recycled and you can put it in with your paper recycling.”
Gwynedd
gwynedd -council>Gwynedd Council offers the following advice on wrapping paper: “Try to reuse Christmas paper and bags and recycle where possible. If paper remains scrunched up after you’ve made it into a ball then it’s probably suitable for recycling. If not, put it in the bin and try to use paper that can be recycled next time.”
Powys
Powys County Council advises that Christmas cards, wrapping paper and paper that does not have glitter on are recyclable (glitter causes issues in the recycling process as it can’t be removed).
It adds: “Remember to tear off any glitter sections or non-paper items like badges or batteries off your Christmas cards before recycling them. Any wrapping paper or paper with glitter on should go in your black wheeled bin. With wrapping paper and gift bags there is the super handy scrunch test: if you scrunch it and it doesn’t spring back, then it can be recycled – sorted!
“Remember to take any sellotape, bows and ribbons off your wrapping paper before you recycle it. Cardboard packaging, including that from online shopping, can be recycled. Simply flatten to save space and remove any plastic or polystyrene. If possible don’t leave it out in the rain- if cardboard is wet then mould sets in meaning it can’t be recycled. Toilet roll tubes often get forgotten but it’s easy and worthwhile to recycle them If you’re not sure if something is made of paper or cardboard and is recyclable – then it probably isn’t.
“Your kitchen caddy can be used for all your food waste over Christmas including turkey bones, potato peelings, eggshells and tea bags. The busy festive period leads to a giant 13,350 tonnes of glass bottles being chucked out! So remember, if you have any glass bottles, including the empty cranberry sauce or mincemeat jars, put them out for recycling.
“When the festive season draws to an end, around 250 tonnes of real trees are thrown out when in fact they can be recycled if you take them to your nearest household waste recycling centre (but remove any decorations including tinsel and baubles please).”
Wrexham
Wrexham Council has advised residents of the food that can be placed in their food caddy at Christmas, including turkey and meat bones. It adds: “Not just turkey bones, but all meat bones and carcasses can be recycled as food waste. Outdated or mouldy food, along with raw meat, can be placed in the caddy. The council advises scraping plates directly into the caddy to prevent waste.
“From chestnut shells and eggshells to vegetable peelings, fruit peelings, and apple cores, all can be recycled. Uneaten fruit and vegetables, including sprouts, are also suitable for recycling. Uneaten fast food, such as chips or pizza, can also go into the caddy. Additionally, items like tea bags, coffee granules, shellfish, uneaten ready meals, and even wooden cutlery can be recycled.”
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