‘Tis the season to reduce, reuse and recycle

Published on 14 December 2018

Following on from the recent Recycle Right campaign launched across the Northern Rivers region in early December, Council is calling on the community to give plastic the flick this Christmas and help reduce the shire’s festive footprint. 

“Our waste increases by around 30 percent during the ‘silly season’ with wrapping paper, packaging, and uneaten food being the main offenders,” Council’s Resource & Recovery Education Officer, Lucy Wilson said.

According to the 2017 Choosi Clutter Report, the average Australian household spends around $963 a year on gifts for friends and family during the festive season and receives around $620 worth of gifts that are no longer used, returned or re-gifted, or end up in landfill.

Add to that the average $4,000 worth of edible food thrown away by each NSW household every year, and the holiday season is one of the most wasteful time of the year.

“It’s time for us to tackle this unnecessary spike in waste, and I know that if any area can do it, the Byron Shire can,” Mrs Wilson said.

Our Make the Switch Plastic Free Byron team is also urging Byron Shire residents to reduce their plastic packaging as much as they can this Christmas.

“95% of all plastic packaging is used once and then thrown away as waste or litter,” Coordinator of Plastic Free Byron’s Make The Switch Program, Coral Latella said.

“Christmas is a time when our use of plastic packaging increases dramatically so we are encouraging everyone to think about buying presents for friends and family that reduce litter and change wasteful habits.

“It’s also a great time of year to dine out and one really easy thing you can do is choose to dine at a café or restaurant that is certified as a Plastic Free Champion through our program.

“Choose to support them and let them know you appreciate their hard work and commitment!” she said.

Find the full list of Plastic Free Champions on the Plastic Free Byron website at www.plasticfreebyron.com/maketheswitch

Practical tips towards a waste-free Christmas

Make a list and check it twice

When purchasing ask - is this item wanted or needed? Can I avoid waste with this item choice (such as packaging), or re-use or recycle the waste that comes from it?

Plan to keep every step of your shopping experience waste-wise by using re-useable shopping bags, re-useable cloth or mesh fruit and vegie bags and choosing items with either no packaging or packaging that’s recyclable or compostable.

Presents

•             Opt for experiences (e.g. movie tickets, restaurant vouchers, memberships and annual passes) over ‘stuff’.

•             Upcycle, repair and re-gift.

•             Choose an item you really need that friends and family can contribute towards.

•             Make a charitable donation in lieu of gifts.

•             Buy second-hand.

•             Organise a Secret Santa.

•             Set a spend limit for each person.

•             Send e-cards or social media greetings rather than Christmas cards.

Food and drinks

•             Make a plan and stick with it! Keep to your shopping list to avoid overbuying.

•             Buy locally and buy the freshest available so it lasts longer.

•             Think of meal portions per guest when planning how much food to have on the day.

•             While disposable plates, cups and cutlery are tempting - think of the waste! Use re-usable water bottles, coffee cups, bags, straws and food wrapping like beeswax wrappers.

Decorations

•             Have some fun making your own this year from recyclables or natural items. Check out greenglobaltravel.com/recycled-christmas-decorations-homemade-gifts/ for inspiration.

Gift wrapping

•             Use Christmas stockings or sacks rather than wrapping each gift.

•             Make your own wrapping paper (or use children’s artwork).

•             Re-use bags or Christmas wrap from previous years.

•             Avoid using wrapping paper that cannot be recycled such as foil or plastic coated paper.

Post Christmas wrap-up

•             Recycle Right through your yellow-lid bin by keeping it simple (only hard plastic bottles and containers, glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium cans, paper and cardboard); keep out soft plastics; keep out items smaller than a credit card; keep it safe; keep it clean and keep it loose. Find out more at www.newaste.org.au/recycleright

•             Compost food waste through your green-lid organics bin or home composting.

•             Donate any unwanted items to charity or re-gift/sell.

For more information contact Council’s Resource & Recovery Education Officer, Lucy Wilson, on 6626 7077.