Reduce, re-use, recycle and compost this Christmas

Did you know that Maroondah households can produce up to three times as much waste during Christmas as they would in a normal week?

Over the Christmas period, we buy, eat and party more than any other time of the year and, consequently, we produce a lot more waste.

Maroondah Mayor and Council’s representative on the Metropolitan Local Government Waste Forum, Cr Mike Symon, said that fortunately, much of the Christmas rubbish we accumulate can be recycled.

“Christmas is a time for giving and often gifts come with wrapping paper, boxes and packaging that can be recycled. Just by sorting and recycling these items, we can prevent tonnes of materials being sent to landfill unnecessarily, minimising our impact on the environment,” Cr Symon said.

“The trend towards buying online has also risen exponentially, bringing with it an increase in packaging material such as bubble wrap, tape and polystyrene. When items like these are put in the recycling bin, they can contaminate the recycling stream and block machinery. Items such as plastic bags, both full and empty, and food left in containers, can also interrupt the recycling process,” he said.

“Beyond the wrapping and packaging, there are other opportunities to reduce our waste, such as cutting up your live Christmas tree at the end of the season and placing it your organics waste bin. Also, you could start a compost pile or worm farm, using your Christmas leftovers as a great source of compost fuel for your garden.

“Recycling is one of the simplest things we can do to reduce our impact on the environment. So, this Christmas, please make efforts to recycle what you can and only place appropriate items in the recycling bin,” Cr Symon said.

Top recycling tips for the festive season: Separate food waste from general waste and recycling Cater for the right amount of people to avoid waste; compost what’s left Re-gift or donate unwanted gifts to charity Try swapping single-use wrapping paper for reusable items like Christmas stockings, a colourful piece of fabric, gift bag or even a child’s artwork. Cut your live Christmas tree into small pieces and place it in your organics bin Sort your waste and only place recyclable items into the recycling bin Collect soft plastics and take them to your local supermarket REDcycle bin Further information

For more tips on recycling and composting, visit our Waste & rubbish page or phone 1300 88 22 33.