TIPS on how you can cut down on rubbish created over the Christmas period are being offered by the council.
Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) is encouraging residents to try to cut down on household waste and increase recycling, given the extra amounts of wrapping paper, decorations and food that may be thrown away.
Resident are being urged to:
- Purchase paper wrapping paper rather than metallic or plastic-based as these cannot be put in black recycling boxes
- Buy fruit and vegetables loose, not pre-packed
- Write a shopping list and stick to it
- Compost vegetable/fruit peelings
- Turn vegetable leftovers from Christmas lunch into ‘bubble and squeak’
- Recycle plastic bottles, paper/card, aerosols and food/drink tins
- Break down cardboard boxes to save space and ensure they fit in the black recycling box
- Old, unwanted electrical items can be recycled at re3 recycling centres
- Chop up your real Christmas tree and take it a household recycling centre
The re3 recycling centres at Smallmead, Island Road, Reading and Longshot Lane, Bracknell will be open during the holiday period, apart from Sunday, December 25, Monday December, 26 and Sunday, January 1. Opening times are 8am to 6pm, except Saturday December 24 when they will be from 8am to 4pm.
Cllr Angus Ross, executive member for environment, said: “Waste tends to increase over the festive period, but I hope that by following just some of these tips residents will be able to help us recycle as much as possible.
“Don’t forget, any old or unwanted items can either be taken to a local charity shop or one of our re3 recycling centres, along with your real Christmas tree. If you plan on taking anything to a recycling centre, either in Reading or Bracknell, please also make sure you have your re3 permit.”
Participants in the garden waste scheme can leave out their chopped-up real Christmas tree on their collection day.
See below for waste and recycling collections dates over the Christmas period.
