Nothing says Christmas like mountains of ripped wrapping paper, miles of stray ribbon and acres of empty cardboard boxes among many, many other things.
If, like us, you find yourself surveying your home over the festive season and wondering where exactly to start when it comes to clearing space and making room, then it’s high-time you consider the benefits of recycling over Christmas.
Not only will you be ensuring a clear path from one rom to the next, you will also be doing your bit for the environment, setting a fantastic example for the kids and saving yourself some money which, once January rolls around, will be much appreciated!
If you want to end the year on a high note by balancing your budget, organising your home and giving back to Mother Nature, then why not check out our top five tips!
1. Reuse wrapping paper
Reusing old wrapping paper is one of the simplest but most effective ways to reduce waste over the Christmas period.
By setting aside the packaging you receive with gifts and reusing it at a later date (or even that same day!), you will be massively reducing your output of household waste and packaging.
Alternatively, old wrapping paper can be used to wrap and store Christmas decorations for the following year.
2. Re-use old decorations
It can be easy to get caught up in the Christmas spirit as December 25th edges ever closer, so it’s no surprise you may find yourself accumulating more and more decorations as the years go on.
Before you make another hasty decision and splurge on even more this Christmas, why not assess your current batch and make the most of what you already have?
Chances are you have more than you need and the vast majority are likely in pristine condition saving you money and storage space!
3. Recycle bottles
Very few households make it through Christmas without accumulating their fair share of bottles.
While it may be more appealing to simply dump them, a family trip to the bottle bank is the perfect way to show the kids just how proactive you really are about recycling and taking care of the environment.
Leading by example will ensure your children quickly become aware of the benefits and importance of waste reduction.
4. Utilise old boxes
Christmas brings much joy and cheer, but it also brings mountains upon mountains of cardboard boxes, right?
Before you immediately dump them, why not consider their uses around the home, especially at a time when we are forced to find extra storage space for festive trinkets and sentimental Christmas cards.
Alternatively, they can be added to the childrens’ craft supply where they will be quickly put to use by multiple pairs of creative and enthusiastic hands!
5. Don’t overdo packaging
In the run-up to the big day, we can be a little over zealous when it comes to parcelling up presents and packaging gifts for loved ones.
While tissue paper, wrapping paper, ribbon and a gift bag may look stunning on every present you choose to proffer, it is also quite wasteful.
Be savvy with your wrapping this Christmas because by cutting back, you will stretch your supplies and save money!
For lots of great tips and info on recycling your leftover Christmas packaging, visit the Repak website here.
