Don’t turn Christmas into a load of rubbish

11:31pm Friday 28th December 2007

With the turkey eaten and the recovery from the Christmas period in full swing, residents are being urged to recycle their Yuletide waste.

Environmental bosses at Bradford Council would like people to make efforts to recycle their wrapping paper, cardboard packaging, Christmas cards, trees, glass bottles, cans and tins in its Christmas recycling campaign.

People in the Bradford district throw away about 40,000 extra tonnes of rubbish at Christmas - 30 per cent more compared to other times of the year.

Putting unsorted waste in dustbins mean that it will all be taken to landfill sites where it will slowly decompose and release carbon monoxide, methane and other greenhouse gases.

However the majority of it can be recycled without much effort.

Christmas trees can be taken to your local garden centre or household waste recycling centre. For the first time this year, they can also be put out with the kerbside garden waste collection.

Christmas cards cannot be placed in kerbside paper bins due to their glitter content but can be dropped off at WH Smiths and Tesco stores.

Wrapping paper and cardboard packaging can be taken to the household waste recycling centres, as can glass bottles, drinks cans and tins, which can also be collected at the kerbside or at other recycling facilities.

In addition the district's eight household waste recycling centres are open every day during the festive period apart from New Year's Day.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's executive member for environment, said: "We want everyone to enjoy Christmas and have a good time but spare a thought to the environment as well.

"Much of the excess rubbish that is produced through Christmas can be recycled easily so please make use of the Council's services."

Tuesday bin collections will be made on Monday instead next week.

For recycling collections, refer to the schedule on the bin sticker, or ring the Council's customer services department on (01274) 431000.

For more details and for tips on making more of a difference go to www.bradford.gov.uk/christmasrecycling.

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