5 ways to have a greener Christmas
Reuse and recycle this festive season
This year, make your celebrations more sustainable with these five simple but yet effective ways to have a greener Christmas.
From donating reusable items to recycling more efficiently, you can reduce your environmental impact and make a positive difference this December. Here’s how:
1. Shop sustainably
Making sustainable choices when shopping, from food and drink to gifts and decorations, makes a huge impact on the environmental impact of your festive season.
This year, shop for gifts and decorations sustainably at your local Reuse Shop. Bag yourself festive decorations (including trees) and one-of-a-kind gifts, whilst saving money and supporting Bristol’s circular economy.
What do the Reuse Shops sell?
Children’s toys, furniture items, bikes, gaming consoles, home goods, electricals, garden items – our Reuse Shops can provide a one-stop shop for your whole Christmas list.
Plus, you know people who reduce, reuse and recycle will be on Father Christmas’s ‘nice list’.
Why shop at the Reuse Shops?
By buying from Bristol Waste’s Reuse Shops, you’re helping to cut down on the demand for new products, supporting a circular economy. It’s a simple way to make your Christmas shopping both more affordable and more environmentally friendly.
Plus, 25% of all the profits from Bristol Waste Reuse Shops is donated to our chosen charity partner and the important work they do for people in Bristol and the surrounding area.
2. Declutter and donate
This year, take some time ahead of the Christmas pandemonium to declutter your home and give unwanted usable items to your local charity or one of Bristol Waste’s Reuse Shops.
By doing a pre-festive de-clutter you are not only freeing up space in your home, but you are also donating usable items in time for other people to give them as gifts!
Perfect items to donate:
- usable clean clothing (these will have to go to a charity shop, as our Reuse Shops don’t currently accept clothing)
- furniture and home goods (remember, soft furnishings need to have a valid fire safety label)
- tools and DIY items (nothing petrol please!)
- toys and games
By donating usable, unwanted items, you’re allowing families to save money on their green Christmas too!
3. Remember to recycle – especially food waste
This year, commit to reducing food waste by planning your meals carefully, reusing leftovers and recycling unavoidable food waste (like potato peelings, tea bags and turkey bones) in your brown food waste bin.
Bristol Waste offers food waste collection services for both households and businesses, turning recycled food waste into energy to power local homes and soil improver for local farms, so you can make the most of that valuable resource without it stinking up your general waste bin!
Additionally, consider composting at home — food waste like vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, and fruit skins can all be used to create rich, fertile compost for your garden.
Recycling isn’t just limited to food, though. Don’t forget to sort your wrapping paper*, bottles, cans, and cardboard, ensuring they go into the correct recycling bin. By recycling, you make sure fewer items end up wasted, reducing the environmental impact of your celebrations.
*wrapping paper can’t be recycled with your standard kerbside collection as it may have plastic coating or other mixed materials.
Find out about recycling days at Christmas here.
4. Embrace energy-efficient Christmas lights
This year, consider switching to energy-efficient LED lights for your festive decorations. These use far less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs. If you’re putting up outdoor lights, look for solar-powered options that don’t rely on mains electricity at all.
Additionally, try to limit how long your lights are on. Not only will this save you money on your energy bills, but it will also reduce your carbon footprint, making your home just as festive without the excess environmental cost and energy bill.
And don’t forget, broken or unwanted fairy lights can be reused or recycled!
Find out more about recycling small electricals here.
5. Donate after Christmas: give your old and unwanted items a second life
Christmas is often a time for new gifts and upgrades, whether it’s a new TV, a kitchen gadget, or a set of clothes. However, after the presents are unwrapped, many people find themselves with old items that they no longer need. Instead of putting them in the back of the cupboard for a few years, before you finally decide to throw them away, consider donating unwanted gifts and other reusable items at one of the Reuse Shops at Bristol Waste’s Household Reuse and Recycling Centres.
Reduce waste and keep functional items in use so you can enjoy the presents you did want, guilt-free. Whether it’s an old phone, an unwanted sofa, or a set of Christmas decorations, your second-hand items could be just what someone else is looking for. After the holiday season is over, it’s the perfect time to give back and reduce waste by donating your pre-loved goods.
A greener Christmas for all
Bristol Waste’s Reuse Shops and services are here to help make your Christmas greener and more sustainable. Together, we can make this festive season not only a time for giving but also a time for reducing our environmental footprint.
And as a bonus you’re sure to be on Santa’s nice list!
Find a Reuse Shop near you
Avonmouth Reuse Shop
Opening hours: Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat, Sun: 9.30am to 3.30pm
Donations: Booking essential
Shopping: No need to book
Address: Kings Weston Ln, Avonmouth, Bristol BS11 0YS
Hartcliffe Way Reuse Shop
Opening hours: Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 9.30am to 3.30pm
Donations: No need to book if donating at the shop. Booking essential if dropping off at the recycling centre
Shopping: No need to book
Address: 83 Hartcliffe Way, Bristol BS3 5RN
Follow the Bristol Waste Reuse Shop on Facebook here
