The great Christmas clear-up has begun as we begin to tidy up after the festivities.
We create more rubbish at Christmas than any other time of year, so it is important to recycle as much as possible.
Wrapping paper can be recycled as long as it passes the scrunch test – if it stays in a ball once you scrunch it up it can go in the blue kerbside box – take off sticky tape and ribbons first.
If doesn’t stay scrunched, has metallic shapes or glitter on it, put it in the general waste bin.
Glitter is almost impossible to remove during the recycling process, and a lot of paper is lined with plastic.
Cardboard packaging and most plastics can be put in your burgundy bin, as can Christmas cards and advent calendars – tear off any glittery bits.
More than half of food thrown out in the UK could be eaten, so clear a space in your freezer and save those leftovers for January.
And don’t forget vegetable peelings and tea bags can all go on the compost heap.
If you got some new gadgets for Christmas don’t just bin your old ones – even if they don’t work they can be recycled.
There are small amounts of precious material hidden inside old electrical items, such as gold, copper, steel and aluminium.
Anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled and they can be made into everything from medical equipment to children’s playgrounds.
North Lincolnshire Council is one of the few councils in the country to offer kerbside recycling service for small electricals. We collect around 25 tonnes of small electricals from the kerbside every year.
Put your item, unbagged, in one of your kerbside cycling boxes, removing batteries and sim cards first.
More than 20,000 tonnes of batteries go to landfill in the UK each year. Instead, take them to your nearest Household Recycling Centre. Better still, use rechargeable batteries.
Take apart natural wreaths and put all the moss, leaves, fir cones and twigs in your brown bin or compost heap. Save the wire for next year.
Craig Stephens, Recycle Now campaign manager, said: “Recycling rates are higher than ever, with more and more of us recycling.
“During the festive period many of us have more stuff in our houses than any other time – so it’s important to continue to protect the environment by recycling as much as possible.”
To check your bin day over the holidays go to www.northlincs.gov.uk/collectiondates
The Household Recycling Centre at Cottage Beck Road in Scunthorpe is open 8am to 4pm seven days a week. All other sites are open from 10am to 4pm, Friday to Tuesday.
Household Recycling Centres will be closed on New Year’s Day, Saturday 1 January.
