COUNCIL chiefs are urging residents to bear the planet in mind as they indulge in festivities this year.
With enough cards and packaging used in the UK to cover Big Ben nearly 260,000 times, and enough wrapping paper to wrap around the equator nine times, Christmas is no friend to the Earth.
Not to mention the six million Christmas trees tossed out every year.
Households are advised to make simple shopping lists to avoid wasting food, and to freeze any leftovers for post yuletide treats.
Food can also be either be composted at home or recycled at the kerbside in the green bin rather than needlessly sent to landfill.
And most wrapping paper, Christmas cards, wine bottles, glass jars and lids, plastic bottles, tubs, pots and trays, foil, tins and cans can be recycled kerbside.
However cards with embellishments like ribbons or glitter can be more difficult to recycle along with wrapping paper which is often dyed or contains non-paper components.
A good rule of thumb is if wrapping paper scrunches up into a ball and stays that way, it can likely be recycled.
Councils will accept Christmas cards and wrapping paper as card and paper recycling – as long as they are recyclable and not glittery or metallic, include bows, or covered with tape.
Real Christmas trees can be cut up and placed in the green bin for residents who subscribe to garden waste collection.
Residents in Stratford can put trees next to the bin if necessary. If the tree is over 5ft, it should be cut in half.
Some high street stores and supermarkets may have collection points for cards and some household waste recycling centre or garden centres may also offer Christmas tree recycling points.
Unwanted gifts or other items should be taken to charity shops. Electronic devices can be recycled at household waste centres or electronic equipment bring banks.
