Recycle at Christmas
Check out the key things that you can recycle over the Christmas period.
Real Christmas Trees
Real Christmas trees be composted at industrial compost sites. Many local community groups, or charities offer a collection service after Christmas, for a donation. You can also take your tree to your nearest household recycling centre, or if you have a garden waste collection you can chop the tree up so it fits in the collection bin.
Remember to remove all tinsel and decorations and any pots or stands. Artificial trees are made from a combination of materials and therefore cannot be recycled. Unwanted trees in good condition may be accepted by charity shops for re-sale and re-use.
Christmas Cards
Most Christmas cards are paper based and can be recycled, along with their envelopes at home in Bucks. If you are really popular then you can take your bundles to your nearest household recycling centre. Any extras such as ribbons, glitter or bows cannot be recycled and need to be removed by tearing off that part of the card.
Glass baubles
Glass baubles are not recyclable. Broken glass baubles should be disposed of by wrapping and putting in with rubbish bin. Plastic baubles are usually made from types of plastic not widely collected yet in the UK and are likely to be covered with glitter which would impact on the recycling process so should also go in the rubbish bin.
Tinsel
Tinsel cannot be recycled. If your tinsel has finally lost its sparkle and needs to be thrown away please dispose of it in your rubbish bin.
Wreaths
Wreaths with natural materials, such as ivy, fir cones, mistletoe and holly, can be composted as long as they are not covered with excessive glitter. Simply remove the greenery from the base and add to your garden waste collection, or drop at your local household recycling centre. Artificial decorations such as ribbons and plastic flowers will need to be removed as these cannot be recycled.
Christmas lights
Christmas lights can be recycled at household recycling centres, or pop them in a bag on top of your recycling bin for collections crews to recycle separately. Do not put them in the bin.
Wrapping paper
Do the scrunch test! You can recycle wrapping paper at home in Bucks, but only non-foil paper will be accepted. To check, scrunch up the paper and if it doesn't spring back it is non-foil and can be recycled. Before recycling, remove any sticky tape and decorations such as ribbons and bows as these cannot be recycled.
Cardboard
If you've ordered goods online this Christmas, it's likely your items were delivered in boxes or envelopes made from corrugated cardboard which is easy to recycle at home in Bucks. Remember to remove any plastic or polystyrene inserts and excess sticky tape from cardboard boxes before recycling
Food waste
Food that can't be eaten can be recycled. Turkey carcasses, vegetable peelings and coffee grounds can all be recycled at home. The weekly food recycling service makes it easier than ever. You can also use spare plastic bags to line your caddy too, like bread or salad bags. Find out more about your food recycling here.
Foil
Foil is one of the most important materials to recycle due to the environmental benefits it offers. The good news is clean household foil and aluminium trays are widely recycled in household collection schemes and at household recycling centres. Collect any small pieces of foil in a tin can so they don't get lost.
Batteries
Batteries are all over the house at Christmas. Please do not put old batteries in the bin. You can recycle them separately in lots of ways. Most shops and supermarkets that sell batteries have recycling bins in-store for used batteries. You can also recycle them at your local Household Recycling Centre.
Changes to collection services
Collection services can change over the Christmas period, so please check with Buckinghamshire Council for more information. Tip: If you have a digital home assistant, such as Alexa or Siri, ask them to remind you of the changes the day before they happen.