We all know how it goes, Christmas comes around, presents are opened, cupboards are full, and the mood is merry. But there is always that week or two after Christmas when the bins are full of cardboard or recyclables because we and our families have indulged. Regardless of whether there is a stack of present boxes in your garden, a heap of used batteries, or an old appliance that has been replaced, here at DID, we are here to help you find out how to recycle all of your leftover rubbish with ease. So if you are at all unsure about Christmas recycling, hopefully, these tips will help.

We all love a real Christmas tree but disposing of it is not a lot of fun, especially if you are unsure of what or how to do so. Many people tend to throw it in the garden and wait for the Halloween bonfire; others dispose of it in the woods, or worse, in the seas/lakes/rivers nearest to their home. One top tip we suggest is bringing the tree to your local recycling centre. If you are going to use your car to transport it there, maybe some tarpaulin underneath the tree will protect the paintwork. Similarly, there are also tree collection services out there that will collect the tree free for a small fee.

Most people will forget this, but glass can be recycled. Most people will leave the glass to build up in their garden or put it into general waste. Regardless of how many glass bottles and jars we use, we must remember that we can always help to do our bit for the environment. So, rinsing your glass and bringing it to your nearest bottle bank is the best way to recycle it safely this Christmas season.

Believe it or not, Christmas crackers are one of the most surefire ways to increase your carbon footprint at Christmas. How? Well, they are actually full of single-use plastics, so they cannot be used again or recycled. Yet because people see the paper on the outside of the cracker, they assume that it is recyclable. Unfortunately, Christmas crackers are rarely recyclable, so perhaps avoiding them this Christmas will not only help reduce your rubbish or waste but also reduce your carbon footprint. 

Many people will throw unused or uneaten food straight into general waste, or worse, recycling. We would side against such measures and would suggest that you either use a food caddy or a brown compost bin to store any leftover food.

•  This one might seem obvious, but pinpoint when your general waste and recycling are being collected. The normal collection day might be effected because of the Christmas bank holidays. The number of people that forget about this and are left with weeks’ worth of cardboard piled up in their bins.
• Flattening is your friend: Flatten out the cardboard you have used, making more space available in your bins.
•  
  If you have leftover food, put it into a brown compost bin or the equivalent, a turkey carcass cannot be recycled.
• Used tinfoil or turkey foil is not recyclable, so make sure that it goes into the black or purple general waste bin.

Being mindful is probably the easiest way to waste less at Christmas time. For many, Christmas is about excess, but just being conscious of the small things you do like folding cardboard to make more room for recyclables. Limiting your use of single-use plastics or ensuring that food waste is going into the correct bin can save you a lot of hassle regarding proper recycling. 

We could give more than three examples, but if we had to pick 3 relevant to the Christmas season, we would say food, bubble wrap, and glass. 

It is best not to recycle batteries in a regular recycling bin. Most places will recommend that you bring batteries to a recycling centre, and they will get rid of them effectively. Here at DID, we recycle batteries, so feel free to pop into one of our 23 stores nationwide and recycle your Christmas batteries. 

Here at DID, we are always happy to help you when it comes to recycling your appliances. For more than five decades, we have been installing electrical appliances, so safe to say, we know what we are doing when it comes to recycling too. In 2021, we were awarded for our efficiency in recycling batteries and appliances at the Pakman awards, a ceremony is known for being prestigious in recognising recycling excellence. The best part is, we recycle your old electric appliances for free, so if you find yourself with a fridge or freezer in your back garden, you know who to call.