Artificial Trees:

• Donate artificial trees in good condition to organizations like the Salvation Army or local community groups. For broken trees, check council pick-up schedules or recycling options through services like Bower Reuse & Repair

Natural Trees:

• RecycleMyTree.com.au provides an eco-friendly Christmas tree recycling service in Sydney, turning trees into mulch to reduce landfill waste and support green spaces. Additionally, leftover trees are donated to The Taronga zoo, where elephants enjoy them as a nutritious snack, benefiting both the environment and animal well-being.

Recycle Wrapping Paper Properly:

• What’s Recyclable? In Sydney, plain wrapping paper without glitter, foil, or plastic can go in your yellow-lid recycling bin. Scrunch it into a ball to test—if it stays scrunched, it’s likely recyclable.

• Reusing Wrapping Paper: Save intact pieces for gift-wrapping next year or use them for crafts like gift tags or bookmarks.

Recycle Christmas Cards:

• Remove any embellishments like ribbons or glitter before placing plain cards in your recycling bin. Alternatively, use them for DIY projects, such as creating gift tags or festive collages.

Christmas Lights:

• Drop off broken or unwanted Christmas lights at Sydney's e-waste recycling events or specialized facilities like Reverse Garbage in Marrickville, which creatively repurposes materials.

Christmas Decorations:

• Reuse or Repurpose: Transform old baubles into art projects or donate them to local schools or second-hand shops.

• Wreaths and Garlands: If they’re made of natural materials like pine, remove wires or non-compostable items and place them in your green-lid bin for composting.

Wrapping Paper Alternatives:

• Use Sydney-friendly options like reusing fabric scraps, newspaper, or even old art pieces. As an artist, you might inspire others by showcasing creative ways to wrap gifts using painted or hand-drawn paper.

Ribbons and Bows:

• Sydney councils encourage reusing non-recyclable materials like ribbons and bows. Keep them for gift wrapping or DIY decorations.