Tips to a “Greener” Christmas

This Christmas, reduce waste: reuse gift bags, avoid glitter, and recycle cardboard, polystyrene, and soft plastics!

1. Choose your gift wrap carefully and recycle responsibly

Glitter and sticky tape can’t be recycled as they are types of plastic. Remove sticky tape from wrapping paper before recycling it in your kerbside bin. Remember it’s always best to reuse instead of recycling (yes, that means reusing that bag from three years ago is great for the environment).  Where you can, choose recycled wrapping options and steer clear of glitter. Cellophane is a soft plastic that can be recycled at your local supermarket through the REDcycle program. 

2. Recycle polystyrene packaging

Polystyrene, EPS or poly can be terrible for our environment, particularly if it isn’t disposed of properly and ends up in our waterways. The great news is that it can be recycled into new products, you can recycle your polystyrene packaging at Resource Recovery Australia sites at Rockhampton, Toowoomba, MidCoast and Dunmore. 

3. Recycle all your cardboard

You can take any extra cardboard and packaging to your local Community Recycling Centre for free recycling.