Jingle all the way ... to the recycling bin
While the festive season is a time of cheer, goodwill to all and for spending time with the ones we love, with three million tonnes of waste generated, it’s also a time of spending far too much on items that we can’t or won’t be able to use.
This is perfectly highlighted by the amount of wrapping paper used in the UK over the festive period: enough to completely cover an area larger than Oxford, Banbury, Witney, Abingdon or Didcot!
Despite all this extra potential for waste, Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) wants us to think about having a more sustainable Christmas and making sure we do the green thing with our rubbish come Boxing Day.
“Having a green Christmas is about making some simple choices but still having as much fun. By thinking about what gifts we buy, buying and cooking only as much food as we can realistically eat, we can not only reduce the amount of waste we produce, but save money too’” says Paul Mocroft OWP communications officer.
OWP chairman Cllr Lorraine Lindsay-Gale will be having a green Christmas, she says: “Christmas is a magical time, but using more stuff than the family need is needlessly expensive and bad for the environment. You can have a fantastic Christmas without producing lots of rubbish, but make sure you recycle what you do have after the celebrations: that goes for your wrapping paper, your food waste and your Christmas tree.”
Food waste from turkey bones and overcooked sprouts can be put in the district council food waste bins.
Christmas cards and standard wrapping paper (not plastic or glittered paper) can be recycled with the normal paper collection.
Real Christmas trees, holly and wreath can all be recycled (once the decorations have been removed. All Household Waste Recycling Centres will take them, and they can be recycled by district councils too:
Cherwell
Trees can be put in the brown bin, or left by the side if they won't fit in. Collection days are the same as usual.
Oxford City
After Christmas, 17 sites across the city will be set up to collect your Christmas trees. The trees will be recycled into woodchip to use in the city’s parks and open spaces. Collection points will be open between Monday 2 January and Sunday 15 January 2012:
- Hinksey Park
- Meadow Lane Recreation Ground (Jackdaw Lane)
- Alexandra Courts
- Green Road, (Risinghurst)
- Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre
- Blackbird Leys Park (Car Park)
- Bury Knowle Park (Car Park)
- Manzil Way Gardens
- Cutteslowe Park (Harbord Road Car Park)
- Florence Park
- Long Lane (Littlemore)
- Elizabeth Green (Northway)
- Oatlands Recreation Ground (Car Park)
- Margaret Road Recreation Ground
- South Park (Morrell Avenue Gate)
- Sunnymead Recreation Ground (by Play Area)
- Atkyns Road, Wood Farm
Waste collection days in Oxford remain unchanged.
South Oxfordshire and Vale
Garden waste customers can put their trees by the side of their brown bin on a recycling week once garden waste collections resume.
There are also drop off points in local garden centres. Trees can be taken to a participating local garden centre any time during opening hours up to Saturday 14 January (trees left after this date will not be accepted):
South Oxfordshire
- Brightwell-cum-Sotwell - Root One
- Chinnor - Garden Centre
- Christmas Common - The Tree Barn
- Henley - Toad Hall
- Nuneham Courtenay - Notcutts
- Sonning Common The Herb Farm
- Wheatley - Waterperry Gardens
- Thame - Cattle Market Car Park
Vale of the White Horse
- Chilton - Wyvale Garden Centre
- Frilford - Frost’s at Millets Farm
- South Hinksey - The Oxford Garden Centre
- Wantage - Charlton Park Garden Centre
South Oxfordshire Christmas collection days
Vale of White Horse Christmas collection days
West Oxfordshire
Trees can be left out for collection with the garden waste, or left by the side if they won't fit in. Residents who don't have a garden waste bin can still leave their tree out for recycling when the new year garden waste collections start on16 January.
Trees should be cut down to less than 6ft.
