How to celebrate a low-waste Christmas
Published on 15 December 2023
Christmas is a joyful time for many of us, but while we’re indulging in our favourite treats and tearing open presents it’s easy to forget how much waste we’re creating.
Here are some tips on keeping waste to a minimum this Christmas, as well as making sure our waste ends up in the right place afterwards.
Buying presents
Think about potential waste when shopping for gifts. Will the person receiving the gift really love it and use it? Does it come with excessive packaging? Can it be recycled when it’s worn out?
Gift vouchers mean no more unwanted gifts taking up space or going to landfill. Event tickets and other experiences also make great low-waste gifts.
Wrapping the gifts
Every Christmas, Australians use about 150,000 kilometers of wrapping paper. That's enough to go around the whole of Australia six times!
Get creative and use kids’ artwork, newspaper or other household scraps, or make the wrapping part of the gift by using a tea towel, T-shirt or beeswax wrap. If you do buy gift wrap, make sure it doesn’t include plastic or foil so it can be recycled.
Decorating the tree
Using what you already have is always the most sustainable option, and that goes for your Christmas tree and decorations as well. If you need to buy a tree, consider how long it will last – a live, potted plant or a high quality fake tree are both good options.
Preparing and eating the food
Australians waste 30% more food than usual around Christmas time. Plan what you need in advance and don’t overspend on fresh produce and other foods that spoil quickly. Think about how you can use up leftovers while planning the menu. You can always freeze them too!
Cleaning up after the big day
Once the fun is over, it’s time to clean up!
-
Save gift bags and any good bits of wrapping paper or ribbon for reuse next year.
-
Wrapping paper can go in the recycling bin, as long as it’s 100% paper. Tear a bit to check if there’s any plastic coating. Don’t worry about the sticky tape.
-
Put any foil wrapping paper or plastic ribbons in the garbage bin.
-
Plastic bags and cling wrap always go in the garbage bin.
-
Flatten cardboard boxes and put them in your recycling bin, or drop them off for free at one of our Resource Recovery Centres.
-
Meat scraps, prawn tails and small bones can all go in your food and garden bin. Wrap them in a bit of paper towel or keep them frozen until bin night if you’re worried about the smell.
-
Batteries and electronics must never be put in your household bins. Take them to an e-waste or battery drop-off point so they can be recycled safely. Also good for dead fairy lights!
-
And, if you have a natural Christmas tree, take it to one of our mulching days so it can return nutrients to the soil.
Wishing you a low-waste Christmas and a sustainable New Year!