22 December 2009, 09/299
‘Tis the season to recycle
Why not give a gift to the environment and go green this
Christmas and New Year!
The festive season is upon us and with it comes present giving
and overindulgence - but it’s also a great time of year to recycle.
This doesn’t have to mean a ‘bah humbug approach’, just a little
care to ensure minimal impact on the environment.
So West Lancashire Borough Council is giving out lots of ideas
to encourage residents to think green this Christmas.
For example, if you’re celebrating Christmas with a real tree
this year, then don’t forget to recycle it in the New Year. Cards,
gift wrapping paper, cardboard packaging and all those empty glass
alcohol bottles are also the kind of items that can be taken away
by the Council for recycling too.
Other easy ways to enjoy a greener Christmas are:
- Buy your fruit and vegetables loose so there’s less
packaging
- When shopping take a reusable bag and say no to plastic
carriers
- Buy drinks in bigger bottles as they generate less
waste
- Stick with tradition and put presents in a stocking that
can be reused
- For toys and electrical gadgets buy rechargeable
batteries - for every 500 charges you’ll save 499 batteries being
thrown away
- Put your old clothes out for recycling if you get new
glad rags
- Buy LED fairy lights, they are 3 times brighter, use 80%
less energy and last 10 times longer.
- Buy locally sourced produce. The average Christmas dinner
has travelled over 25,000 miles before it reaches your plate, so
support local farmers
- Naturally made decorations such as holly and mistletoe
are better for the environment than plastic ones
Cllr Paul Greenall, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, said:
"Residents do a fantastic job with their recycling and our figures
are already nearly 50% so I’m sure that Christmas will be an even
greener one for West Lancashire this year. I’m sure that if people
follow our top tips to reduce waste they will be helping the
environment for future generations. You can even make a New Year’s
resolution to do your bit for the environment by switching off
appliances, save a shopping bag, take a walk to the shops and
recycle more."
Don’t forget you can also take any extra waste or recycling to
your nearest household waste recycling centre, who will be
happy to take it off your hands at either:
- Burscough, Abbey Lane
- Rufford, Station Road
- Skelmersdale, Glenburn Road
Why not join the recycling event being held in Coronation Park,
Ormskirk where you can also make use of your Christmas tree by
turning it into bark mulch for your garden. The event is free and
will take place on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17th January, from 2pm.
For more details contact the park ranger on 01695 585147 or email
chris.horsfall@westlancs.gov.uk.
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