The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) is urging households in Westmeath to stay green this Christmas and recycle their waste. Christmas time produces more waste than any other time of the year, according to the EPA, and this waste can be diverted from landfills if people remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The EPA has devised a number of tips to help the households of Westmeath contribute to a greener Christmas:
· Recycle your wrapping paper – after you’ve unwrapped presents, save the paper for next year. If you need to buy new wrapping paper, check that it’s made out of recycled paper and complete the recycle loop.
· SNUB! Say No to Unwanted Bags! Bring your own shopping bags.
· Organise your household bins – a green bin (for cardboard, biscuit tins, tetra pack cartons, food cans, and drink cans ), a compost bin (for biodegradable waste ), and a general waste bin.
· Buy rechargeable batteries. If you are buying presents that require batteries, make sure you buy rechargeable batteries to go with them. When disposing of old batteries make sure you recycle them at your local bring banks and recycling centres.
· Compost your Christmas leftovers. Raw fruit and vegetables, shredded paper, soft card, and chopped up Christmas plants are just some of the items that can be added to a compost bin.
· Don’t throw away your cards - recycle them. Better still, buy recycled cards. Alternatively, you can send an e-card and produce no paper at all!
· Put leftovers into reusable containers with lids instead of using non-recyclable aluminium foil or plastic film.
· Be a green shopper - when shopping for Christmas dinner, avoid products with lots of packaging. Buy loose vegetables instead of packaged. Buy drinks in large containers rather than small containers - there is less waste and it saves you money.
· Choose decorations that can be reused.
· Recycle your Christmas tree - trees can be shredded and shavings used for landscaping. Bring your Christmas tree to your local recycle centre. Alternatively, buy a tree that can be planted in the garden after the Christmas period.
· Give any unwanted presents to your local charity shop - someone will want them and it takes pressure off the environment if you don’t throw them away.
Visit www.westmeathcoco.ie to find your nearest recycling facilities, or check out www.raceagainstwaste.ie for a list of bring banks and recycling centres.
