‘Don’t waste Christmas’ is the message from the waste recovery, recycling and re-use company that has helped Devon to become the best recycling county in England.

Devon Waste Management has produced a “12 Ways of Reclaiming Christmas” guide to help focus households on how to minimise waste in the countdown to Christmas when a mountain of rubbish is produced each year.

It forms part of its continuing drive to increase Devon’s recycling rate. The group’s network of Civic Recycling Centres helped the county to achieve the top recycling rate for England in 2010-11 at 55 per cent.

In its countdown to Christmas, the group is highlighting the choice of Christmas tree on day one. By choosing a real tree over the plastic alternatives, you can help the environment by taking it to one of the network of Civic Recycling Centres it operates for the county council for shredding and composting. This ensures it goes back into the ground to nourish local farms fields.

On the second day of Christmas, the group is encouraging drivers to check their car batteries and oil for winter to ensure they are prepared for any festive travelling to see loved ones. Spare batteries and engine oil can be recycled by the group through its centres.

On the third day of Christmas, the group advises you to consider whether you really need to send Christmas cards or if an e-card or phone call would be an alternative. Any cards received can be deposited at the recycling centres afterwards. Card can be turned into newspaper, paper towels and writing paper.

Other tips include:
• Day four: Newspapers and magazines - Bank Holidays often see festive magazines and newspaper supplements dropping through the letterbox. These can be recycled at your nearest centre.
• Day five: Glass bottles and jars - After you have re-used any spare jars for pickled onions and chutneys to have on Boxing Day, bag them up for recycling at your nearest centre.
• Day six: Christmas tree lights - if they’ve had their day, don’t bin them. These and other small electrical items are accepted at the recycling centres.
• Day seven: Bulbs – with the dark winter nights upon us, consider switching to low-energy lighting and take any spent ones along to a centre to be recycled with fluorescent tubes.
• Day eight: Batteries – many children’s toys require batteries. Don’t let them go to landfill. Take them to your nearest centre for recycling.
• Day nine: Carrier bags – Christmas is a busy time for food shoppers. Don’t forget to start saving your bags now for re-use or recycle them via in-store facilities. These plastics can take decades to degrade in the ground.
• Day 10: Food waste – Try saving money this Christmas by focussing on foods you know you will eat. Consider creating your own compost bin.
• Day 11: Wrapping paper and boxes – By now, you are likely to be hard at work wrapping gifts, many of them boxed. Plan ahead to ensure they are set aside for your trip to your local recycling centre in the New Year.
• Day 12: Aluminium and steel cans – the partying is underway. Make sure the fun doesn’t go to waste by taking your aluminium cans and glass bottles to your recycling centre.

“The amount of waste we produce escalates over Christmas and the New Year,” says Devon Waste Management Commercial Director Steve Hadley. “Most of it can be re-used or recycled with a bit of thought and a trip to the local recycling centre. If you are unsure of what can be recycled, ask at your nearest centre. Let’s not allow Christmas to go to waste unnecessarily.”