We use almost 300,000 tonnes of card packaging in the UK at Christmas - enough to wrap the London Eye almost 50,000 times!
This packaging needs to be disposed of and the waste team at High Peak Borough Council is sharing some handy hints and tips on recycling to help make this a green Christmas.
Thanks to the efforts of High Peak residents, the borough's recycling rates have increased again in 2016/17 and the Council hopes these tips will help people continue their good work over the festive season.
Emily Thrane, Executive Councillor for Operational Services, said: "Cards and wrapping paper are as much a part of our Christmas traditions as turkey and all the trimmings but they do mean that most families generate additional waste at this time of year.
"We're encouraging people to recycle these items this year as their gift to the environment - it's easy to do and recycled packaging can be turned back into packaging for use throughout the year."
Most types of wrapping paper and cards can be recycled via the brown bin with the exception of shiny metallic and glitter varieties. If you're not sure if your paper can by recycled, try the scrunch test first by scrunching the paper in your hand - if it stays in a ball it's suitable for recycling.
Other tips for recycling festive waste include:
- Dropping items at your local recycling centre to save space at home
- Flattening cardboard boxes before recycling to make more room in your brown bin
- Removing ribbons, bows and other adornments before recycling wrapping paper
- Removing food from card and paper packaging before putting it in the green lidded bin
