MESSAGE FROM CORNWALL COUNCIL ABOUT BUYING “STUFF”!

Posted on: 22nd December 2018

Did you know last January households across Cornwall threw away an extra 2,087 tonnes of… well, to put it bluntly… ‘stuff’?

Council waste collection statistics reveal there was a 19% increase in rubbish put out on bin days in January across Cornwall compared with the monthly average.

There’s a lot we can do to reduce our impact on the environment after Christmas and we’ve put together some top tips to help us all reduce, reuse and recycle.

REDUCE:

•       Ultimately the best way to cut waste is to not buy something in the first place. Tempting as sales shopping might be, don’t be swayed by massive discounts – you’re only saving money if it’s something you wanted or needed.

REUSE:

•       Christmas wrapping paper and gift bags – if the wrapping paper and bags are still in good condition, why not save them for next year?

•       Christmas cards – the pictures on cards can be turned into gift tags for next year’s Christmas presents. You can find lots of creative ideas online.

RECYCLE:

•       Pots, tubs, trays, card, paper, tins, foil, real Christmas trees – we’ll recycle the lot as part of household waste collections. You can also take your recycling to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre. If you would like us to collect your real Christmas tree (trees under 6ft only please!), please register for this service by 12pm on Friday 4 January. You can find more information on this, as well as what you can recycle, at www.cornwall.gov.uk/christmas

Councillor Sue James, Cabinet portfolio holder for environment and public protection, said: “Actions like these can make a big difference and help reduce the amount of rubbish we generate. We should all be aiming to reduce, reuse and recycle – it’s not only good for the environment, but good on our wallets too.”