Christmas is one of the most magical moments of the year. The stockings, the surprises, the happy chaos of unwrapping gifts – it all brings a special kind of joy to households across our District.
But once the excitement settles, the clean-up begins. Before you bundle everything into the bin, here’s a gentle reminder that much of that festive packaging can enjoy a second life through recycling. With just a little sorting, you can help make this Christmas a greener one.
Wrapping paper and cardboard can go straight into your yellow recycling bin, as long as each piece is larger than an envelope and free from plastic coating. Many gifts also arrive wrapped in layers, some recyclable, some not, so taking a moment to separate them makes a real difference.
Check to see if there’s a recycling number on plastics, and if it’s a 1,2 or 5, it can be dropped straight into your recycling bin.
Polystyrene can be recycled at Mitre 10 Mega in Nelson, and soft plastic wrapping can be dropped into the recycling bins at The Warehouse or your local supermarket.
Celebrations often mean a few extra bottles, too. These can all go into your blue glass recycling crate – just make sure it’s not overflowing.
And if you receive a gift that’s not quite right, maybe the wrong size, colour, or simply not your style, don’t throw it away – pass it on. Your local reuse store or charity shop will happily give it a new home.