Wychavon District Council: Guide to Christmas recycling

The list was drawn from searches made in the last festive season using Wychavon’s Right Waste, Right Place web tool, which explains how to dispose of thousands of items.

Last Christmas, books, aluminium foil, and shredded paper filled the top three spots on the list, with plastic pots, aerosol cans and batteries also frequently searched.

The initiative is part of Wychavon’s efforts to reduce waste and improve recycling practise during the festive season.

Father Christmas has partnered with Wychavon this year to share daily recycling and waste reduction tips through their social media channels until Christmas Day, which further supplements the dedicated festive waste and recycling information on the council’s website.

Cllr Emma Stokes, executive board member on Wychavon District Council, said: "If you’re not sure what to do with the mountains of wrapping paper, foil trays, batteries and other waste you end up with over the festive season, then give our waste and recycling search a try and help us put the right waste, in the right place, this Christmas."

The top ten most confused items are books, which should be given to charity or sold online; clean aluminium foil, trays and pie cases, which should be scrunched into a ball for later disposal at a recycling centre; and shredded paper that must be contained in a cereal box or envelope before being put in a green bin.

Additionally, aerosol cans and ink cartridges must also be properly disposed of, as well as plastic pots, tubs, and trays.

Importantly, small electrical items, batteries, plastic bags, and toothpaste tubes are also part of the list, the last of which should be placed in a black bin or local recycling scheme.

More details about these items and changes to Christmas bin collection can be found on www.wychavon.gov.uk/christmas-waste.