Give the Climate a present

Giving and receiving gifts is a key part of Christmas, but it can consume a lot of resources and generate huge amounts of rubbish. Here are a few tips on how to leave a lighter footprint on the environment. Download our information sheet for more details of what you can do.

Reuse

Here are just a few pointers: How could you reuse the wrapping paper next year? How about turning some of your Christmas cards into gift tags for next year's presents.
If you have received duplicate presents, or something you don't think you will use consider re-gifting it. Maybe to a friend or member of the family but why not give it to a local charity shop for a good cause?

Recycle

Plenty of material including food waste, paper and cardboard and small electrical items can be recycled in your usual kerbside collection – just remember:

• Try and spread it out over several weeks – most councils won't empty your bins if they are too full.
• Check with your local council to be sure when your next collection is due.
• Christmas cards covered in glitter and foil or plastic wrapping paper are not accepted for recycling. (Some charities collect Christmas cards to re-use, and can you re-use the paper?)

There are a couple of ways to recycle your real Christmas tree in Gloucester this year. There are more details of how to do it on our information sheet.

Tub2Pub
We all eat plenty of chocolate, sweets and crackers over the festive period, and lots of it is in these plastic tubs every year! Greene King's 'Tub2Pub' is a recycling campaign to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and recycle plastics, at the same time.
Last year they collected over 150,000 tubs and raised £12,600 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Between January 1st and February 16th 2025 their pubs, restaurants, and hotels will accept your clean and empty: confectionery tubs; biscuit tubs and cracker tubs. Visit the website to find local drop-off points.

Reduce

One final thought – how might you celebrate a more sustainable Christmas in 2025? With a little thought and a bit of time and effort can you reduce, reuse and recycle?