Christmas wrapped and recycled!

So please think before you bin, and follow our useful guide on how to recycle correctly this Christmas.

Recently, we’ve had to deal with increasing amounts of contaminated waste in recycling bins, including non-recyclable plastics, plastic bags or dirty containers with food waste. All of these items play havoc with the recycling process and ultimately waste time and money, whilst damaging the planet.

With all the excess plastic packaging, food waste, cards and wrapping paper that are thrown away at this time of year it’s more important than ever to recycle. So please follow these top Christmas recycling tips and help play your part in keeping our community clean and contributing to a greener future.

• Check before you toss – Not everything with a recycling symbol can be recycled in Southampton so check online for a list of what you can recycle which is: paper, cardboard, tin cans, aluminium cans, empty aerosols, and plastic bottles
• Know your plastic – Not all plastics can be recycled, please remember that polystyrene containers, plastic bags and clingfilm can jam machinery so need to go in the general waste bin
• Clean and dry – Always rinse out food containers before putting in the recycle bin to prevent contamination. Dispose of any leftover food in the compost or general waste bin
• Wrapping paper, Sellotape, bows and ribbons – Can’t be recycled so when you’ve opened your presents, please place all the wrapping in the general waste bin
• Stay safe – Batteries and electronic items can cause serious safety risks including fire if put in household or recycling bins. Please drop these items into one of the many collection points across the city or book a slot at the Household Waste and Recycling centre
• Real Christmas trees – When you’re ready to get rid of your tree either take it to a recycling centre for environmentally friendly disposal or, if you’re a Garden Waste customer just chop it up and put in your brown lidded bin

Our team of neighbourhood wardens will be hard at work over the festive period keeping estates and council neighbourhoods looking clean and smart, please help them by making sure you don’t leave any rubbish on the ground around the bin areas. If a bin is full, take your waste home and return later, rather than creating litter.

If you have any queries about recycling or waste, please get in touch or chat to your local neighbourhood warden.