Toy packaging, Christmas wrapping paper, selection boxes, even Christmas crackers; remember to recycle all waste cardboard and paper this year. Flatten them down as much as possible and remove any plastic inserts, which may not be recyclable. Remember to store and reuse any untorn paper for next year. Try to keep the paper and cardboard dry. If you don’t have a recycling bin or if it’s overflowing, you can use one of Mulleady’s Civic Amenities Centres.

Save your Christmas cards each year so you can cut the fronts into gift tags. This is a clever way of saving money, reducing waste, and it gives you a unique and creative accent to your wrapping. Used wrapping paper, gift tags and cards can all also be upcycled into Christmas decorations like hanging tree ornaments or garlands. Being environmentally friendly can also mean being thrifty and having some fun. Buy second hand items as presents e.g. bikes, electronic games, games table or a dolls house.

Repak has almost 3,000 member companies – these include supermarkets, retailers, restaurants, hotels, shops and many other businesses who produce or sell packaging. These member companies are committed to meeting their obligations to fund the recycling of the packaging they produce and sell and help pay for the collection of Ireland’s recycling bins. Look out for Repak’s Team Green Santa on poster and stickers in Repak member stores this Christmas, and remember, when you shop with a Repak member, you’re supporting recycling in Ireland!

All that playing over Christmas with battery powered toys may mean you are left with a mound of old batteries, which should be recycled. Any shop that sells batteries must now also provide collection boxes for old batteries to facilitate their recycling. Take advantage of these or bring them to one of Mulleady’s Civic Amenities Centres. in order to reduce your household waste and be an environmentally responsible citizen.

It’s the most excessive time of year, when we eat and drink the most, and we’re bound to leave some after us too. Dispose of any suitable leftovers in a compost bin to create a free and nutritious compost to help make your garden bloom come spring time. Make sure you only try to compost the right types of organic matter by seeing more tips on composting visit: https://stopfoodwaste.ie/resources/composting.

You may receive a great Christmas present that replaces an old electrical appliance or gadget. Recycle old or broken electrical items at one of Mulleady’s Civic Amenities Centres.

Unfortunately, sometimes those we love don’t buy us presents we love! One man’s trash is another’s treasure though, so give those unwanted gifts to a charity shop and hopefully they will do some good for someone in need.

Over the holidays, our consumption of food and drink rises, so it’s a good idea to think responsibly about all those extra jars and bottles left in the aftermath. Rinse out glass bottles or jars to get rid of any leftovers, then bring the glass to your nearest bottle bank or to one of Mulleady’s Civic Amenities Centres.. Metal lids should be removed and recycled separately with drink cans.

Rinse out any leftover drink and then squash the can down to save space before putting it in the correct recycling bin. If you don’t have a suitable recycling bin collection service, you will find an aluminium recycling bank right next to the bottle banks in your area, or alternatively you can bring them to one of Mulleady’s Civic Amenities Centres.

Source your Christmas fruit and vegetables loose, not pre-packed. This helps reduces the amount of packaging. Check the bottom of plastic containers for a recycling symbol, usually a triangle with the number 1 or 2 inside, to see if you can recycle it. Rinse out any leftovers and then squash them to save space before putting them into your recycling bin.