Christmas clean-up

When we think about the festive period, we think about spending time with loved ones, good food and sharing gifts.

It’s also the perfect time to think about the environment and the small changes we can make to be more sustainable.

Reducing food waste

With so many festive treats and temptations all around us, it can be easy to buy more than we need at this time of year. Did you know that an estimated 42 million plates of food are thrown away in the UK each year, around the festive season? We can all help reduce waste by planning and being realistic about how much food we need, freezing food when possible and using up leftovers.

If you do have too much, you could share with family and friends, donate to your local food bank or consider composting if you’re a keen gardener!

Sustainable gifting

We all know the pressures of gift buying and how overwhelming (and costly!) this can be. Handmade gifts, buying second-hand and gifting experiences rather than physical presents are a great way to be more sustainable, all while showing someone how much you care about them.

If you’ve been crafty this month and want to show off your homemade creations, we’d love to see them! Head over to the customer hubb to share some ideas.

Millions of families enjoy having a real Christmas tree, but what should you do with it when the decorations come down? If not reused or recycled, trees can end up in landfill, which is costly to the environment and the taxpayer.

Here are four ways to reuse or dispose of your Christmas tree:

  1. Replant your potted tree in a garden to give it a new lease of life. You could also add bird feeders to provide shelter for wildlife.
  2. Drop your tree off at a recycling centre where it can be turned into chippings for paths or turned into soil.
  3. Check with your local council to see if there’s a special collection service.
  4. Look for an organisation or charity that offers a ‘treecycling’ service, where it could be used to build effective flood barriers in communities around the UK.

Don’t let fly-tipping ruin the festive period!

We know how frustrating it can be to see fly-tipping in your neighbourhood. Not only is it unpleasant, but it can also be a huge health and safety risk, creating trip hazards and attracting pests.

We want everyone to enjoy where they live, which is why we all need to work together to make sure our communities are kept clean and tidy.

As the festive season approaches, the amount of rubbish a household has increases, so it’s really important that we’re all disposing of waste correctly. Your local authority is the best place to go for advice on waste, getting rid of large bulky items and support available. You can find your local authority here.

Did you know that in 2024-25, we spent approximately £800,000 on fly-tipping removal?

Clearing fly-tipping is costly and has an impact on your service charges. If you see something or know who is fly-tipping in your community, please report it to us. By doing this, you can avoid communal charges for removal, and we can work with the person doing it to find a better solution.

Thank you for your help in keeping your neighbourhood a clean and pleasant place to be!