What to do with Christmas waste

Recycling bin

Aerosol cans

Put all of your aerosol cans in the recycling bin this Christmas and make more room in your general rubbish bin.

All sorts of aerosol cans can be recycled including fake snow, de-icer, squirty cream, air freshener, deodorant, silly string, hairspray, furniture polish and dry shampoo. The empty cans can be turned into all sorts of things, including funky home accessories.

All you have to do is make sure your aerosol can is empty and remember to remove the lid.

Christmas cards and envelopes

Christmas cards and envelopes without foil, glitter or a shiny coating can be placed in your recycling bin. 

If we all recycle just one card this Christmas it would be the same as taking 500 cars off the road for a year! If you're feeling creative you could give some of your Christmas cards a new lease of life by cutting them up to make gift tags for next Christmas.

Plastic drinks bottles

All empty plastic drinks bottles go into your recycling bin. Please remember to take the lids off.

Wrapping paper

Wrapping paper without foil, glitter or a shiny coating can be placed in your recycling bin. If in doubt, test it out with the ‘scrunch test’ – if you literally scrunch the paper in your hand and it stays in a ball, it can be put in the recycling bin.

Please make sure all ribbons, bows and sellotape are removed.

Unfortunately shiny wrapping paper or wrapping paper containing foil and glitter is not recyclable and therefore needs to be placed in your general waste bin.

General rubbish bin

Plastic and foil food trays

Plastic and foil food trays go in your general rubbish bin – they cannot be recycled!

Waste food

If you do not have a compost bin at home please put all waste food in your general rubbish bin.

Recycling centres, bottle and clothing banks

Glass bottles and jars

Glass bottles and jars do not go in the recycling bin.

If you live in Ashfield, Gedling or Broxtowe glass bottles and jars are collected from the kerbside in a box/bag.

If you live elsewhere in Nottinghamshire please take glass to your local bottle bank or recycling centre.

Christmas trees

Real cut Christmas trees can be recycled at any of our 12 recycling centres.

Christmas fairy lights

Old lights that no longer work should be taken to your local recycling centre. Please do not put them in your recycling bin.

Old clothes

Old Christmas jumpers, clothes and textiles do not go in the recycling bin. Charity shops will be happy to receive them – some even have door to door bag collections. Alternatively take them to your local textile bank or recycling centre.

Old toys

If old toys are in good condition take them to a charity shop. If they are broken please put them in your general waste bin and if they contain batteries please take them to your local recycling centre.

Recycling centre opening hours

We provide 12 recycling centres which are operated by our waste contractor, Veolia. They are open every day in December and January from 8am to 4pm except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, when they are closed.