There will be no changes to waste and recycling collections in the Stroud district over Christmas and New Year.
Residents are asked to ensure containers are put out by 6 am on their normal scheduled collection days and to recycle as much Christmas waste as possible.
Environment Committee Chair, Councillor Chloe Turner said: “Please spare a thought for the recycling crews who will be out working hard in the cold weather this year by flattening and folding large pieces of cardboard, and taking bins and recycling bags back in as soon as possible, especially during windy weather.”
Vice Chair Robin Drury-Layfield added: “On a personal note, I would like to say thanks to our Ubico waste disposal crews who have gone above and beyond, time and again to ensure we have a predictable, reliable, and effective service that is the envy of many other councils. Please take a moment to thank your bin crew this Christmas when you see them.”
Here’s a guide to what can and can’t be recycled:
Wrapping paper
Some types of wrapping paper can be recycled, so it’s worth bearing this in mind before you buy.
As a general rule, paper with glitter or foil can’t be recycled, If you’re unsure, take the scrunch test: first remove tape, bows, ribbons, and tags, then scrunch the paper into a ball.
If it keeps its shape it can be recycled, so put it in your green recycling box.
If it springs out it is not recyclable and should go in your general household waste wheelie bin or beige sack.
Christmas cards
Christmas cards that don’t have glitter, foil, bows, and ribbons can be recycled along with your paper and cardboard.
Food
Make sure every last scrap goes in your food waste caddy as we’ll send it to an anaerobic digester to be turned into biogas energy for the national gas grid.
The liquid residue is used to fertilise local farmland. Food waste caddies, unlike other recycling containers, can be lined with newspaper or plastic bags, as this is sent to a different depot which can remove it.
Most households buy too much food at Christmas, but buying only what you need will not only help reduce costs, but also the amount of waste.
Find out more here: https://lovefoodhatewaste.com/
Real Christmas trees
If you have a real Christmas tree, you can arrange for it to be collected from your home by volunteers working with Longfield Hospice.
For a voluntary donation of £10 (or more) your tree will be recycled, and the money raised will help fund the hospice’s vital work supporting free-of-charge care and support to patients and their families and carers.
To arrange the collection of your tree, visit www.just-helping.org.uk/register-tree where you can make a voluntary donation to your local community hospice. Bookings can be made until 3 January 2023.
Alternatively, you can take your real tree to the Household Recycling Centre where it will be recycled.
Visits must be pre-booked at: www.gloucestershirerecycles.com
Glass, cans, plastic and foil
These can go in your recycling wheelie bin or green sack.
Make more space by squashing soft plastic such as milk cartons. Please don’t put plastic bags or the clear plastic film that covers many plastic food containers in with your recycling as they cannot be recycled at our depot and there’s no easy way to remove them.
Plastic bags can be recycled by many supermarkets – please check your local store.
Paper and cardboard
Large pieces of cardboard must be flattened and cut or folded to the approximate size of the recycling box and stacked under or behind the box.
This will help the lorries carry more, reducing trips to the depot, thereby saving time, fuel and carbon emissions.
The Waste Wizard search on the SDC website will tell you which household items can be recycled, or if they can be given a new life through repair and reuse.
Residents can download 2023 waste collection calendars, with the option of an easy-to-read accessible version via the My House function on the SDC website.
Anyone who doesn’t have online access or who cannot download the calendar can call the council on 01453 754 424 for a copy.
As usual, most Stroud District Council services will be closed as usual over Christmas and New Year. They will be closed from 3 pm on Friday 23 December and reopen at 8.45 am on Tuesday 3 January.
