Recycling Hints and Tips 2011

1. Recycling isn’t just for Christmas time. There are more items and packaging to
   recycle around Christmas, but make it your gift to the environment to recycle all
   year round

2. After Christmas you can recycle your used packaging, used electrical items
   and batteries

3. Keep all recyclables clean. Remember to WASH and SQUASH before POPPING
   them into your recycle bin

   

4. Remember put the following Christmas packaging in your recycle bin
   once they’re CLEAN and DRY

• CARDBOARD AND PAPER
  
• FOOD TINS
• ALUMINIUM DRINKS CANS
• ALLUMINIUM TRAYS FOR YOUR MINCE PIE BOXES
• PLASTIC FOR THE RECYCLE BIN

5. Keep GLASS separate for recycling at the bottle bank or recycling centre. Do not leave your bottles on the ground in boxes or bags at the bottle bank as this slows collections and is a litter offence leaving you open to potential prosecution’.

6. How to recycle your used CARDBOARD and Christmas WRAPPING PAPER
   

• Fold used wrapping paper rather than scrunching it up. This will help you sort it and you’ll fit more in your recycling bin
• Remember that Christmas crackers and Christmas cards are all recyclable
• Flatten used boxes and remove any plastic inserts in selection boxes
• No need to worry about selotape on wrapping paper; this can be recycled too
• Make sure all the cardboard and paper is clean and dry
7. How to recycle FOOD TINS
   
• Rinse out the tins to remove any left over food or sauce
• Place the lids or tops inside the washed tin
• If you can, squash the tin, then pop it into your recycle bin

8. How to recycle ALUMINIUM DRINK CANS
   

• Rinse out the drink cans to get rid of any left over fizzy drink
• Squash the can and pop it into your recycle bin

9. ALUMINIUM is not just used in drinks cans, you will find it in other areas around
   the house and it’s just as recyclable as a drinks can

• Aluminium trays – from mince pies and when you have eaten enough
  turkey don’t forget to recycle your take away food trays
• Just make sure these items are clean and dry
• Squash or flatten them and pop them into your recycle bin

10. How to recycle PLASTIC

• Recycle all plastic containers with the number 1 and 2 placed inside a triangle, usually shown on the base of these bottles

• These include items such as plastic drinks bottles, milk bottles, shampoo bottles, detergent and washing up liquid bottles, soap dispenser bottles,shower gel bottles and yogurt drink bottles
• Always rinse these bottles out to get rid of any leftovers
• Then squash them and pop them into your recycle bin
• The company that collects your recycle bin may take more types of plastic
  in their recycle bins, so check with them to see if you can recycle more

11. How to recycle GLASS

• Rinse out glass drinks bottles to get rid of any left over liquid
• Don’t forget to recycle your mayonnaise, cranberry and pickled sauce jars
• Clean out your glass jars to get rid of any left over food
• Give the lids a quick wash and pop them separately into the recycle bin too
• Try to use reusable bags or boxes to collect up your glass bottles
• There is usually a bottle bank close to the supermarket, school or office
• Why not bring the glass with you when making a trip, to save time and fuel
• Put each glass bottle into the correct bank for its colour. Mixing up the
  colours lowers the quality of recyclable glass

• Please do not leave used glass on the ground at recycling banks as this
  slows collection and attracts unwanted dumping. If the bottle banks are full
  visit www.recyclemore.ie to locate other sites, or recycle your glass at the
  end of January when there is less pressure on sites.

12. Many households now have access to brown bins for food and garden waste. If you
    are fortunate to have one remember to gather up all your left over food waste,
    vegetable and fruit peelings and wrap them in old newspapers before placing them
    in the brown bin

13. Remember don't just recycle items from your kitchen. Maybe make a New Years
    resolution to recycle more by recycling from other areas of the house like the living
    room, bedroom, bathroom and home office or study

14. When the festivities are over bring any unwanted gifts of clothes or toys to your
    local charity shop or give them away online through sites such as freetrade.ie

15. Here is a handy list of all the items you can recycle, once they’re clean and dry. If
    you’re unsure about an item not on the list, contact your recycling company or
    contact us here in recyclemore.ie through the contact from on www.recyclemore.ie

    

• Tetra Pak
  Milk cartons, juice cartons and soup cartons
• Paper & Cardboard
  Christmas crackers, tissue boxes, phone books, catalogues, labels and tags
  from new clothes
• Aluminium
  Foil take away trays, clean aluminium foil, disposable aluminium baking
  and food trays, aluminium trays from mince pies
• Plastic
  Shampoo and shower gel bottles, window cleaner bottles, washing up liquid
  bottles, detergent and fabric softner bottles, yogurt drink bottles (no tubs)
  clean and clear plastic wrap, like that found around toilet paper and kitchen
  towel, plastic bags, plastic food containers such as tomato and salad bowls

• Steel
  Steel food tins, soup tins, biscuit tins, aerosol cans – remove plastic lids
  and make sure the cans are empty

16. If you have a real Christmas tree you can recycle it at one of the many designated
    Christmas tree recycling centres around the country. Check opening hours and
    locations with your local authority or use the recycling facility search on
    www.recyclemore.ie

17. Recycle your used batteries. Shops selling batteries must now provide collection
    boxes to recycle old batteries. These are usually small blue boxes located close to
    the tills or information desks in store

18. Recycle any old or broken electrical items in your local recycling centres or by
    returning them to an electrical shop when purchasing new ones.

• Recycle your old mobile phones by giving them to one of the many local
  charities like the Jack and Jill foundation

19. When visiting a bring bank

    1.       Ensure segregate colour correctly

    2.       Don’t necessarily rush out after Xmas to drop off your bottles/cans – these can wait

    3.       Do not leave recyclables on the ground

    a.       Slows down collections

    b.      Is littering and can be prosecuted

    
     4.       Find your nearest recycling centre and opening hours through Recyclemore.ie or our apps
    
    5.       Remember to recycle from around the house bathroom, living room
20. Tips to saving food – Visit STOPFOODWASTE.IE

    1.       Store food at correct temperature

    2.       Watch Best Before dates

    3.       Watch fruit and VEG closely and remove rotten fruit early

    4.       Shop more often and buy less

    5.       Plan your meals and shop to this plan rather than buying randomly – never Shop on an empty stomach

    6.       Don’t over purchase or over cook food portions over xmas

    7.       Make the most of Xmas left overs – Risotto, Curries, Sandwiches, Omelette etc

    8.       Use your  Fridge/Freezer wisely – rotate food, check BB regularly, freeze left over for later use etc

    9.       Learn portion control – don’t eat with your eyes,

    
          10.   Recycle food waste by separating in a compost bin or household food waste bin. Don’t put cooked foods in regular garden compost bins

21. REDUCING IMPACT WASTE ELECTRICAL ITEMS

    1.       Do not put batteries or Electrical waste in your household bins.

    2.       Return used batteries to the outlet you bought them from

    3.       Return old electrical items to your local recycling centre or Return to shop on a like for like basis

    4.       Recycle your used mobile phone through many charities like “Jack and Jill” foundation or local charity shops

    5.       Purchase reusable batteries where possible

 

Media Gallery

Watch recycling videos, browse our recycling photos and listen to recycling news.

Carbon Calculator

Use our carbon calculator to find out what your carbon footprint is.