Festive Recycling Tips

A dedicated guide to help everyone in Scotland curb their contribution to climate change this Christmas. Find it on the Zero Waste Scotland website.

Paper wrapping can be recycled in blue or blue lidded bins. Please try to remove large amounts of Sellotape and please note that wrapping made with metallic film or glitter cannot be recycled. Please consider the reuse of gift bags and wrapping paper, if carefully unwrapped, to re-gift the following Christmas.

Cardboard boxes can be placed in your blue or blue lidded bins, please flatten and fold cardboard waste to allow more waste to be accommodated in your blue bin. Please consider reusing to regift for future events.

Plastic packaging can be placed in your burgundy or burgundy lidded bin.

Polysterene is non-recyclable so please put this in your grey bin.

Bubble wrap is non-recyclable in household bins, however large supermarkets operate a plastic bag/wrapping recycling scheme.

Christmas cards and envelopes can be placed in blue or blue lidded bins. As an alternative, consider sending e-cards to reduce waste associated with Christmas cards.

Plastic toys can be donated to the Reuse Hub or to a local charity shop if in good condition or disposed of at either Household Waste Recycling Centres. 

Electrical items can be donated to the Reuse Hub, recycled at either Household Waste Recycling Centres or donated to a local charity. Batteries can also be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centres or at select supermarket collection points.

Annually £42 million worth of unwanted Christmas presents are sent to landfill annually, please consider reuse by donating these gifts to a local charity initiative.

Plastic tubs & trays can be placed in the burgundy or burgundy lidded bins. Please remember to remove any plastic film from the tubs & trays and rinse these out.

Sweetie/biscuit tins and tubs can be recycled in burgundy or burgundy lidded bins. Sweetie wrappers cannot be recycled and must go into your grey bin.

Tins and foil, including mince pie cases, should be put in your burgundy or burgundy-lidded bin - but they must be clean and free from any food residue. Any disposable turkey tins, foil that's wrapped leftovers or empty cans should be thoroughly washed.

Leftovers can be turned into delicious meals reducing food waste and saving households money. Please check the Love Food Hate Waste website for leftover recipes.

Leftover food that cannot be eaten can be bagged in either a compostable liner, carrier bag or wrapped in newspaper and deposited in the green food caddy or on-street food recycling bins. This includes:

• Egg shells;
• Fruit and vegetable peelings;
• Tea bags and coffee granules;
• Bones.

Glass bottles, including drinks bottles, jars and empty perfume bottles should be taken to your nearest glass recycling point - details of these can be found on the bring sites webpage

'Real' trees are recyclable and can be shredded to produce Discovery Compost. Remember to remove all tinsel and decorations and any pots or stands.

Further information regarding uplift of 'Real' Christmas Trees including an online booking form can be found on the Christmas Tree recycling page.

Artificial trees are made from a combination of materials and therefore cannot be recycled.

We cannot accept plastic bags for recycling however large supermarkets operate a plastic bag recycling scheme. Alternatively, help save the environment and avoid a charge by reusing them for your next shop or use a reuseable bag.

Baubles/Tinsel - Please note these cannot be recycled and should be placed in your grey general waste bin.

Christmas Tree Lights - Please note these cannot be recycled in any household bins. Christmas tree lights can be recycled at Riverside or Baldovie recycling centres at the small electricals (WEEE) section.