The festive period usually means seasonal increases in eating, drinking and spending. Extra consumption over the 12 days of Christmas increases domestic waste in the UK by an estimated three million tonnes.
Veolia’s 14 Household Waste Recycling Sites across South Downs, managed in partnership with East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council, provide an easy and convenient way to reuse and recycle festive waste. This includes cardboard packaging, glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, household batteries, envelopes, wrapping paper, cards, green garden waste and soil.
Between December 2013 and January 2014 the Household Waste Recycling Sites recycled and composted a total of 4,107 tonnes - equivalent to 586,714 average 7kg turkeys!
Allan Key, General Manager for Veolia South Downs, says: “So much waste which can be recycled is produced at this time of year. By avoiding the bin and recycling instead, people are making a real contribution to the environment.
“We are joyful and triumphant that we have been able to recycle so much of local residents’ waste in the last year and look forward to recycling even more in the next. We hope that everyone will remember to reuse and recycle and would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our site users our best wishes and Season’s Greetings over this festive period."
Veolia South Downs have launched an online waste themed advent calendar. The calendar is perfect for helping residents stay green this Christmas and watch their ‘waste’-lines. Every day throughout advent there will be a new helpful hint about reducing waste this Christmas; or a mind-boggling fact about just how much we use and throw away throughout the festive period. The online calendar is available at: www.veoliasouthdownsadventcalendar.co.uk.
For details of your nearest Household Waste Recycling Site, and Christmas opening hours please visit www.veolia.co.uk/southdowns/recycling-sites or call 01273 511324.