Council urging householders to reduce waste

Council urging householders to reduce waste

18 December 2024

NEWRY, Mourne and Down District Council is encouraging everyone to do their bit when it comes to reducing waste during the festive season.

The council says small steps can make a big difference, from reusing items like plastic carrier bags and envelopes to reducing food waste and choosing products with less packaging. 

It is promoting a series of videos on their social media channels, which highlight the environmental impact of traditional gift wrapping and offer more eco-friendly alternatives. 

The videos also provide creative tips on decorating Christmas trees using natural and reusable materials, helping to reduce plastic waste and embracing a greener holiday season.

The council is asking people to take a moment and think about which bin to use.

Packaging, cardboard, glass and drink cans are the main source of holiday waste and most of these can go in the blue bin, reiterating all food waste must go in the brown bin.

Cutting food waste is another way to contribute to helping the environment. People can visit the ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ website for creative ways to reduce leftover food waste.

The website offers tips on how to freeze and reuse uneaten items and includes the annual ‘Ultimate Guide to Christmas Food Planning’.

Clever planning and preparation can help save time, save money and reduce food waste.

Council chairperson Pete Byrne said: “This year we are all much more aware of our impact on the environment.

“Our recycling rate is currently 50%, and we must achieve 70% recycling by 2030. As a council we are finalising a sustainability and climate change strategy and action plan which explores further opportunities for new green economy projects to help meet our carbon emission and climate change targets.”

Cllr Byrne continued: “The council is committed to improving our recycling performance. As waste generation increases, it is more important than ever to use your recycling bins correctly. Studies show that a significant portion of the black bin waste collected could have been recycled.

“For those items that do not fit into your bins, you can visit one of the district’s 10 household recycling centres (HRCs), which accept a much wider range of items such as Christmas trees, cardboard, batteries, electrical equipment, TVs, monitors and much more.”

He added: “We would ask residents to remember that Christmas trees can be brought to any (HRC) for recycling but please break down any larger trees and arrive at the HRC with materials sorted for recycling.”

Further information regarding the council’s refuse and commercial waste collections and Christmas and New Year holiday arrangements can be found by visiting: https://www.newrymournedown.org/bin-collection-information.