How to recycle your Christmas
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Upcycled decorations made from recycled materials
Last year we wrote extensive articles on how to plan a zero waste Christmas. We told you all about zero waste crackers, advent calenders and wrapping paper. We shared how to recycle your Christmas and I even shared my very quirky plan to recycle my Christmas cards.
This year Recycle Now have a waste free Christmas all wrapped up for you with their campaign.
The Recycle Now Christmas campaign is trying to make people aware of the waste created at Christmas and remind them that most of it can be recycled; not that you lot need any help with that!
If you’re after inspiration, the artist Michelle Reader has been commissioned to upcycle common household waste like aluminium cans, plastic carrier bags and old cds into amazing Christmas tree decorations.
You can see some of her works of art on their Upcycled Decorations page.
You might not be aware that every year we use enough wrapping paper to stretch around the equator nine times, or that 1 billion Christmas cards are given out annually; you can find out more startling statistics with Recycle Now’s Festive Facts.
Finally, if you can’t decide whether a real or plastic tree is more ethical, why not enter Recycle Now’s competition to win a unique, designer, recycled cardboard Christmas tree? Yes, you have to see it to believe it, but this 6ft Christmas tree sculpture is a sight to behold. The tree was made in three days using over 200 pieces of rejected cardboard stuck together with water based glue so it can still be recycled.
All you have to do is watch the short video below then click on the screen to be entered into their prize draw. The tree will be delivered to the winner on 20th December, just in time for a truly recycled Christmas!
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What a clever idea! And think how you can keep the children entertained on break by making their own tree!
Sounds great – love the drum BUT where is ‘the short video below’, Mrs Green?
@Grandma Green: Hmmm, I’m seeing it – what about everyone else; are you seeing the video at the bottom of the article?
Perhaps you need a plugin if you can’t view it, Grandma Green. Here’s a link to the original page
http://www.recyclenow.com/christmas_09/index.html
Can you see the video at the bottom of that page?
@Mrs Green:
I can see it!! Wow! I hope I win, what a conversation piece! 🙂
@Mrs Green: NO, still can’t see it, nor on the original site. However, I’ve always seen the ‘home videos’ that you have posted. I must be missing something. Say no more!!
I just saw a story about rented Christmas trees in San Diego. They will rent you a small Christmas tree in a pot for the Christmas season and then plant the tree once the season is over.
@Ben: Hi Ben, I’m covering this story this weekend! It’s a great idea 🙂
@Grandma Green: It’s a vimeo video, whereas the ones we personally put up are You Tube – I take it vimeo needs some different software to run it …
@Poppy: Good luck Poppy; it is indeed a conversation piece! It makes me quite inspired to have a go at making my own!
I was never aware that you posted about our crackers at BiomeLifestyle last Christmas- thank you very much! I have just posted a guide to making your own crackers with recycled loo rolls etc, might be useful? http://www.biomelifestyle.com/blog/christmas-crackers/. Thanks again.
@Alexandra: Hi Alexandra, you are very welcome; the crackers look lovely 🙂 We made our own crackers last year from toilet roll inner and Little Miss Green has asked for them again. They were a great hit! Here is a pic of them:
http://mzw.wpengine.com/2009/01/mrs-greens-zero-waste-crackers/
THanks for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂