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QUIZ: Are these common Christmas items recyclable?
We’re set to generate 83,000 tonnes of packaging this Christmas.
IN A SEASON THAT tends to be one of our most charitable times of the year, sometimes the environment can be last on our list after friends, family and those in need.
According to Repak, we’re set to produce an estimated 83,000 tonnes of packaging waste this Christmas – about the equivalent in packaging of what both Galway and Limerick cities would produce in a full year.
While we’re relaxing in the post-Christmas days this year, it’s extremely important that we know the most environmentally-friendly way of disposing of that waste, and recycle as much of it as we possibly can.
So, can you tell which of these items should be destined for the recycle bin? Find out in our quiz below.
1. You wouldn't be alone if your living room tends to look like this by about 9.01 on Christmas morning. But what should you do with all the paper?
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Salvage any you can for reuse, recycle the rest
Throw it all in the general bin - it's too crumpled to recycle unfortunately
2. What should you do with plastic packaging, once it's been discarded by your eager little ones?
If it's rigid plastic, you can put it in the recycling bin. If it's soft, throw it in the main bin
It needs to be put in your general bin unfortunately
3. Are you infuriating enough to crack into the second layer of biscuits before the first is finished? Once they're all gone, where should the tin go?
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The general bin - it isn't recyclable unfortunately
If you're not reusing it, you should stick it in the recycling bin once it's empty
4. Irish turkeys tend to get covered in a lot of tin foil. Where should it go after your turkey emerges?
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In the general bin, it's not currently recyclable
If there are clean, dry bits with no turkey residue, you can rip them off and put them in the recycling
5. People who finish off the fancy crisps and leave the empty packet lying around should be banned from Christmas. Where should it go?
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In the recycling bin for sure
It's soft plastic so it needs to go in the general bin, unfortunately
6. Christmas and New Year's Eve tends to result in a fair few empty bottles by January. Where should they go?
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They can go straight into the recycling bin
They'll need to go into your bottle bin or to your local bottle bank
7. Everyone loves a good fry-up at Christmas, but the egg cartons can tend to mount up. Where can you put them when they're empty?
In the general bin, they're not currently recyclable
Straight in the recycle bin
8. With so much delicious dessert in the house at Christmas, the ice cream levels tend to descend rapidly. Where should the tubs go once you're done?
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In the recycling bin (once they've been rinsed and dried)
In the bin - the cream will cause mould
9. Once January rolls around, Christmas trees always look undeniably sad. Where should you get rid of it?
Leave it beside your regular bin
Bring them to free collection points from your city or county council
You scored out of !
You're a recycling Grinch.
Unfortunately, recycling doesn't seem like much of a priority for you. Or maybe you're just not that clear on what belongs in or out of your recycling bin, especially at Christmas. Find out what does on repak.ie.
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You scored out of !
You're a recycling Christmas elf.
Even if you do put the occasional wrong item in, you're always doing your best to recycle any waste you do create, especially at Christmas. Boost your knowledge by learning more on repak.ie.
Repak
You scored out of !
You're the Santa of recycling, well done!
Whether it's wrapping paper or the few too many bottles from the night before, you're always sure to recycle whatever you can, especially at Christmas. Learn even more at repak.ie.
Each Christmas, it’s estimated that we generate 25% more packaging waste than at any other time of the year. Luckily, there’s so much you can do to help boost recycling in Ireland. From choosing to buy your gifts from over 2,800 Repak members who support recycling in Ireland to ensuring that you know exactly which packaging you can recycle, check repak.ie to learn more.
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