Christmas, the season for plastic.
Many decorations, wrappings and Christmas novelty items contain plastic and unfortunately are not recyclable.
While some items can be reused year after year, single-use items should be avoided.
Bon-bons are made of composite materials.
The outer tube is often lined with plastic, paper tissue hat, plastic trinket, glitter, ribbon etc. All of these materials are not recyclable and go into the red lid bin after their short, single-use is over.
Making your own bon bons with the kids is a fun activity that could become a family tradition! Home-made bon bons can be made out of (re-purposed) fabric and cardboard and why not go with edible treats as prize? You can even make up your own jokes!
Check out Youtube and Pinterest for inspiration and instructions.
Tinsel is made of plastic and should never be used outdoors as it shreds easily and becomes litter. Tinsel cannot be recycled.
Bunting can be a great decorating alternative to tinsel and is very simple to make, out of recycled materials (fabric and/or paper).
For non-sewers, paper bunting is another activity that can get children involved and part of the Christmas spirit.
Check out YouTube and Pinterest for inspiration and instructions.
If Christmas for you isn't complete without decorative lighting then make the smart choice and invest in a quality product that you can reuse year after year.
Your old Christmas lights can be taken to our recycling and waste depots as E-waste for free recycling.
There are endless options of inspiration on the internet for eco-friendly alternatives to plastic decorations.
Explore your creative side and create your own decorations, wreaths, table ornaments and even Christmas trees by using natural or repurposed materials.
Alternatively, purchase pre-loved decorations from your local Op-shop.
There is a lot of debate about the environmental benefits of artificial vs natural Christmas trees.
The better choice? Don't buy new of either. This article explains why.
The best option is to get inventive and grow your own tree or make your own. The internet contains 100’s of repurposed creative options you can make from materials as diverse as old books, fence palings and other discarded timber or metal.