EPA urges consumers to recycle at Christmas

Irish consumers will get through some 20 million wine bottle and four million rolls of wrapping paper over the festive period.

The figures have prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to urge people to recycle and reuse the waste that Christmas produces.

An average family produces a tonne of waste each year, the equivalent weight of over 2,000 Christmas puddings, the EPA said. Much of this is generated over the Christmas period, so it is important to "think green", it added.

The EPA's top tips for consumers this Christmas include:

• Recycle your wrapping paper and save it for next year. If you need to buy new wrapping paper, check that it's made out of recycled paper and complete the recycle loop;
• Buy rechargeable batteries;
• Compost your Christmas leftovers. Raw fruit and vegetables, shredded paper, soft card, and chopped up Christmas plants are just some of the items that can be added to a compost bin;
• Don't throw away your cards — recycle them. Better still, buy recycled cards;
• Borrow for Christmas parties — see if your neighbours or friends can lend you plates and glasses or rent them instead of buying disposable crockery;
• Choose decorations that can be reused;
• Recycle your Christmas tree — trees can be shredded and shavings used for landscaping;
• Give any unwanted presents to your local charity shop.