What can I recycle this Christmas?
Not sure which bag to put it in? Let us help!
The contents of our bags can be a little different at Christmas time, so here are some of the items we're most commonly asked about and how to recycle or dispose of them in South Holland.
Please remember, if it's glittery or greasy - keep it out of your recycling.
Check your collection days over Christmas with your district council.
Our Household Waste Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day; they are open as normal on all other scheduled days.
Advent calendars
You can recycle your advent calendar as long as it doesn't have any glitter or foil on the front.
Please separate the plastic tray inside from the outer cardboard.
Boxes
Whether it's from online shopping, kids' toys, or party food - we seem to have a lot more cardboard boxes around Christmas time.
Cardboard can be recycled at home in your recycling.
Cutting up your cardboard boxes will help you fit more into your bag, or you can take extra cardboard recycling to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Christmas cards
When it's time to take your Christmas cards down, you can recycle them as long as there is no foil, glitter or glue on the front.
If there is, you can tear off the back of the card and recycle that, and then put the front in your general waste.
Christmas crackers
Separate your crackers out once you've used them. Any cardboard and paper can be recycled, as long as it doesn't have any glitter or foil on it.
Other items, such as plastics, ribbons, or any foil or glittery card needs to go in your general waste.
Crisp packets and tubes
Crisp packets and crisp tubes (such as Pringles) can't be recycled and need to go in your general waste.
Electrical items and batteries
Take old electrical items to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. Batteries can be recycled there too, or you can often find battery recycling points in supermarkets.
Do not put any electrical items or batteries into any of your bins at home, or in the general waste at the recycling centre - it can cause fires.
Food waste and vegetable peelings
Any food waste needs to go in your general waste, including vegetable peelings.
If you have a home composter, you can recycle vegetable peelings, eggshells, teabags and more in your compost bin - but these can't go in your garden waste recycling bin from the council.
Glass bottles and cans
'Tis the season to be merry - and once we've finished those extra drinks bottles and cans, they can be rinsed and recycled in your recycling at home.
Extra glass bottles can be taken to a bring bank at most large supermarkets, or to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Sweets, biscuits and chocolates
Soft plastic sweet and chocolate wrappers cannot be recycled and need to go in your general waste.
If you've had a box of biscuits - the cardboard and plastic tray can be recycled (as long as they're not black or brown). The cellophane wrapper will need to go in your general waste.
If you've had a tub of chocolates, like Celebrations or Heroes, the plastic tub can be recycled. Sometimes these can also come in soft plastic bags - this would need to go in your general waste.
If you've got ay foil-wrapped chocolate, mince pie foil tins, or even a metal chocolate tins - these can all be recycled as long as they're clean and dry.
Some chocolates are now wrapped in paper too, which can be recycled at home.
Takeaway containers and pizza boxes
If you wash out plastic or foil tubs and they are clean, they can be recycled.
Pizza boxes and other cardboard, such as lids, will be too greasy and need to go in your general waste.
Trees
Real Christmas trees can be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. If they are small enough, they can be chopped-up and recycled in your garden waste bin at home.
St Barnabas Hospice also offer a tree-cycling scheme.
Plastic Christmas trees that you no longer need can be donated to charity or disposed of at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Old clothes
If you're having a clear out to make way for your new stuff, you can take old clothes and other textiles to a Household Waste Recycling Centre, or to a clothes bank or charity shop near you.
Wrapping paper
If it's glittery or has foil on it, it can't be recycled. Plain wrapping paper can go in your recycling.
Why not bring two bags into your living room on Christmas morning; one for recyclables and one for the general waste.