EACH Christmas UK households produce 30% more waste than at any other time of year, and this festive season Harlow Council is encouraging residents to be more eco- friendly.

Now that Christmas is only a couple of weeks away many people are thinking about buying wrapping paper and cards. However, anything covered in glitter, foil or metallic bits cannot be recycled, so must be placed in the general waste which can have a big impact on the environment.

Try alternatives to traditional paper by using reusable cloth or brown paper, tying with natural twine, a bow or ribbon, which can be saved to be reused another time. If this is not possible, please make sure you remove them from your recyclable wrapping paper and put them in your general waste and not your recycling collection.

If you are planning on sending cards, have a look at plantable seed paper cards that can be planted once finished with, and the recipient will end up with some beautiful flowers. Sending e-cards or making a donation are also great ways of cutting down waste.

With over 4 million platefuls of food binned over Christmas it pays to be more mindful of how much food we buy. Try to plan your meal in advance, only buying what you need and will eat. Leftovers can save you time cooking on Boxing Day or can be frozen to reuse another day.

Councillor Nicky Purse, portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, said: “Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but it can also be very wasteful, so this year we’re asking residents to consider waste-less alternatives to the items they would usually purchase around this festive season.

“Cards, wrapping paper and decorations with glitter and foil can seem very appealing, but these items are not recyclable and with over a billion Christmas cards being sent and an estimated £42 million of unwanted presents being thrown away, that’s a lot of gifts and money going to waste.

“There are some great ideas and inspiration for sustainable gifting from using brown paper as wrapping paper to gifting experiences rather than a physical item. Crafting paper chains for Christmas decorations make for a great family activity. By making small changes to more eco-friendly items, we can save resources, help the environment and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.”

Discover creative, eco-friendly ideas to reduce waste with the Love Essex festive guide to a greener Christmas: www.loveessex.org/ideas/your-festive-guide-greener-christmas

To find out more information on recycling, please visit www.harlow.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling.