Christmas is a time of indulgence. We buy more food and drink than usual. We buy gifts; we are given gifts.

Amid the festivities, don’t forget to recycle.  Anyone who is diligent with recycling will tell you they get a tremendous kick, knowing they are helping to minimise the rubbish that reaches landfill sites.

Garbage disposal – the transport, logistics, staff, and cost of a landfill site – costs millions of rands and result in increased garbage disposal rates for ratepayers.

In the end, this results in high accommodation costs when you go on holiday. When children are involved in recycling, it gives them a tremendous sense of importance, knowing they are helping to minimise their impact on the planet.

Sometimes we don’t think to reuse items:

• Christmas wrapping paper. When everyone has opened presents and the paper is strewn on the floor, quickly roll up the large pieces that can be reused. Gift bags should be rescued as fast as possible before they become crumpled or torn. They can be used again next year. If you don’t want to take them home in the car, leave them with your hosts or for the staff who clean your holiday home.
• Plastic bags. Don’t throw them away. Fold them up small and keep two or three in your handbag to use when you do grocery shopping to prevent the unnecessary purchase and accumulation of plastic bags.
• Jam, mayonnaise, chutney and peanut butter bottles should be recycled. Rinse and wash them or pop them in the dishwashing machine. Jam or pickle makers will use them. Leave them with your hosts or in your accommodation establishment for someone to fetch.
• If you buy shoes over the festive season, don’t throw the boxes away. Use them. Shoes kept in boxes last longer and do not get scratched, dusty or mildewy.
• Other boxes, such as the ones electrical appliances are packaged in, can be used for storing gift wrapping accessories or art and craft items.

Items to recycle:

• Clean cardboard and paper, with no food or other mess on it.
• All rinsed out cans or tins.
• Rinsed glass bottles that you do not wish to reuse.
• All clean plastic: bags, food containers, plastic bottles or tubs, and lids.
• Rinsed milk cartons.

When rinsing an item, do not let the water down the sink, pour the water out of the carton or container into a bucket, and pour this grey water onto a plant or grass outside.

DO NOT place polystyrene or styrofoam containers or cups into bags for recycling as they cannot be recycled.