Tips for Responsible Festive Disposal

The festive season is a time of joy, family and celebration but they’re also one of the busiest times of year for waste. From piles of wrapping paper and packaging to discarded Christmas trees and leftover food, it’s easy for rubbish to stack up quickly once the festivities are over. 

In fact, the UK produces around 30% more waste during December and January than in any other months. Without careful disposal, much of this ends up in landfill, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental damage. But many people don’t realise just how much of this seasonal waste can be reduced, reused or recycled with a little planning. 

At Ace Liftaway, we believe the festive season should be merry and mindful, so here are some practical tips to help you manage your festive season clean-up responsibly while doing your bit for the planet.

Why festive waste is a bigger problem than you think

Every Christmas, the UK generates around 30% more waste than usual. That’s millions of rolls of wrapping paper, tonnes of extra packaging and tonnes of food that goes uneaten.

But not all of it is what it seems:

• Not all wrapping paper can be recycled. If it contains glitter, foil or plastic, it goes in general waste. (Tip: do the “scrunch test”: if it stays scrunched, it’s usually recyclable.)
• Artificial trees aren’t always greener. You’d need to reuse a plastic tree for at least 10 years before it has a lower carbon footprint than a real one.
• Food waste adds up. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world!

Knowing these facts helps us make smarter choices about what to buy before the waste even happens and how to dispose of it.

Practical ways to reduce Christmas waste

1. Be smart with your wrapping

• Swap glittery paper for recyclable paper.
• Reuse gift bags, tissue paper and ribbons.

2. Think before you bin food

• Freeze leftovers.
• Share extra food through local community groups or apps like Olio.
• Compost vegetable peelings or let Ace Liftaway help with garden skips.

3. Reuse before recycling

• Save delivery boxes for storage or re-gifting.
• Turn glass jars into candle holders or decorations.
• Donate old toys, clothes and decorations instead of binning them.

4. Dispose of tricky items the right way

• Fairy lights and batteries count as electrical waste and should go to a recycling point, not the bin.
• Christmas trees can be chipped into mulch, composted or collected for recycling.

How Ace Liftaway helps turn waste into resources

When you use Ace Liftaway, your waste doesn’t just disappear. It becomes part of a bigger recycling process, helping you clean up without the stress. 

• State-of-the-art recycling centre: materials like wood, cardboard and plastics are sorted and recycled.
• Skip hire and tonne bags: we make it easy to separate bulky festive waste at home or work.
• Food and garden waste solutions: organic waste can be turned into compost instead of landfill gases.

By choosing the right waste solution, you’re helping to close the loop, turning festive clutter into something useful.

What to Take Away

The festive season is a time for giving but also for rethinking our relationship with waste. Next time you unwrap a present or clear the table remember that smarter waste choices put money back in your wallet and time back in your day. Ask yourself:

• Can this be reused to save me money next year?
• Is this recyclable to keep my bins clear?
• How can I stop it becoming waste in the first place, to reduce my future clean up stress

Small changes, multiplied across thousands of households, add up to a huge difference. Plus, with Ace Liftaway’s help, disposing responsibly is easier than ever.

Book your skip or recycling service today, or explore our waste disposal products and make this Christmas your greenest one yet.