How to successfully recycle Christmas rubbish in Fenland

From ripping cards in half, to clearing the table on what exactly needs to happen with all the waste created over Christmas?

With packaging, wrapping and more all needing to be thrown away recycling rules can get a bit confusing, especially when asking visitors to help who may follow different systems elsewhere in the country.

Here's show to deal with some of the more common Christmas waste items as the festivities move along.

Once you've started to eat through the 'Christmas food' there will understandably be some packaging waste. The rules here vary depending on how dirty and greasy the items get.

Starting with mince pies, the silver foils can be recycled in Fenland. Just add them to the recycling bin.

While it might look the same, disposable silver foil trays used to cook the turkey in will be greasy so it needs to be cleaned before it can be recycled otherwise it needs to go in general waste.

But the foil wrappers around sweets or chocolates can go in the recycle bin. Plastic ones would go in general waste.

Once the whole 'box' of chocolates is empty, plastic tubs like those which contain Quality Streets can be recycled as can metal tins. Empty bags need to go in general waste.

Even paper from around cakes such as a panettone, if greasy, should go in the general waste.

For those in the kitchen on the big day, it can be helpful to have two bins set up while the main meal is being cooked to help keep recycling and general rubbish separate.

When cracking open eggs, the empty carton is recyclable.

But for yoghurt-type containers, such as those containing cream and brandy cream as well as plastic dip trays, they need to be rinsed before they can be recycled.

When it comes to Christmas cards the style of the design is crucial to what happens next. Make sure to have scribbled down any info from a card such as a new address and take any money or vouchers from gift cards. Then, if the cards are plain the whole thing could be added to the recycling. But for Christmas cards which are extra special - those that come with glitter, foil, a decorative bow say or stickers, you'll need to take action.

Rip the card in half putting the plain back section in the recycling and the decorative front in the general waste.

There's a similar rule for wrapping paper. Any that is plain can be recycled, but glittery or foil embossed paper, if does not scrunch into a ball, needs to go in the general waste. You need to remove any larger bits of sticking tape but it's "generally recyclable" with small bits of tape.

What you might need to remove is the tag if it has a fancy glittery design to go in the general waste along with the string. If the tag is made from plain paper or card it can be recycled.

If you have young children who like to add stickers to anything and everything, including wrapping paper, then that gift wrap is still recyclable.

Present bags should be reused where possible - perhaps to regift something next year - while paper ones can be recycled. Any that are glittery or foil should be added to general waste if beyond reuse. String or ribbon handles should be removed.

When clearing away the dinner table there can be lots of rubbish, from crackers and party hats to bits of food and disposable napkins.

Cardboard Christmas crackers - once the bang has been pulled - are recyclable, as long as there's no glitter or foil. If there is then they would need to go in the general waste. Ribbons need to be removed to recycle them in Fenland.

And party popper casings – if all contents removed - are also recyclable.

But those paper tablecloths/napkins should be added to general waste due to food contamination

As Christmas Day comes to an end the cracker paper party hats can not be recycled but the slip of paper with a cracker joke can.

Paper tablecloths and napkins cannot be recycled in Fenland as can any broken glass.

If there's any broken glass that needs to go in the general waste.

There's often a case of out with the old and in with the new. If you've been gifted new slippers then the old ones need to be put in textile clothes bank bags, taken to a recycling centre or otherwise added to general waste.

Fake Christmas trees should be reused or donated to a charity shop. If it's broken and beyond repair then it should be added to general waste.

If you have a real tree and you pay Fenland for the garden waste brown bin then the tree can be left by the side of it and it will be collected.

If not the tree can be taken to the 'tip' for recycling.

You can take items you no longer need to the Household Recycling Centres in Cambridgeshire. All centres will reopen again 27-31 December.

If you need any further advice then visit https://www.gettingitsorted.org/