Newtown residents urged to plan a more sustainable Christmas and turn Black Friday - green!

With Christmas fast approaching, Powys County Council's waste and recycling team is urging the people of Powys to plan a more sustainable Christmas this year and participate in turning Black Friday into a greener event.

Consumer trends have changed dramatically over the years, and with the rise of online shopping, many of us have become guilty of getting carried away with the prospect of a 'deal' when it comes to our Christmas shopping.

However, this mass consumerism not only costs us a significant amount of money but also results in large amounts of unnecessary waste.

This year, before diving into the pre-Christmas sales frenzy, the council is encouraging residents to take a moment to reflect and reconsider their shopping habits. It is the perfect time for all of us to make more sustainable choices that can benefit our pockets and our environment.

To help residents in Newtown make greener choices, the waste and recycling team has provided some top tips for Christmas shopping:

1. Consider alternatives to buying new. Think about regifting unwanted presents or finding the perfect gift in a charity shop, online second-hand selling site, or Freegle.
2. Give a homemade gift. A jar of jam, box of biscuits, or a hand-knitted jumper would be a unique and thoughtful present for someone special.
3. Donate any unwanted items from a pre-festive clear-out to charity for others to enjoy. Ensure you recycle any waste, including broken Christmas lights, at the household waste recycling centers.
4. Make greener choices when it comes to gift wrapping and cards. Avoid anything with glitter and foil and opt for wrapping paper and Christmas cards that can be recycled in the blue recycling box after Christmas.
5. Don't forget to support the local high street. Buying gifts and festive supplies locally is not only more enjoyable but also more environmentally friendly and supportive of small local businesses.
6. If purchasing items online, make sure to recycle any packaging correctly.
7. Minimize food waste by not over-ordering. Dispose of any food scraps in the food waste caddy to be collected with the recycling each week.

Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys said:

"Many of us in Powys are already doing our bit and recycling our waste, however, we can all do a little bit more when it comes to making sustainable choices about the amount of waste we produce,"

"As important as it is to recycle, we can also make a difference to our environment, and our wallets, by choosing to live more sustainably. By just taking a minute to pause, reconsider, and possibly rethink our shopping habits, we can all help make this Black Friday greener and enjoy a less wasteful Christmas."