Recycle Your Food Waste This Christmas

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is encouraging everyone to recycle food waste this Christmas. Most people in district recycle; in fact, people in the area recycling 46% of all rubbish.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin said, “Food waste is a huge problem; the average Christmas food bill is £170 per household and 35% of people admit to throwing away more food at this time than at any other time of the year.

“In our district we are also getting very good at using our brown bin—last year we recycled an additional 4,800 tonnes of food waste, equivalent to one million turkeys. These figures show we are becoming more aware of our environmental impact in our daily routines. During the festive period many of us have more food in our houses than any other time – so it’s important to continue to protect the environment by recycling as much as possible.

“This year in the UK two million turkeys, five million puddings and nearly seven and a half million mince pies will be wasted. The Council want to ensure that any food that can’t be eaten is recycled and composted. Remember, all food waste must go in your brown bin and should never be thrown in the black bin.

“We would like to congratulate and thank the majority of people who have recycled so well over the last year.”

To help reduce the “yuck” factor the Council will supply compostable liners free of charge to householders recycling their food waste. Please check out the website to find one of 30 collection centres close to you.

Food is not the only thing that can be recycled. Newry, Mourne and Down is urging all its residents to remember that hundreds of tonnes of cardboard, packaging and Christmas cards are thrown away each year. Chocolate and sweet tins, plastic, cardboard and non-metallic wrapping paper, empty aerosols and drinks cartons can all be recycled in your blue bin.

If you would like any more information on recycling over Christmas please contact Newry and Mourne District Council T: 0300 013 2233 or email recycling@nmandd.org