Longford County Council share tips that will help your wallet, and the environment, this Christmas

Longford County Council have posted a list of effective tips on how to prevent waste this Christmas, and best of all, these tips will help your wallet as much as they will the environment. 

FOOD

- Plan your shopping in advance by checking what items you already have in stock and what you need.

- Getting creative with Christmas leftovers is a great way to prevent food waste while also ensuring you get even more value from the food you have bought.   

- Freeze food to extend its shelf-life.

- Don't forget to be realistic about portions. It's easy to pile the food high at Christmas but this can, and usually does, lead to a lot of waste, which in turn, is a waste of your money. 

DECOR

- You can create a festive atmosphere at home by foraging foliage and displaying natural decorations like pinecones and holly.

- Switch to LED lights and rechargeable batteries for energy-efficient festive lighting. 

- At the moment, a lot of homewares shops, chain stores, and department stores will be selling off Christmas decor items at a reduced price. If you're tempted to buy new pieces, try to steer clear of plastic and instead invest in items that will stand the test of time. Avoid trends that will have a short shelf life and instead think in terms of longevity.  

GIFTS

- When it comes to gift, don't impulse buy and avoid spending on items that could eventually end up in landfill. Instead gift an experience or something handmade or made locally. These gifts can allow us to spend time with loved ones and be much more personal. They are also much less likely to become waste. 

- Skip the glittery or plastic-coated gift wrapping that’s not recyclable. Instead choose brown paper, reusable fabric wraps and bags instead.     

- Tie gifts with natural twine or ribbon for a seasonal look instead of plastic tape. Don’t forget to recycle wrapping paper and packaging correctly. Keep all items clean, dry, and loose in your recycling bin. Visit MyWaste.ie for helpful information.

- Locally bought gifts also have the added benefit of less packaging than online orders and helping our local economy.  

- Avoid novelty gifts as they're far more likely to turn into waste. 

- If you receive an unwanted gift, (or if you have old Christmas decor items or Christmas jumpers you no longer want,) consider donating them to local charity shops or community groups.

Read More: PICTURES | A nostalgic look back at Christmas in Longford and meeting Santa at the old Quinnsworth store  

POST CHRISTMAS  

If you used a real Christmas tree, you can recycle it for FREE at the Civic Amenity sites listed below:  

- Civic Amenity Westlink Business Park, Athlone Road, Longford, N39 EE36

- Civic Amenity Cloonaugh, Drumlish, N39 E4F4

Funded by the local democracy reporting scheme