Britons urged to recycle this Christmas

Friday, 24 December 2004 1:00 PM

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is calling on UK consumers to remember to recycle this Christmas, with 400,000 double-decker buses worth of waste predicted this year.

Latest figures show that there will be enough wrapping paper alone to wrap the whole island of Guernsey and 80 per cent of rubbish which could be recycled or composted will just end up in the bin.

Environment minister Elliot Morley commented: "This Christmas Britain will generate millions of tonnes of rubbish, most of which will languish in landfill sites.

"This needn't be so. Recycling is easier than it has ever been before so everyone can do their bit."

Consumers are being encouraged to recycle glass, paper, aluminium cans, IT equipment, domestic appliances and even old Christmas trees.

Mr Morley explained there are a number of benefits of recycling, for example 24 million recycled glass jars will provide enough energy for 60 million cups of tea.

A number of firms are offering recycling facilities this Christmas, including Blue Peter's 'Welcome Home Appeal', Woodland Trust card recycling, Oxfam and the Body Shop.

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