Recycling Centres in Badenoch and Strathspey Over Christmas Holidays

Over the Christmas period it is estimated that we will produce approximately 30% more waste than usual. In the UK,1 billion Christmas cards will be sent, 10 million turkeys will be sold 83 square kilometres of wrapping paper used, seven and a half million trees bought, an extra 750 million bottles, glass containers and 500 million drink cans used. Most of these items are thrown in to people’s bins and end up on landfill sites. However, up to 60% of the waste that is thrown away can be recycled or composted.

The Highland Council’s Spokesman for Waste Management, Councillor Bill Fulton said: "This Christmas why not make a special effort to try and reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill by using the improved recycling facilities in Badenoch & Strathspey provided by The Highland Council?"

The Recycling Centres in Grantown and Kingussie will be open as usual apart from 25th and 1st January when the sites will be closed. The Granish Recycling Centre will be closed on 25th December, 1st and 2nd January. All three Recycling Centres will accept old real Christmas trees, Christmas cards, paper wrapping paper (plastic & foil based paper cannot be recycled), tins, cans, glass bottles and jars for recycling.

There are also 12 Recycling Points throughout the Badenoch & Strathspey area including a new site at the Glenmore campsite. All these sites have recently been upgraded to accept paper (including paper wrapping paper and Christmas cards), tins, cans and glass bottles and jars for recycling.

If you have a Kerbside Recycling collection from your property don’t forget to recycle your Christmas cards, paper wrapping paper, extra food tins and drink cans using your recycling box after Christmas. Old real Christmas trees can also be put out in your brown bin but please make sure they are cut into easy to manage pieces and put in the bin.

Councillor Bill Fulton added: "Instead of throwing away all your vegetable and fruit peeling, start your own compost heap this Christmas and by this time next year, you will have free, nutritious compost to help make your garden flourish. Also last years old toys and unwanted gifts can be donated to your local charity shop rather than throwing them away as there is sure to be someone who will appreciate them."