Canberrans should think sustainably this festive season and look for opportunities to reduce waste, reuse, and recycle where possible.

“During the festive period, Canberrans can generate up to 10 per cent more rubbish and recycling than any other time of the year,” Tara Cheyne, ACT Minister for City Services, said.

“We want to encourage everyone to minimise their waste this holiday period and consider how items can be reused or recycled. The ACT Government’s Recyclopaedia, is an A-Z guide to recycling, reuse, and disposal of common household items, and provides advice on alternative options for items that don’t belong in household bins.

“We know that most people do the right thing, but sometimes there is confusion about what can be recycled in the household recycling bin. It is important that Canberrans be aware of what they can and can’t recycle.”

The following items can go in the recycling bin:

1. Christmas cards and envelopes – even with glitter
2. wrapping paper and cardboard packaging – even with plastic windows
3. all empty bottles, jars and cans
4. empty plastic containers – no need to rinse.

These items can’t go in the recycling bin:

1. no plastic bags – empty the recycling out loose into the bin
2. soft plastics
3. tinsel, Christmas decorations, and Christmas lights
4. leftover food or rubbish
5. cellophane wrapping
6. polystyrene
7. Christmas trees
8. broken crockery.

“If you find you have a full recycling bin over the holidays, you can drop off your excess recycling to one of the free recycling drop off centres located in Belconnen, Gungahlin, Mitchell, Phillip, and Tuggeranong,” Ms Cheyne said.

“These centres are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Christmas Day. These centres accept steel and aluminium cans, paper, cardboard, and rigid plastic containers.”

Any excess waste that cannot be recycled or disposed of in the green waste bin can be taken to the Mugga Lane or Mitchell resource management centres. The resource management centres are open every day, except Christmas Day.

“The Christmas gift-giving period gives Canberrans an opportunity to do a festive clean-out,” Ms Cheyne said.

“Any unwanted items including clothing, toys, and furniture that are in good condition can be donated to a charity outlet during business hours, or taken to one of the ACT Government’s reuse facilities at The Green Shed in Mitchell or Mugga Lane.

“I urge the community to correctly dispose of hazardous waste such gas bottles, batteries, and items with embedded batteries, as they can cause fires if placed in household bins. Residents can visit the Recyclopaedia to find out locations to safely dispose of hazardous waste,

“I encourage everyone to do their part this holiday period to ensure we reduce waste, reuse, and recycle where possible as these actions will help grow our circular economy.”

Batteries should never go in household waste or recycling bins, and can be instead dropped off at one of the more than 60 B-cycle drop off points around Canberra.

To find your nearest B-cycle drop off point, visit bcycle.

If in doubt about which bin waste should go in this festive season you can search the Home – Recyclopaedia (act.gov.au) for local recycling and disposal options.