The festive season is a time for joy, generosity and celebration, but it’s also time for waste. From wrapping paper to discarded food, waste levels skyrocket during the festive months putting a vast strain on our environment.
Industry-leading waste management company, Waste Managed is calling on households and communities across the UK to embrace sustainable practices this Christmas to reduce the environmental impact of the holidays.
To encourage this, Waste Managed is sharing some eye-opening statistics on the true impact of Christmas:
- 30% more waste is produced during Christmas compared to the rest of the year.
- Over 160,000 tonnes of Christmas trees are discarded annually, emitting over 100,000 tonnes of methane when left to rot.
- Christmas eve, Christmas day, and Boxing day combined makeup just under 6% of the UK’s total annual carbon emissions.
Additionally, food waste is also a major issue, with Brits throwing away:
- 42 million plates worth of food, including 263,000 turkeys and 7.5 million mince pies.
- Enough gravy to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
- Over 10 million carrots, 11.5 million potatoes and 17.2 million brussels sprouts.
Festive packaging is another immense waste contributor:
- Most Christmas packaging waste ends up in landfill. In fact, 114,000 tonnes of recyclable packaging waste is wrongly put into the general waste bin during the festive period
- 75% of Xmas cards end up in the general waste bin and are not recycled
- Around 50,000 trees are cut down to make the wrapping paper used to wrap Christmas presents
These excesses come at a financial cost, as the impact of Christmas waste is significant:
- £26 million is spent on disposing of Christmas waste in the UK each year.
- £1.2 million worth of decorations end up in landfill
- £444 million of food is wasted each year
- Unwanted gifts, totalling £700 million, often end up in landfill within months.
Discussing the issue of festive waste, sustainability expert at Waste Managed, Steve Traviss, said: “This Christmas, let’s celebrate the season of giving in a way that also gives back to our planet.
“Every small action makes a difference. Whether it’s reusing gift bags, composting your Christmas tree, or planning meals to avoid food waste, these changes add up to a big impact. Christmas is a time for joy and giving, and we believe that by adopting more sustainable practices, we can give something back to the planet too.
“At Waste Managed, we’re passionate about helping individuals and businesses reduce their environmental footprint—not just during the holidays but throughout the year. Let’s make this Christmas not only memorable but meaningful for our environment as well.”
For more information on Christmas waste and to stay updated on the latest from Waste Managed visit: https://www.wastemanaged.co.uk/our-news/christmas/christmas-waste-facts/
