Six top tips on how to save money and the planet this Christmas

Tameside residents are being encouraged to think of the environment this Christmas, as Tameside Council reveals its top tips to help people save the planet as well as their pockets.

Under its Think Green initiative, the council is trying to raise more awareness across the community on how to be more environmentally friendly, whether this be through reducing food waste, ensuring wrapping paper is correctly recycled, or using more energy efficient options for your decorations. 

With many residents feeling the pinch during this Christmas season, these tips are also a great way of saving money, without taking away any of the festive fun.

1. Choosing a Christmas tree: Artificial trees can be used year after year, so they tend to be the more environmentally friendly option. Most trees get between seven and 20 years’ worth of use, and they can then be disposed of at your local recycling centre once you’ve removed any lights and decorations. You could even donate it to a local charity shop. However, if you really want a real tree, choosing one with roots means you can pot it in the garden for most of the year before bringing it inside again to be reused. This will spread the carbon footprint over several years and avoid transport emissions.

Willow Wood Hospice have also collaborated with Tameside Council to offer a service to you, to recycle your real Christmas tree. Residents must be registered by Wednesday 3 January 2024.

2. Decorating the tree: Use LED lights, as they use around 80 per cent less power and last longer.

3. Make your own crackers: Most Christmas crackers and the gifts tucked up inside them end up unused and in the bin. Instead, you could make a set of trivia quiz cards and jokes which you reuse each year. Alternatively, if you’re feeling creative, you could have a go at making your own crackers from scratch. Watch this video to find out how.

4. Recycle wrapping paper: As long as it doesn’t contain glitter, foil or sticky tape, you can your used recycle wrapping paper. If you’re unsure, do the scrunch test: if when scrunched into a ball it remains a ball, this can be recycled

5. Try zero-waste gifts, and shop local: This could include plants or flowers, an old jar filled to the top with treats, homemade jam or chutney, a reusable coffee cup or water bottle, second-hand gifts, digital gifts (such as cinema tickets and e-books) or an experience. Shopping local can also be more environmentally friendly than ordering gifts online, and is a great way of supporting local businesses. For inspiration on where to shop in Tameside, take a look at the Christmas Window Trail.

6. Reduce food waste: Use up your leftovers from your Christmas dinner instead of throwing it away. You could rustle up a turkey curry, festive sandwiches, soup, and much more. 

Tameside Council Executive Member for Climate Emergency & Environmental Services, Cllr Denise Ward, said: “To have all of these top tips on how to be more environmentally friendly this Christmas is wonderful. With there being so many ways and alternatives, without it having an impact on how we spend Christmas, is inspirational.

“I would encourage all residents to save the planet and your pockets where you can so we can work together to Think Green and help the environment we so heavily rely on.”