Fast five: How to avoid your festivities going to waste

There are some simple things you can do this festive season that don’t just care for the planet but are also kind to your piggy bank – it’s as easy as one, two, green!

The upcoming holiday season is an exciting time for celebrations with family and friends, but it also means food consumption and purchasing increases as well.

We’ve collated our top five tips on how you can make your festive season a sustainable one.

1. Give a gift with purpose

Choose a gift that lasts a lifetime, instead of one season.

There’s something special about shopping locally. You’ll help keep local jobs, support the local economy and save on emissions associated with transporting goods and produce.

To get started, check out some of the choices in Wollongong CBD’s Ultimate Local Gift Guide or head down to the Christmas Crown Street Market on Friday 19 December that is filled with many small local businesses.

If you don’t have a desire for presents, but your loved ones insist on getting you a gift, consider a request to donate to a charity on your behalf instead. Our City of Wollongong Giving Tree Appeal are accepting gift donations until Sunday 14 December. However, our charity partners St. Vincent De Paul and Anglicare will still accept cash donations after this date. It will help many families across the Illawarra doing it tough.

2. Wrap your gifts responsibly

Consider the environment when you reach for the wrapping paper and make it recyclable or reusable.

Metallic, foil and glittery gift wrap paper can’t be recycled. Instead, opt for simple paper wrapping that can go in the yellow-lid bin. Better yet, use fabric, stockings or perhaps a tote bag that can be reused. When you think about it, what you wrap the present in can act as two gifts in one. Gift accessories like ribbons, sticky-tape or twine also belong in the red-lid bin.

3. Make the most of our free recycling events

To help get rid of the extra recycling over the festive break, we’re offering three free cardboard and household recycling drop-off events.

So, hold on to your cardboard that doesn’t quite fit in the yellow-lid bin and save it for the below events. Visit our website for more information on what is accepted.

• 7.30am – 12pm, 27 December - Fred Finch Park Berkeley
• 7.30am – 12pm, 29 December - Rex Jackson Oval Helensburgh
• 7.30am – 12pm, 30 December - Ray Robinson Oval Towradgi

If you are ever confused about what item can go in which bin or where, the Wollongong Waste App has an A-Z of Waste and Recycling.

4. FOGO your leftovers

We know there’s no leftovers when it comes to the Christmas ham and fresh prawns, but if for some reason you can’t eat everything else, make sure you dispose of it in your green-lid bin.

Food waste is one of the biggest waste contributors in Australia. The best way to avoid any unnecessary leftovers is to plan ahead and shop for what you need. The EPA Love Food, hate waste website also includes lots of tasty recipes to use up your leftovers. Check out more here.

The Food Organics Garden Organics bin accepts all food waste and garden waste, including ham bones, seafood and shells, plate scrapings and real Christmas trees.

5. Adopt – not shop – for your future pet soulmate

If you have made the serious decision to welcome a new pet into your family, it’s always best to consider adopting a dog or cat first. Not only is it substantially cheaper, but you’ll be providing a home to an animal in need.

Adopting through Council is also much simpler as all adoptions come microchipped, lifetime registered, desexed, wormed, vaccinated and vet checked.

Ready to meet your future best friend? Browse our list of animals available for adoption.

If adoption is not on the cards right now, why not consider fostering an animal until they meet their forever family.