Big recycling push is on the cards!

Jan 5 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

RESIDENTS in Kirklees are expected to recycle more than 440,000 Christmas cards.

They will contribute towards the three million cards that will be recycled in the whole of West Yorkshire.

As the Twelfth Night of Christmas comes to an end tomorrow, environment charity the Woodland Trust is asking people to go green.

It wants residents to help them collect 100 million cards nationally for recycling in the UK.

Sue Holden from the Woodland Trust says the cards will be used to make tissue paper, photocopy paper or corrugated cardboard.

The charity also has a planting scheme and if it reaches the 100 million target the trust will be able to plant up to 24,000 trees.

Sue Holden, chief executive of the trust, said: “West Yorkshire did well last year to collect as many Christmas cards as they did.

“However, this year is our biggest Christmas card recycling scheme ever and as such we are asking people to recycle as many cards as possible to help us reach our 100 million cards target.

“Every card recycled will go towards helping us create much needed woodland.”

Many town centre shops are collecting cards for recycling, with bins at WH Smith in The Shambles, all Tesco stores, TK Maxx in the Kingsgate Centre and Marks and Spencer in the town centre. They will all collect Christmas cards until January 31.

Last year, Kirklees residents collected 434,236 Christmas cards for the charity, while Calderdale residents donated 388,846. The Trust expects the numbers to increase this year.

All the cards collected were taken to paper mills and turned into new paper products.

DIY retailers, garden centres and household waste and recycling centres throughout the town are also recycling Christmas trees.

Nationally, more than 735,000 extra tonnes of waste were created over Christmas and New Year. Wrapping paper, food, drink and present packaging accounted for much of the increase.

It is estimated that around 83 kilometres of wrapping paper will end up in rubbish bins rather than recycling bins.

The Woodland Trust say that if the target is reached, the planting scheme will help them save 2,600 tonnes of CO² emissions. It will have the same effect as taking 800 cars off the road.

It will also mean less recyclable waste needlessly ends up at landfill sites.

The trust also hope the planting schemes at 1,00 sites throughout the UK will help increase woodland.

For more information on recycling visit www.recyclenow.com