Crack Down On Waste This Easter

Easter can be a time for family, friends – and maybe even the odd chocolate egg or two. But our love for all things sweet means that each Easter across Wales and the rest of the UK we generate an astonishing 4,500 tonnes of extra waste from the foil and card in our Easter egg packaging alone.

So this year Waste Awareness Wales is urging people to crack down on this extra waste, which often ends up in the rubbish bin. Without wanting to dampen the spirits of the nation’s chocoholics, Waste Awareness Wales is keen to show people in Wales how they can make a difference this Easter by reducing, reusing and recycling wherever possible.

Anna Richards, Manager of Waste Awareness Wales explained:

"Chocolate eggs and Easter treats have become a traditional way of celebrating Easter, and while we all love them, the packaging that comes with them can contribute significantly to the amount of waste we throw away around that time of year. So if we all try to reduce the amount of waste we produce this year, we will make a big difference towards reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill following the Easter period.

"So this year, why not try making your own chocolate goodies and Easter cakes instead of shop-bought Easter eggs, decorating your own cards with foil from any leftover packaging or even sending your Easter greetings by email.

"And of course if you do get a shop-bought Easter egg, reuse and recycle the packaging wherever possible – clean card packaging could be reused as scrap paper, or torn up and composted, and the foil can be used to decorate thank you cards and Easter bonnets for the children. Even the moulded plastic shell can be reused – try using it as a paint container when the children are painting, or even as a mould to make your own Easter eggs next year!"

Waste Awareness Wales’ top tips for reducing waste this Easter:

• Make your own Easter treats instead of buying shop bought Easter eggs – children will love helping to make chocolate cornflake cakes or creating Easter bunny-shaped biscuits
  
• Instead of buying toys for the children to keep them amused over the bank holiday, challenge them to get creative and help them to reuse scraps of foil, card and material to make an Easter bonnet to wear on Easter Sunday
  
• If the children are expecting a delivery from the Easter bunny, try leaving a foil wrapped chocolate bunny at the end of their beds – foil bunnies don’t come with all the plastic and card packaging that Easter eggs often do
  
• Making a big Easter lunch for all the family? Don’t forget to compost the fruit and vegetable peelings afterwards
  
• If you do get a packaged Easter egg, make sure you reuse the foil, cardboard and the plastic packaging, or contact your local authority to see if you can recycle the foil and cardboard locally
  
• Instead of sending an Easter card, this year why not reduce waste and send your greeting by email instead?
  
• If you usually give gifts at Easter, then this year why not give a green Easter gift – perhaps buying gifts like chickens or lambs for people in poverty-stricken countries. This way your gift will help a family or community in poverty on their way to self-sufficiency; and the person you have bought the gift for will receive a gift card and certificate explaining how the gift will benefit others