Wales is already second in the world when it comes to recycling – but we’re aiming even higher. Easter is the perfect time to refresh your recycling habits and make a real difference. With all the extra packaging, food and time spent outdoors, a few small changes can go a long way.
Whether you're enjoying a roast, unwrapping chocolate treats, sprucing up the garden, or getting out and about, here are five easy ways to keep it green this Easter.
1. Give your foil a second life
That foil wrapping your chocolate egg or the foil covering your Easter roast? It’s 100% recyclable and can be recycled again and again without losing quality. Just make sure the foil is clean and free of food, then scrunch it into a ball before putting it in with your recycling.
2. Crack down on paper and card
Easter eggs often come with colourful packaging, and cards are a lovely seasonal tradition – but don’t forget they can usually be recycled. Remove any non-recyclable extras like glitter, ribbons or badges first. And if you're feeling creative, old cards make great materials for kids’ crafts or gift tags.
3. Save food (and money) from the bin
From hot cross buns to Sunday roasts, Easter means plenty of food. To cut down on waste, plan your meals, buy only what you need, and make the most of what you already have. For simple, tasty ways to use up leftovers, check out these recipe ideas from Joanna Page and Flamebaster.
And remember – anything you can’t eat, like bones, peelings or eggshells, belongs in your food caddy. In Wales, food waste is turned into renewable energy. In fact, just one full caddy can power a typical home for nearly an hour. Amazing!
4. Tidy up the garden the green way
Spring is the perfect time to get your garden looking tip top – whether that’s mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges or finally tackling those weeds. But don’t let all that greenery go to waste.
Most councils in Wales offer a garden waste collection, turning your grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, and leaves into compost. This compost helps farmers grow food naturally, avoiding artificial fertilisers, and is also used to maintain parks and public gardens.
Check your local council website for collection details and give your garden trimmings a second life!
5. Recycle when you're out and about
Easter’s a great time to get outside – whether you're visiting attractions, exploring parks or enjoying a staycation. Thanks to a new recycling law introduced last year, all workplaces, attractions and events in Wales now provide recycling bins for food, plastic, glass, paper and card. Just make sure you're putting the right things in the right bin to make the most of them.
It’s an easy way to help keep Wales beautiful and support our goal of becoming the world’s number one recycler.
Find out more about the new workplace recycling rules
Every little habit helps us get closer to number one
Recycling more this Easter doesn’t have to be a big change – just a conscious one. Small steps add up to something big when we all take part. Let’s keep doing our bit for Wales, for the planet, and for future generations.
