Christmas trees are going up and you might already be thinking about wrapping gifts to put under them, so it’s a good time to think about how you can make ‘go green’ this festive season.

If homes had feelings, ours would all have a right to feel confused at this time of year. Along with objects covered in brightly coloured paper and cupboards bursting with unusual food, some even have trees dragged inside of them.

But even if normality goes out of the window during the festive season, there is no reason for our good habits to vanish as well. Here are some top tips for keeping green thoughts in mind over the coming weeks.

Wrap up well

Try to use paper, preferably recycled paper, for your wrapping and cards – and maybe reuse gift bags from last year. Avoid materials that usually cannot be recycled, especially anything glittery.

Cut food waste

If you can cut the amount of food that is left over and thrown away through good planning, then that’s great. But there are also plenty of delicious dishes that can be made from leftover food and ingredients, so there’s no need to throw it out. Visit lovefoodhatewaste.com for some tips and recipes.

Shop local and skip fast fashion

Supporting the local economy by shopping close to home provides a greener alternative to making long car trips and ordering online. And, why not take your pick from charity and reuse shops and vintage stores? Visit aroundealing.com/news/bargain for some ideas.

Recycle your Christmas tree

You can get the new year off to a green start by getting rid of your Christmas tree in a quick, easy and environmentally friendly way by recycling it. Find out more online about recycling your Christmas tree.

Find your way to zero waste

Want to recycle or upcycle your old furniture, clothes, tools or other items? It is now easier than ever thanks to a searchable, online map of the borough. The council’s map shows where you can recycle items – from food and clothes to electrical items and more – and where you can find places to get broken or old items repaired or upcycled. It even shows you second hand and charity shops. It will help you to give things a new lease of life.