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Fly tipping and pollution

Love your waste this Valentine’s Day

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In the spirit of Valentines Day, Walsall Council is encouraging residents to love their environment by disposing of their waste responsibly. 

Love your waste this Valentines Day
Love your waste this Valentines Day

Each year in the UK, approximately 220 million roses, 25,000 tonnes of plastic and cardboard packaging, 25 million cards, and 13,500 miles of gift wrap are sold. Walsall Council is encouraging residents to think mindfully about their gift purchases and ensure that waste is disposed of responsibly.

“ Valentine’s Day brings love and joy but also significant amounts of waste from gift boxes, cards, and flowers. While you’re showering your sweetheart with gifts, show some love to our environment and remember to dispose of your waste correctly and responsibly.

By recycling correctly, we can help to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill and protect our environment for future generations. Let's make sure we put the right things in the right bins, and if something isn't suitable, take it to one of our free household waste recycling centres.

Consider buying sustainable gifts or even making handmade presents to reduce waste. By being mindful of our choices, we can all help make Walsall cleaner and greener and avoid contributing to landfill. “

Councillor Kerry Murphy, Portfolio Holder for Street Pride at Walsall Council

Here are some top Valentine’s recycling tips from Walsall Council:

  • Valentines’ cards: Most cards are made of paper or card and so they can be recycled in your green bin at home, along with the envelopes. Dispose of any cards with glitter or foil in your grey bin.
  • Wrapping paper: Most gift wrap can be recycled in your green recycling bin. The general test is to scrunch it in your hand and if it stays scrunched when you open your hand, it can be recycled. Wrapping paper with excessive tape, glitter, and other embellishments is best put in with your general waste. Instead of buying new wrapping, why not reuse gift bags, boxes, tissue paper, and ribbon left over from Christmas? It’s better for your pocket and for the planet.
  • Flowers: Once your fresh flowers have lost their bloom, you can dispose of them in your brown garden waste bin. If you are still waiting for your collection to restart however, you can dispose of flowers in your general waste bin. If you have a compost bin at home, that's an even better option as it allows the flowers to decompose naturally and be reused in your garden.
  • Cardboard boxes: The rise of online shopping means that most of us will accumulate lots of cardboard boxes when buying gifts. Most cardboard can be recycled, just flatten the boxes and remove excess packing tape and any plastic or polystyrene before you recycle it in your green bin or take it to one of the boroughs two household waste recycling centres.       
  • Mindful purchasing: Consider buying gifts that won't go straight to landfill or even DIY'ing a gift to reduce waste. Opt for sustainable gifts such as potted plants, reusable items, or experiences like a day out or a special meal. Handmade gifts can add a personal touch and show your loved ones that you care. You could create a scrapbook of memories, bake some homemade treats, or craft something unique.  

Ends

Notes to editors

  • To find out more about what goes in your bins, visit: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/bins/what-goes-your-bins
  • Information about the council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres can be found at: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/bins/find-household-waste-recycling-centres-tips
  • There are plenty of ways to dispose of waste responsibly in Walsall, so those who still choose to fly-tip will be prosecuted.
  • Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £20,000 (unlimited if indicted to the Crown Court). Offenders can even be sent to prison.
  • There are two Household Waste Recycling Centers (HWRCs) in the borough of Walsall which are free to use: Fryers Road, Bloxwich and Merchants Way, Aldridge.
  • The council offers a bulky items collection service for residents who may struggle to take larger items to a Household Waste Recycling Centre. This can be booked through the Council website.
  • Residents who are struggling to manage their household waste, for example because of a growing family or an ongoing medical condition, can apply for a larger bin through the Council’s website.

UK Valentine Facts: Sources

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