Christmas Waste: What Businesses & Households Need To Know

It’s that time of year again - the season of mince pies, overflowing gift wrap, office parties, and deliveries arriving every hour.

And with all that festive activity comes one thing businesses and households all have in common:

A LOT more waste.

December and January sees more packaging, more food waste, more cardboard, more glass, and more general waste than almost any other month.

So we’ve pulled together this simple guide to help you stay waste-wise over the holidays, whether you’re a commercial business keeping operations smooth or a household trying to stay on top of the Christmas chaos.

Why Christmas Waste Builds Up So Quickly

Between mid-November and the first week of January, we typically see:

• A 35–45% increase in cardboard & packaging

• Huge rises in food waste (especially after Christmas week)

• Increased glass waste from hospitality and homes

• More gift wrap & plastics

• Additional general waste from retail, offices and events

The good news? With the right planning, you can keep on top of it, and we’re here to help every step of the way.

For Commercial Businesses

Whether you're running a shop, an office, a hospitality venue or a warehouse, Christmas can put real pressure on your waste systems. Here’s how to stay ahead:

Increase Your Collection Frequency

If you know you’re going to produce more waste, especially cardboard and mixed recycling, consider adding an extra collection or temporarily increasing your bin size.

We can adjust schedules quickly to suit you - including 24-hour guaranteed collections if your usual collector misses a pick-up.

Separate Cardboard & Packaging

Cardboard is one of the biggest festive culprits. Flatten boxes, keep them dry, and consider having a dedicated cardboard bin temporarily.This keeps your general waste down and saves you money.

Food Waste: Keep It Out of General Waste

Hospitality venues see a huge increase in food waste.Using a proper food waste service helps with:

• Odour control

• Hygiene

• Reducing carbon footprint

• Lower disposal costs

We ensure all food waste goes to licensed, responsible processing sites - never the wrong place.

Glass Collections for Bars, Pubs & Restaurants

Christmas = more bottles than any other month.If you're not already on a glass recycling service, now’s the time.

It’s cleaner, safer and cheaper than mixing it with general waste.

Plan Ahead for Christmas Closures

Let us know your opening hours and we’ll match your collection plan so you’re never left with overflowing bins while the kitchen, stockroom or office shuts down.

For Households

Homeowners also face a mountain of seasonal rubbish - but with a bit of planning, you can breeze through it.

Gift Wrap & Cardboard

Recycle plain paper wrapping, but remember:

• Foil wrap

• Glittery wrap

• Ribbon & bows

• Plastic-lined wrap

…cannot be recycled.

A good test: If you can’t scrunch it into a ball that stays scrunched, it’s not recyclable.

Cardboard from toys, electronics, and deliveries should be flattened and kept dry.

Food Waste Spikes

Christmas dinner, leftovers, buffet extras - it adds up fast.

If you have a food waste caddy, use it.If not, try to freeze leftovers, compost where possible, or choose meals that reheat well to reduce waste.

Glass Recycling

Bottles from wine, fizz, jars and sauces all increase at home too. Rinse lightly and recycle.If you’re hosting parties, pre-empt the problem with a separate glass bin or box.

Christmas Trees

Real trees can be recycled, but artificial trees cannot. Check your local council tree collection service or garden waste schedule.

Electricals & Batteries

Christmas means new gadgets, but please don’t bin the old ones.

Electricals should go to:

• Local recycling centres

• WEEE drop-off points

• Council Household Waste Recycling Centre sites

  
  

Batteries should NEVER go in general waste because they cause fires in refuse vehicles and waste sites.

Why Choose Marshalls This Christmas?

We’re proud to be:

• Local, independent & family-run

• Friendly, reliable and at the end of the phone

• The only waste provider offering a 24-hour missed-collection guarantee

• Fully compliant - every site we use is vetted, visited, and licensed

• Fast to respond - no call centre, no waiting around

Need Extra Collections Over Christmas?

Whether you're a home or business, we can:

• Increase collections

• Add temporary bins

• Arrange one-off clearances

• Help you separate waste cost-effectively

• Provide urgent next-day solutions

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📞 Call us or WhatsApp us for a friendly chat on 07506 209891

📧 Or message us info@marshallswaste.co.uk 🚚

And we’ll sort the rest.

From our family to yours - have a wonderful, waste-worry-free Christmas. 💛♻️