Tips for recycling smarter this Christmas

This Christmas, Repak is encouraging Irish households and businesses to 'resolve to recycle – better'.

The not-for-profit organisation conducted a 'Recycling Knowledge' Audit earlier this year that revealed a gap between good intentions and practical action with 47% of Irish adults admitting uncertainty about what can and cannot be recycled.

Whether it’s rinsing a foil tray after dinner or ensuring a yogurt pot is free from food residue, these small, everyday actions play a vital role in helping Ireland achieve its ambitious recycling targets.

While 70% of respondents reported using a three-bin system at home, 53% struggled with basic recycling knowledge, leading to common errors.

50% didn’t know blister packs belong in general waste, 64% misunderstood that clean tin foil is recyclable, and 67% incorrectly disposed of broken glass, which should be taken to civic amenity centres.

Tips for recycling smarter:

Clean, Dry, and Loose: These are the golden rules for recycling. Rinse containers, let them dry, and avoid putting recyclables in plastic bags.

What Goes Where: Paper, cardboard, plastics, and metals are recyclable, but watch out for contaminants like food residue or mixed materials (e.g., bubble-lined envelopes).

Local Recycling Centres: For items like glass, batteries, and electronics, bring them to civic amenity sites instead of your household bin.

Make It a Family Affair: Post a simple recycling guide in your kitchen and encourage accountability across all household members.

Christmas Recycling Tips

Quite simply, there are three categories of materials: paper and cardboard; plastics; and metals, tins and foil. These are the different types of packaging items that can go in your recycling bin – clean, dry and loose.

Remember, while most varieties of wrapping paper and gift cards can go in the recycling bin, glitter and sellotape can not. Glitters and metallic shapes used in gift wrap can make it non-recyclable.

Likewise, tinsel cannot be recycled due to its metallic content.

The plastic trays layered in your tins of biscuits, chocolates and mince pies can all go in the recycling bin - but they must be wiped down first.

The plastic wrapping holding the bread for your many, many Christmas sandwiches can go in the recycling bin - but the crumbs can't.

Bubble wrap and packaging boxes can be recycled. Be sure to remove any adhesives (sellotape and labels) and pack them away clean, dry and loose.

Visit Repak.ie for more tips, recycling guides, and to take your pledge to recycle better in 2025.