The Environmental Impact of The Environmental Impact of the Christmas holiday seasonthe Christmas holiday season

The UK Produces RubbishThe UK Produces Rubbish

In the UK we consume a lot!In the UK we consume a lot! As a result we throw away a As a result we throw away a

lot lot of rubbish!of rubbish! Currently, levels of Currently, levels of

household waste in the UK household waste in the UK is growing at is growing at 3%3% each year. each year.

This means the rubbish we This means the rubbish we produce is DOUBLING every produce is DOUBLING every 20 years.20 years.

Christmas RubbishChristmas Rubbish

Waste levels spike Waste levels spike during Christmas during Christmas and New Year.and New Year.

Around one tenth Around one tenth of our annual of our annual rubbish (3 million rubbish (3 million tonnes) is tonnes) is generated over the generated over the festive period.festive period.

UK Consumer SpendingUK Consumer Spending UK Citizens spend £13 billion on UK Citizens spend £13 billion on

Christmas each year.Christmas each year. Individually they spend an Individually they spend an

average of £543 celebrating average of £543 celebrating Christmas, with most going on Christmas, with most going on gifts (£215) and festive food gifts (£215) and festive food and drinks (£127). and drinks (£127).

Average UK SpendingAverage UK Spending

ACTIVITYACTIVITY AVERAGE SPENDAVERAGE SPEND

Gifts & CardsGifts & Cards £215£215

Food & DrinkFood & Drink £127£127

Social OccasionsSocial Occasions £96£96

Tree & DecorationsTree & Decorations £27£27

Party OutfitsParty Outfits £35£35

Travel Travel £43£43

TotalTotal £543£543(Source: (Source:

http//uk.virginmoney.com)http//uk.virginmoney.com)

Cost of Waste Disposal?Cost of Waste Disposal?

The government-The government-sponsored sponsored RECYCLE RECYCLE NOW NOW organisation organisation estimates that estimates that 1 billion1 billion Christmas cards, Christmas cards, eight eight millionmillion Christmas trees Christmas trees and and 750 million750 million extra extra bottles and bottles and 500 million500 million jars needed to be jars needed to be disposed of each year.disposed of each year.

And that’s just the UK!!!And that’s just the UK!!!

Christmas RubbishChristmas Rubbish So how many hundreds of millions So how many hundreds of millions

of other people worldwide also of other people worldwide also generate Christmas waste generate Christmas waste surpluses?surpluses?

Where Does all the rubbish Where Does all the rubbish go?go?

Once the holidays are Once the holidays are over where do we put over where do we put the bottles, jars, the bottles, jars, discarded paper, discarded paper, cards, uneaten food cards, uneaten food and old trees?and old trees?

A hole in the ground.A hole in the ground. Currently 75% of Currently 75% of

waste ends as landfill.waste ends as landfill.

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

As well as additional As well as additional rubbish the UK rubbish the UK generates 2 million generates 2 million tonnes of extra tonnes of extra greenhouse gases!greenhouse gases!

Caused by roasting Caused by roasting turkeys, watching more turkeys, watching more TV & Christmas lights TV & Christmas lights in homes and streets.in homes and streets.

This is bad news for This is bad news for climate change.climate change.