The festive season is right around the corner and Randwick City locals are preparing to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones.

But amongst all of this Christmas cheer it’s easy to forget about the impact this time of year can have on our earth.

Did you know, of the $50 billion that is spent by Australians around Christmas, approximately $700 million is expected to go to landfill by the following February?

Randwick Council is working to help communities reduce our impact on the environment. So we’ve thought up some not-so-silly tips to help you and your loved ones celebrate the silly season sustainably. (Say that five times fast!)

1. Get creative with gift wrap

Australians use a whopping 8,000 tons of wrapping paper every year and often it’s the plastic kind that takes years to break down. This Christmas, think outside the box and get creative with how you wrap your gifts. If you’ve got small kids, it’s likely your home is filled with their artistic creations. Use their lovely artwork as wrapping paper and tie them up with twine. No children in the house? ‘Furoshiki’ is the Japanese art of wrapping gifts in fabric. The receiver also gets to keep the fabric, so choose something that’s part of the gift, such as a scarf, table cloth, t-shirt or beach towel.

2. Give experiences, not things

You’ve probably heard it before, but filling someone’s stockings with experiences is not only a great way to reduce what goes into landfill, but it also creates memories that last. If tickets to an event aren’t possible, make your own voucher that can be cashed in on throughout the year. It might be for brunch at a local café or meeting for a drink after work. For kids, the voucher might be to ‘build the best-ever cushion fort’ or ‘a family games night’.

3. Shop locally

Christmas is a wonderful time to get a little closer to your community and support small businesses in your area. Randwick City is bursting with independent businesses, producers and artisans that would love to help you make this Christmas one to remember. Pick up your Christmas ham from your local butcher or buy a thoughtful gift at the markets. Shopping your Christmas feast at the local markets means you’re cutting down on the food miles your food has travelled, which is great for the environment. Plus, buying local is a sure-fire way to get on Santa’s ‘nice’ list – just don’t forget your own shopping bags!

4. Get real

There is always a debate around whether to have a fake or real tree, and there are pros and cons to both. However, in terms of our environment, a real tree is the better choice. Fake trees are usually made of plastic and they’re not recyclable. Eventually they end up in the landfill and they don’t break down. A real tree on the other hand, can be discarded with your organic garden matter. And as a cherry-on-top, Randwick City Council will pick up your real trees for you – just leave them on your kerb on the first green waste collection day of 2019. If you're not sure when that is, check our waste and pickup dates map where you can type in your address and easily find your zone.

5. Dispose of your garbage properly!

On Christmas morning, you’re bound to be left with wrapping paper, boxes and plenty of rubbish. Take the time to dispose of it properly – recycle what you’re able to and put the rest in your red bin. If your wrapping paper is paper – and not foil or plastic, it can go in your recycle bin. We know this time of year can mean extra garbage, so if you’re overflowing you can drop off recyclables at our recycling centre in Matraville. Just check the opening hours. At the centre, we’re also able to accept a number of other recyclable items that we can’t collect through the yellow bins, such a polystyrene and soft plastics.