According to CSIRO, the amount of waste produced around this time of the year surges up to 30 per cent, with more than 150,000 kilometres of wrapping paper used (enough to wrap around Earth’s equator four times!).

With waste levels rising during the festive season, here are a few of the top offenders and how you can tackle them.

Food waste

Households generate the most food waste in Australia, responsible for around 30 per cent of the total (about 2.5 million tonnes each year).

Over the holiday season, leftovers from big meals often end up in the bin, along with recyclable packaging that can be contaminated by food scraps. To reduce food waste, plan your portions carefully, store leftovers safely, and compost suitable food scraps. Remember to recycle any clean packaging, such as aluminium tins and foil.

Even small action like using leftovers creatively for new meals can save money, reduce landfill and make your festive season more sustainable.

Christmas trees

Real trees that aren’t responsibly disposed often end up in landfill while artificial trees are sometimes discarded even though they can last for many years. The most sustainable tree is always the one you already have, but if you do need a new one there are ways to reduce the impact.

For real trees, there are many native trees, shrubs and pines to choose and they can be re-potted or used outdoors throughout the year. If a real tree can no longer be kept or reused, see if your local council offers green bin collection or scheduled pick-ups to turn it into mulch or compost.

Artificial trees can be used for many years if stored in a dry and cool place. If you no longer need yours, consider donating it or offering it through a local Buy Nothing group.

Gift packaging

Advent calendars, festive chocolates, and gift boxes often use tricky combinations of foil, glitter, plastic trays, cardboard, and other mixed materials. When these materials aren’t separated, they’re often mistakenly tossed into recycling bins, contaminating entire batches and causing items like paper or aluminium to end up in landfill even when some of the materials could be recycled.

Set aside the non-recyclable bits like ribbons, sticky tape or glossy card fronts to protect a much larger amount of good recycling and check out our previous article on sustainable gift ideas to help you enjoy the season without creating unnecessary waste

Christmas crackers

Christmas crackers contain several components that need different approaches for recycling. Cardboard tubes and standard paper slips can usually be recycled if clean, while ribbons, foil and plastic toys should be separated and reused where possible or disposed of in your standard waste bin.

For a more sustainable option, consider making your own using toilet paper or paper towel tubes. Decorate with materials you already have and fill them with thoughtful items like handmade notes or small treats. Or skip crackers altogether and focus on quality time, shared meals and meaningful experiences instead.

Christmas-themed party supplies

Festive and colourful paper cups might look fun for the holidays, but many have plastic linings and can’t be recycled in your household recycling bin.

The same goes for other seasonal items, such as napkins, tablecloths and party decorations, which are often single-use but can be easily swapped for reusable or compostable alternatives to reduce waste. Choosing durable or multi-use options helps reduce landfill waste and makes holiday celebrations more sustainable.

Visit Recycling Near You for more plastic alternatives at home.

Plan ahead for next year

Many ribbons, gift bows and more can be saved and reused next year instead of being thrown away. When cleaning up after the holidays, remember to set aside gift bags, ornaments and other festive items carefully so they’re ready to use again next year.