CHRISTMAS is notoriously bad for 'stuff' - and even those of us with the best intentions struggle to keep down the crazy amount of waste. Here, Katie Birks, of Plastic Free Skipton, provides some tips on how to make a dent in our Christmas rubbish pile, and looks at waste-free ways to buy presents, at all times of the year.

Presents:

Don't buy any. Only joking - but don't feel the need to give something just for the sake of it. Chances are the receiver won't know what to do with it and it will end up sitting in the back of a cupboard.

Here are some local, zero-waste ideas:

* A voucher for a meal out at one of Craven's many delicious restaurants

* A gift card for an experience; it could be anything from tennis coaching at Skipton Tennis Club or a climbing session at Raven Tree Adventures (in Aireville Park) to an ego massage from The Power of Your Mind or a coffee gift card from Bean Loved

* Preloved books, from your own bookshelf or from a charity shop. It doesn't matter if it's been read before, it's the personal recommendation that counts

* Some homemade biscuits or other edibles. They're always a winner.

Decorations:

Go natural. We're blessed with some fabulous local foliage that can make a handsome wreath or jolly up a picture frame. If you've already got a supply of plastic-based Christmas decorations, they're fine to use too! Just remember to get them out of the cupboard, rather than buying new stuff each year.

Christmas tree:

As with decorations, an artificial tree is okay if you re-use it year after year. In fact, if you use it at least 12 times then it can have less environmental impact than a chopped down real tree. The key thing with real trees is to make sure they don't end up in landfill.

Why not register your tree for collection at :sueryder.org/christmas. In return for a donation to Manorlands Hospice, a team of volunteers will remove your tree and chip it to make biofuel. The best option is a real tree growing in a pot. You can bring it indoors every Christmas - and it's perfect for hanging bird food on the rest of the time.

Wrapping:

Avoid shiny wrapping paper (the type which doesn't stay in a ball when you scrunch it up) - it's got plastic and/or metal foil in it so can't be recycled. The brown paper in Amazon packaging makes great old-fashioned wrapping paper, especially when tied up with string. Gift bags can be kept and used again and again. Better still, for people you're seeing in person, why not wrap their presents in pillow cases tied with (re-usable) ribbons.

Food:

We're getting good at taking our own bags to the supermarket but it's the packaging food comes in that is hard to avoid. Did you know you can now take your own re-usable containers to the Morrison's meat or food counters? Many takeaway places will also serve their food straight into your own containers, and Exchange Coffee in Skipton will weigh their coffee beans and tea leaves straight into your own containers. Beeswax wraps are a brilliant alternative to cling film for wrapping up sandwiches and food leftovers, and can be used again and again.

New Year litter walk:

This year, while you're walking off your Christmas pudding, how about a competition with family or friends to see who can collect the most pieces of litter on the way. Just give everyone a (re-used) plastic bag and maybe some gloves to protect their hands. It could become a family tradition!

Recycling

It's tempting to put everything in the recycling bin to feel like you're not making so much rubbish, but mixing in the wrong things can risk the whole lot not being recycled. The Craven District website has some useful information on what can and cannot be recycled - :cravendc.gov.uk/waste-recycling/christmas-recycling. Some plastic film can now be recycled at the Tesco plastic bag recycling station - including bubble wrap and anything with the '4' code in a triangle.

After consumer pressure about crisp packets not being recyclable, Walker's have started a recycling scheme. Soon we hope to have a recycling point in Skipton (at Steep & Filter). In the meantime, Roots and Shoots healthcare in Keighley and Trawden Community Centre are the nearest recycling points.

New Year Resolutions

Your hopes for a waste-free Christmas may not go entirely according to plan but never fear, there's always next year! Why not start 2019 with some good intentions. Try saying no to single-use plastic and encouraging others to do the same. Take your keep cup and re-usable bottle with you when you're out and about. If a business isn't offering a plastic-free alternative, talk to them about it. Share ideas on the Plastic Free Skipton Facebook page or come along to our next meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, January 16 (at Steep & Filter on Otley Street). We're all in this together and together we can make a difference.