Recycling, reducing and reusing waste over Easter

Make this Easter a little greener and even more enjoyable for you and your family. From simple recycling tips to spring clear‑outs and ways to cut food waste, here’s how you can celebrate more sustainably right here in Barnsley.

What to do with your waste

Each Easter in the UK we use 7,500 miles of wrapping paper, send 10 million Easter cards and generate 160 tonnes of foil packaging.

A little sorting goes a long way. Most Easter packaging can be recycled, with a few exceptions. Use this guide to help you put each item in the right bin.

Cellophane and sweet wrappers

Place these soft plastics in the grey bin.

Chocolate egg plastic inners/trays

Place these in the brown bin.

Easter cards

Plain cards can go in the blue bin.

Any foil or glitter should be torn off and placed in the grey bin.

Easter egg cardboard boxes

Flatten your boxes and place them in the blue bin.

If the box has a plastic film window, remove it and place the film in the grey bin.

Gift bags

Plain paper gift bags can be placed in the blue bin, while foil, glittered or laminated gift bags should be placed in the grey bin.

Rope handles should be removed and placed in the grey bin, and bags in good condition can be kept for reuse or donated.

Hot cross bun packaging

Hot cross bun packaging should be separated, with clean cardboard trays placed in the blue bin and plastic bags or film placed in the grey bin, and items in good condition may be suitable for reuse where appropriate.

Plastic Easter eggs (reuseable type)

If broken, place the hard plastic in the grey bin.

If intact, consider saving them for next year, donating, or taking them to a reuse point.

Soft toys (Easter bunnies and chicks)

Soft toys cannot be recycled in household bins, but those in good condition can be kept for reuse, donated, taken to a local reuse point, or passed on to companies like Loved Before who rehome pre‑loved teddies and soft toys.

Wrapping paper

If the wrapping paper contains no foil or glitter, place it in the blue bin.

If it contains foil, metallic finishes or glitter, place it in the grey bin.

For more items and guidance, check our full A–Z recycling guide to make sure everything goes in the right bin.

What to do with your left over food

Easter is a time for family, food and fun, but it’s also a time when a lot of good food can end up going to waste. Easter lunch leads to 5 million slices of roast meat, 19 million roast potatoes, and 20 million portions of vegetables being left over.

If you’re planning a big Easter Sunday lunch, it's important to plan your portions and only buy what you need.

If you do have leftovers, they can be a great way to save money, reduce waste and make mealtimes easier in the days that follow..

Here are some simple ways to make the most of your left overs:

Check your fridge temperature: keep your fridge at 5°C or below to help food stay fresher for longer.
Use your freezer as a pause button: freeze cooked meat, bread, hot cross buns and other leftovers in portions. This makes it easy to create quick meals later without any waste.
Try new recipes with what you already have. The Love Food Hate Waste recipe hub has great ideas for using up leftover roast meats and vegetables, spare hot cross buns and even “too much chocolate” (if that’s possible!)

Visit a household waste recycling centre

If the Easter break has inspired a bit of spring cleaning, whether you’re clearing the garage, tidying the garden or sorting out cupboards, our recycling centres can help you recycle as much as possible.

A little planning at home can save you time and reduce stress when you arrive. Sorting materials in advance helps you get through the site more quickly and ensures more of your waste can be recycled. If you’re not sure what can be recycled or where to take it, check what you can take to the household waste recycling centre.

Spring and Easter weekends can be busier than usual, so if you can, consider visiting on a weekday or earlier in the day to avoid queues.

Find out about household waste recycling centres and their opening times.

Eco-friendly crafts

If you’re planning an Easter egg hunt this year, try choosing more sustainable materials instead of plastic.

Got eggs you’ve forgotten about in the fridge? Boil and decorate them for the hunt. You can even make your own natural dyes using items from your kitchen. The National Trust has a great guide on creating homemade dyes.

Wooden eggs are another brilliant alternative. They’re durable, reusable year after year, and perfect for decorating.

If you’re organising an outdoor egg hunt, avoiding plastic is especially important. Any unfound eggs or packaging can harm local wildlife, so opt for eco‑friendly materials wherever possible.