NEWS RELEASE From the office of the Green MEPs

January 4 2004

MAKE 2005 A GREEN YEAR FOR RECYCLING URGES LONDON'S GREEN MEP

London's Green MEP, Jean Lambert, is urging Walthamstow residents to give their Christmas tree a new lease of life after Twelfth Night by recycling it at one of the collection points around the borough. (Details below). Over 6 million trees are sold in the UK and over 90% of families have a Christmas tree.

Jean said; "Once Twelfth Night is over, recycling your Christmas tree - as well as your cards, paper and any unwanted gifts - can make a real difference to the environment. More than a billion cards will be sent by people in the UK this Christmas and it is vital that we all do our bit by recycling as much as possible."

Londoners are now recycling over 11% of their rubbish but this is nowhere near enough. By reducing waste and recycling whenever possible, Londoners send fewer bottles, newspapers and cans to landfill.

And it is not just at Christmas when we should be thinking about recycling - all of us can do more throughout the year. Walthamstow residents can recycle shoes, metal, motor oil and batteries, as well as paper, glass, textiles and much, much more including your weekly Walthamstow Guardian!

Let's all make recycling more a New Year's resolution that we keep.

Note to Editors
1. Recycling Christmas cards

The Woodland Trust is promoting a Christmas card recycling scheme in partnership with WHSmith and Tesco. All cards can be taken to stores throughout the country up until 1st February 2005. Many schools collect Christmas cards for recycling. Call Waltham Forest Direct to check which schools are taking part. Recycling bins for Christmas cards will also be located at the Town Hall Walthamstow, Chingford Municipal Offices and Leyton Municipal Offices.

Christmas Trees

Real Christmas trees can be recycled at the Kings Road Recycling Centre in Chingford or the South Access Road Household waste Centre in Walthamstow. If you are in the green waste collection scheme cut your tree into manageable pieces and place in them in the bin to dispose of the tree.

Christmas wrapping paper

Christmas wrapping paper can be taken to Kings Road recycling Centre, Chingford or South Access Road Household Waste & Recycling Centre, Walthamstow

2. More information about recycling in Waltham Forest is available from:
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Waste Management Section
Low Hall Depot
Argall Avenue
Leyton
London E10 7AS
Tel: 020 8496 3000
Email: environmental.services@lbwf.gov.uk
or visit http://www.lbwf.gov.uk/index/environment/rubbish-recycling

Ends

For more information please contact Alex Rowe on 020 7407 6280 or at alexrowe@greenmeps.org.uk