Donal Hickey: The annual Christmas waste mountain is starting to rise

Boxes, paper, gift bags, food, unwanted gifts all add to the growing waste pile

The seasonal waste, however, is made up largely of paper and packaging in various forms, amounting to 81,000 tonnes last Christmas, according to Repak.

Gift boxes inside boxes in plastic wrapping and huge amounts of food being thrown away. The annual waste mountain is starting to rise. Overloaded trollies are already leaving supermarkets and it’s a fair bet most contain some food that won’t be eaten.

In an EPA food waste survey, 70% of people said they buy extra food at Christmas ‘just in case’ they have unexpected visitors. Experts advise, however, that instead of overbuying, people should store food properly so that it lasts longer, and use their leftovers. That would ensure enough for surprise guests.