Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is reminding residents to plan Christmas gift and food purchases to avoid waste and maximise recycling.
TRC Water and Waste Committee portfolio leader Cr Nancy Sommerfield said amid the hustle and bustle of the Christmas countdown it was advisable to think carefully about household purchases, especially the volume and variety of treats for festive feasts.
“Apart from easing the post-Christmas budget squeeze, sensible buying can avoid wasting resources,” Cr Sommerfield said.
“We need to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill by rethinking before buying items. Reduce what you buy, reuse what you can, recycle everything possible and use disposal as the last resort.
“It is estimated that about a fifth of all produce purchased for Christmas feasts is thrown away after the festive season each year.
“On top of the monetary waste, this vast quantity of leftovers unnecessarily ends up in landfills and produces a vast volume of greenhouse gas.
