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Chocolate heaven needn't become waste hellEaster is a time of joy, hope, renewal... and lots of chocolate!
But does lots of chocolate, often in the form of beautifully packaged chocolate eggs, have to mean lots of waste? No, it doesn't. Since 2009, producers of Easter eggs have cut packaging by as much as 75 per cent and are now using mostly recycled card for the boxes. But what can you do with the remaining packaging? You can either recycle it at the kerbside or at one of North Yorkshire's 20 household waste recycling centres, which open until 7pm from 1 April as they switch to summer opening. Packaging card is also great to add to your compost bin. Scrunched up, it adds carbon and introduces air, which is essential to the composting process. If you would like to start composting at home and want to buy a compost bin, York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership is holding a one-day sale of £8 compost bins at Ripon Walled Garden on 14 April. If you can't attend, further sales will be advertised on the partnership website, www.letstalklessrubbish.com, over the coming months. If you still have a mountain of leftover chocolate a few weeks after Easter, don't let it go to waste. There are endless yummy things you can do with it. Among other things, there's hot chocolate, tiffin, rocky road, chocolate sauce, fondue, chocolate crispies and chocolate mouse. Savoury dishes, particularly hot and spicy ones, can also be enhanced by adding chocolate - it's just a case of experimenting! If you are feeling particularly creative and want to entertain your children during the Easter holiday, you can also make collages and sculptures with some of the wonderfully coloured foil and card packaging available. 2 April 2012 |
Pollution and waste
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