Annual Christmas Card Recycling Campaign Launched

Fresh from her stint in the ‘celebrity jungle’ keen recycler Anna Ryder Richardson has teamed up with Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign for England to launch a new challenge for 2008 - the annual Woodland Trust Christmas Card Recycling Scheme.

An impressive collection target of 100 million cards has been set by the Woodland Trust and Recycle Now, which will enable 24,000 trees to be planted1 and save 2,600 tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases – the same as taking over 800 cars off the road for a year2.

Speaking at the launch on 3rd Jan '08, Anna Ryder Richardson said:

"I love sending and receiving Christmas cards.  It’s a great tradition and in the UK we send one billion of them each year3.  But I want to encourage everyone to remember to recycle them after Twelfth Night – not only will it help the Woodland Trust plant more trees but also stops recyclable waste needlessly ending up being sent into landfill and help the environment.”

Special collection bins will be available throughout January at mainland WHSmith high street stores, Tesco stores (including selected Express), any TK Maxx stores and all M&S stores including selected M&S Simply Food stores4.

All the cards collected during the campaign are taken to paper mills where they are recycled into brand new paper products, with the money raised helping the Woodland Trust plant thousands of new trees throughout the UK.

Sue Holden, Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust, applauded the public for their support:

"Your efforts not only prevent cards going to landfill which generates greenhouse gas, but you help us plant thousands of trees.  The UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe – just 12% of the UK is covered by woods compares to the European average of 44%. By recycling your cards, you can help us plant thousands more throughout the UK.” 

The Woodland Trust - is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.  It has 300,000 members and supporters.  The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland.

Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres).  Access to its sites is free. 

Further news can be found at www.woodland-trust.org.uk

Source: WRAP press release

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