Last year, the Scottish public recycled just over 4.5 million Christmas cards, the equivalent of 93 tonnes. But the trust told the Scottish Executive it was hopeful that over 5 million cards would be reused this year.

As part of the “Tree for All” campaign, the Woodland Trust has teamed up with WH Smith and Tesco, offering thousands of children across Scotland the chance to plant around two million trees with the proceeds from recycling the cards.

“Recycling your Christmas cards means you can help to plant a tree instead of burying paper,” Environment Minister Ross Finnie stated. “Scots send 100 million Christmas cards each year, most of which end up in landfill sites where they contribute to greenhouse gases and climate change.”

He said that he hoped the scheme would show Scottish residents just how easy it can be to change a lot by doing relatively little.

“By simply taking your old cards down to the local recycling facilities provided by the Woodland Trust you can help protect the environment and ensure our trees and forests are not diminished unnecessarily,” he added.

The scheme will be running throughout January 2005 in participating stores around Scotland, and will close on the 1 February.

“We think that the Christmas card recycling scheme is well on its way to becoming an established annual recycling incentive,” spokesperson for the Woodland Trust Jacqui Morris explained. “However, public support is crucial as, without them recycling their cards, the valuable aid generated by the scheme for Scotland’s woodland areas, as well as the reduction in waste going to landfill as a result, would not be possible.”

“Please don’t forget to recycle your cards, and help us make this year’s scheme an even bigger success than last year’s.”

By Jane Kettle

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