Recycle Christmas Cards for Plant Ark

Wednesday 4 January, 2006

It's that time of year again when the Christmas cards have piled up and Planet Ark are offering an easy and confidential way to recycle, with Cards 4 Planet Ark.

As part of the popular recycling push, Australia Post is giving away one million 'Cards 4 Planet Ark' recycling envelopes. "All you have to do is drop into your local participating Australia Post outlet and ask for a free recycling envelope, while stocks last," said Nicole Julian, Waste Programs Coordinator for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

"The envelope is postage-paid so it's very easy to get involved. You just put your greeting cards inside the envelope and post them free at over 15,000 post boxes around Australia."

People can also drop their greeting cards and envelopes into the specially marked Planet Ark recycling bins at any Coles supermarket.

Since the campaign's inception in 1994, millions of Australians have participated, helping to recycle over half a billion greeting cards and envelopes - saving over 100,000 trees in the process. Every type of greeting card and envelope will be accepted by Planet Ark and recycled into the 'SAFE' brand of toilet tissue or cardboard packaging.

"Be a sport and don't let your Christmas cheer go to waste," says Rolf Harris, spokesman for Planet Ark. "Recycle your cards and help to give the environment a Happy New Year!"

For details of greeting card recycling locations in Port Macquarie-Hastings go to www.RecyclingNearYou.com.au and simply type in your postcode.