Post-Christmas Clear-Out: How to Get Rid of Your Tree, Packaging and Old Items

Once the decorations come down, most homes in Stoke-on-Trent are left with more rubbish than the bins can cope with. Real Christmas trees, mountains of cardboard, broken toys and the old items that were replaced by new gifts all need to go somewhere. Here is a simple plan for a stress-free post-Christmas clear-out.

1. Deal With the Christmas Tree

Real trees are garden waste, so they should not go in your general waste bin. Strip off every bit of tinsel, lights and decorations first, then either cut it down to fit your garden waste bin, take it to a household waste recycling centre, or add it to a wider garden clearance. If you have a large tree or several, we can take it away along with any other bulky items in one visit.

2. Flatten and Sort the Packaging

Cardboard boxes and paper wrapping take up huge amounts of space. Flatten boxes, remove polystyrene and plastic film, and keep the clean cardboard separate so it can be recycled. Foil-backed or glittery wrapping paper usually cannot be recycled, so check before it goes in the recycling bin.

3. Replace Old With New

Did someone get a new TV, sofa, bike or microwave for Christmas? January is the perfect time to remove the item it replaced. Working appliances and furniture in good condition can often be donated, while broken electricals need to be disposed of properly. Our white goods and appliance removal and sofa removal services make this easy.

4. Do a Room-by-Room Declutter

The new year is a natural time to reset. Work through one room at a time and sort everything into four piles: keep, donate, sell and dispose. Pay extra attention to the places clutter hides, such as under the stairs, the loft and the garage.

• Loft: old decorations, broken lights and boxes you never unpacked. See our loft clearance service.
• Garage: packaging, old bikes and DIY leftovers. See our garage clearance service.
• Spare room: furniture that was moved out for guests and never moved back.

5. Get It All Collected in One Go

Rather than making several trips to the tip in the cold, let us do the heavy lifting. We load everything ourselves, take it away the same day where possible, and recycle as much as we can. It is a quick way to start the year with a clear, organised home.

Book Your Collection

Getting Rid Rubbish Removals covers Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the wider Staffordshire area. Call 07918 855147 or get in touch online for a free, no-obligation quote.