Newry and Mourne District Council

5th March 2010

Mother’s Day, this year is Sunday, the 14th March and Newry and Mourne Council is asking residents to not forget Mother Earth, when celebrating Mother’s Day! Every mother deserves a treat on Mother’s Day and the Council’s Recycling Officers have come up with a list of unique gift ideas which are a treat for your mum, while also being kind to the environment.

The Mayor Cllr John Feehan said, “Mother’s Day is a great time of year to pamper your mum, but some gifts can cause extra waste like packaging and wrapping. We all need to reduce the amount we throw out, so we have put together a list of gifts which thank our mums for all their hard work and also help us to make this Mother’s Day, the greenest yet.”

1. Instead of a big bunch of flowers, why not plant her favourite flowers in the garden or in a pretty pot, for a gift that will last all year around! If you do give a bunch of flowers, remember to compost them afterwards.

2. A personalised card or gift can be a great present and by reusing items, it helps reduce waste from going to landfill.

3. Using spare materials and paper help younger children to make a special homemade voucher, entitling their mum to a day of pampering from the rest of the family.

4. From making cups of tea or Sunday roast, ban mums from the kitchen and treat them with homemade goodies! Remember to compost the tea bags and any fruit and vegetable peelings afterwards.

5. If you are looking for gifts for your mum, why not choose a present made of recycled material? The website www.recycledproducts.org.uk has got thousands of products such as bags, jewellery or clothes.

6. Sometimes it’s hard to decide on a gift for your mother, especially a “green” one; why not let your mum decide for herself? Many green online stores now offer gift certificates. Finding green gift stores online is pretty easy – search for words such as “green gifts mothers day” or “environmentally friendly gifts mothers day”.

Don’t forget to put cards and wrapping from gifts in the Council’s blue recycling bin and put the bin out, for your mother on collection day!
For more information on recycling please contact Therese Hamill, Recycling Officer (Tel 028 30313233) or email recycling@newryandmourne.gov.uk.