Love is in the air – but what about your carbon footprint?

Isle of Wight Council is asking residents to consider a greener Valentine’s Day this year.

In an effort to minimise the amount of waste going to landfill, the council is urging people to buy recycled cards, gifts with less packaging and give loved ones house plants rather than flowers.

If you are feeling creative, why not make your own gifts - bake some heart shaped cookies or visit one of the many websites that sell eco-gifts.

For a long-lasting show of your affection, why not plant a tree for your loved one. It lasts longer than flowers and converts CO2 into oxygen, helping create a healthier planet.

If you are lucky enough to receive a card or gift this Valentine’s Day ensure you recycle cards and compost flowers, not forgetting to put glass in your black box for kerbside collection or alternatively take it to one of the Island’s many mini recycling centres.

Laura Kay, Isle of Wight Council’s recycling and waste minimisation officer, said: “If you are giving or receiving Valentine’s cards or gifts this year, please try to consider the impact it is having on the environment. By reducing, reusing and recycling we can reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill.”