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'Exciting' scheme to swap Christmas jumpers

Michael McBride/BBC A collection of Christmas jumpers on a table.Michael McBride/BBC
Christmas jumpers are often left unused because children outgrow them, according to Abby Simms from Nottingham City Council

People are being invited to swap their Christmas jumper as part of a council scheme.

The Big Christmas Jumper Swap will take place at Nottingham Central Library on 7 December from 10:00 GMT until 15:00.

Abby Simms, from Nottingham City Council, said it was an “exciting” form of recycling which would help the environment.

Around one in four Christmas jumpers are only worn once, according to data from the local authority, which Ms Simms called a “shocking” figure.

A Big Christmas Jumper Swap donation box inside Woodthorpe Plant Shop.
Nottingham City Council will accept Christmas jumpers of any size, whether it be for adults or for children

There are also two donation boxes so people can donate their jumpers if they are unable to make it on the day.

They are at the Woodthorpe Plant Shop and the Homemade Cafe at the Forest Recreation Ground.

Drop-offs will be accepted until 6 December.

It is the first year Nottingham City Council has run the scheme and it is inspired by similar events in other cities.

Ms Simms said she was guilty of buying a new Christmas jumper every year, especially for children, because they outgrow it by the following year.

“We thought this would be a great project to tackle the cost-of-living crisis [and] save jumpers from going into the general waste bin,” she added.

Abby Simms Abby Simms, from Nottingham City Council, pictured in a white jumper with thin black stripes. She has wavy brown hair and is smiling at the camera.Abby Simms
Ms Simms said the scheme would help contribute to a "circular economy"

“Eventually they will need to be thrown out because they will be overused or have holes in, but a lot of Christmas jumpers are lightly used and often very clean.”

If you want to pick up a jumper in return, the event will have tables and boxes of donations to choose from at the Central Library.

You can donate a jumper so long as it is clean and lightly used.

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