Rubbish Christmas tree made from plastic bottles to be switched on outside Crawley Library

A Christmas tree made of more than 600 reused green plastic bottles will stand outside Crawley Library in Southgate Avenue throughout December.

The Christmas tree lights will be officially switched on at 4.30pm by Councillor David Barling, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for residents’ services.

Mince pies will be served at the grand opening, with the West Sussex Waste Prevention Team on hand to provide recycling hints and waste prevention tips for throughout the festive season.

The tree was designed by "rubbish artist" Tracey Graham in 2013 to help highlight plastic recycling in West Sussex and has been given a new twist this year after West Wittering Primary School won a competition to design the star to top the tree.

Cllr Barling said: “I am delighted to be switching on the Christmas tree lights which will bring attention to the fantastic star design by West Wittering Primary School and to the need for increased recycling in West Sussex.

“This tree is a striking way to highlight how plastic can be recycled and reused again and again.”

“Across West Sussex our recycling levels are high thanks to our residents, but we could all do better.

“Our statistics show that an incredible 96 million plastic bottles weren’t recycled last year.”