Think about your environment on Valentine's Day, urges UK council

London, Feb 14 (ANI): Valentine's Day is supposed to be a time to express your romantic gestures, but a UK council is encouraging people to think about the environment instead.

It has urged residents to offer their loved ones sweet nothings on Valentine's Day.

Recycling bosses at Central Bedfordshire Council have urged couples to abandon the tradition of sending Valentine's Day cards and send 'e-card' to cut down on waste, reports the Telegraph.

The council also suggested that people who can't resist sending an actual card can make their own cards from spare materials or even put them aside for reuse next year.

"Valentine's Day is a great time for Central Bedfordshire residents to show their love for one another with cards and presents, but it is also an ideal time to show how much you care about the environment as well," said a council spokesman.

"With more and more St Valentine cards and gifts being sent all around the UK, there is a whole lot of love but it also creates a whole lot of extra waste," he added.

"Valentine's day is a special time for everyone to show the one they love just how much they care for them, so why not let it be a time to show just how much you care for the environment as well?" said Councillor David McVicar.

McVicar and his colleagues have also suggested people make their own chocolates and truffles to avoid the wasteful packaging that comes with shop bought variety.

The Valentine's Day guidelines, 'Roses are red, Violets are blue, recycling is something we all can do', suggested that chocolate boxes can be reused 'for storing all kinds of things; letters, craft supplies, buttons, beads, buttons, jewellery or use it again by making your own chocolates, truffles or fudge as next year's gift'.

Fresh flowers also fail to find favour with the council.

Its guidelines suggested giving a potted plant instead of cut flowers, as 'they will last a lot longer and will continue to grow just as your love does'. (ANI)