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‘Twas the season: Recycling and disposal tips for holiday cleanup
The holiday season is coming to a close, and whether you lit candles or decked the halls, chances are you amassed a lot of, well, stuff, and it’s time to clean up.Byline: BTB Editor
December 26, 2018 / Time to read: 5 minThe holiday season is coming to a close, and whether you lit candles or decked the halls, chances are you amassed a lot of, well, stuff, and it’s time to clean up. Maybe your holiday lights stopped working, or you need to dispose of your tree – what are the best and most eco-friendly ways to handle these items? Take a few minutes and learn what and how to recycle, and start 2019 on a more environmentally friendly note.
This is the busiest time of year in Republic Services’ recycling centers. From late December through February, as consumers clean up after the holidays, our facilities receive 20% more recyclables than usual.
Much of this is paper and cardboard, such as shipping boxes, holiday cards and envelopes, shirt boxes and shoeboxes, and wrapping paper. Unfortunately, facilities also see items that do not belong in the recycling stream, including string lights, artificial trees and wreaths, and ribbons and bows. These are not recyclable and can even do damage to recycling sorting equipment.
As a general rule, paper and cardboard, metal cans, and plastic bottles and jugs are recyclable as long as they’re empty, clean and dry. Glass is recyclable in some markets.
With plastics, remember the “poke test” – if you can stick your finger through the plastic (such as a plastic grocery bag), it isn’t recyclable.
Recycling Do’s and Don’ts for common holiday items include:
Do Recycle:
- Cardboard
- Paper boxes (gift, shoe and shipping)
- Wrapping paper (plain)
- Holiday cards and envelopes (without embellishments)
Don’t Recycle – Reuse or Dispose:
- Bubble wrap
- Ribbons and bows
- Gift bags (laminated, coated or dyed)
- Embellished wrapping paper (foil or glitter)
- Cellophane
- Foam packing peanuts
- Artificial Christmas trees
- Holiday string lights
Don’t Recycle – Needs Special Handling:
- Real Christmas trees – Check
RepublicServices.com for local information about Christmas tree collections or drop-off locations. - Electronics – Old gadgets, batteries and light bulbs can be disposed of at hazardous waste collection sites or through Republic Services’
Electronics Recycling Mail-Back Program .
For more simple recycling tips, visit
