If your living room and kitchen look like a tornado has hit over the holidays, you may be tempted to toss anything out of place into a plastic bag and kick it to the curb.
Gifting the planet with garbage is only the Grinch’s idea of a good time, however. Fortunately, plenty of the wrapping paper and packaging we inherit this time of year is reusable or recyclable.
Figuring out what material goes where can give you a yuletide hangover, though. We’re here to help you stay off the naughty list for next year’s celebrations.
Most of what we unwrap and toss on the floor during gift exchanges can go in the curbside recycling bin or be taken to the recycling depot. Keep shiny, and thus plastic-coated wrapping paper out, as well as any ribbons and bows; these are considered contamination for the recycling stream.
Any musical cards or cards with plastic add-ons such as squishy foam, glitter or googly eyes are also considered garbage.
Adorable cards made by children in your life that are adorned with similar details should also be disposed of in the waste bin (after being thoroughly cherished on your desk over the weeks to come).
Gift bags come in all shapes and materials these days. If the bags are no longer reusable, paper bags are recyclable so long as any roped handles or plastic detailing can be removed first.
Many presents come in cardboard boxes, which are highly recyclable. Stickers, tape and staples do not need to be removed, but boxes must be flattened before being taken to the depot or placed out for curbside pick up.
If you have a large amount of cardboard, you can place it next to your curbside bin rather than inside. Dimensions shouldn’t exceed 30 x 30 x 8 inches.
During the celebrations, you may be accumulating more beverage containers than usual. With the new additions to the Return-It deposit program, many of these are eligible for a 10 cent deposit return if taken to the Return-It depot.
When placed in curbside bins, you forfeit your deposit but your containers will still be recycled. Cream, buttermilk and eggnog are not eligible for deposit returns and containers should be emptied and rinsed, with caps removed and placed loose in the recycling bin.
Electronics these days seem destined to have a short life span. If your household is accumulating a graveyard of unrepairable electronics, these can be set aside to take to Sunset Coast Bottle Depot for free recycling. Augusta Recyclers also accepts these items.
Remove household batteries beforehand and return these to any recycling depot, being mindful of the tendency of disk batteries to spark and become a potential fire hazard. Placing these batteries between two pieces of tape is an easy way to avoid this risk.
When your holiday tree has worn out its welcome, it can find its next life in your backyard as material for your compost pile. Remove tinsel and ornaments first and then cut branches and lay them in a pile. Once the warmer months return, these piles of evergreen will be great to add to any larger capacity composter.
Stay tuned to community tree chipping services offered each holiday season if composting at home is not an option. Small amounts of evergreen boughs can be brought to the Town Centre Recycling Depot’s compost pilot program green bin for free composting, as well.
Thank you for keeping the holidays ever green!
Let’s Talk Trash is contracted by qathet Regional District to offer its waste reduction education program. For more information, email [email protected] or go to LetsTalkTrash.ca.
