WASHINGTON — The season of giving can mean throwing a lot of things away. From the lights on your porch, to the trays in your kitchen, we'll Verify what you can actually recycle.
THE QUESTION:
How should you dispose of common holiday items?
THE SOURCES:
- Republic Services, a major US waste carrier
- Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership
- Several local recycling jurisdictions
WHAT WE FOUND:
All the sparkly, brightly-colored things that make the holiday season bright can also make for a big mess. Many items can be recycled or reused, though some need to be tossed.
"As we get into this time of year, there's always more waste and it just takes just a tiny little fraction of thought before you put that in the recycling bin, too, to make sure that it really, truly is recyclable," said Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership.
In our region, different waste management systems are equipped to recycle different types of plastics and other materials. You can find Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington, Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties, plus Washington D.C.'s recycling lists online.
Unwrapping a holiday gift? If it’s printed paper, recycle it. If it’s metallic, glittery, or film-coated, it will likely need to be pitched. Same goes with gift bags, which should be reused when possible.
Reuse ribbons and bows, because they’re not recyclable, and long strings of plastic ribbon can actually be damaging to some recycling processors. Tissue paper is too difficult for most facilities to recycle, so it goes into another gift or in the trash.
Packaging can be a major source of seasonal waste as well. Cardboard boxes should be broken down and recycled. Mixed-material window boxes, like the paper-board and plastic packaging for toys, need to be deconstructed so the paper can be recycled, and the thin plastic pitched.
"Remember your boxes, that things that come in cardboard boxes, or paperboard boxes, even pizza boxes if you're taking an easy path post holidays here: those are recyclable," Harrison said.
Busted holiday lights, old batteries, bubble wrap, plastic shopping bags? These items can be recycled, but not in the single-stream or blue bin. Instead, check with a local recycling center or specialty drop-off location.
Used gift cards are not easily recycled, though many stores will allow you to reload and reuse them.
If you got a real tree, look for community pickup or disposal dates, when that tree can be mulched or composted.
“The tinsel, other stuff that would go into the trash,” added Jeff Camera, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.
The holidays also tend to be a time with a lot of gathering over food: it’s a good idea to reuse or reduce use of plastic cups, serving trays, and disposable utensils, and remember cans, glass bottles, and aluminum serving trays can be cleaned off and recycled in most jurisdictions.
"Then, as you're cleaning all of it up your your detergent jugs, those are all recyclable," said Harrison.
Remember, in almost every jurisdiction, Keefe says recyclable items should be placed straight in the bin and not into plastic bags.
"That's the number one mistake people make when they're trying to recycle, make sure it stays loose in that recycling cart," said Harrison.