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true true true

Recycling Do's And Don't's For The Holidays

By Bente Bouthier

Posted December 26, 2019

Christmas tree

Broken Christmas lights should be brought to a drop-off location to be recycled, because the metals in wires can be reused. (WFIU/WTIU News)

According to a Stanford University study, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash during the period between Thanksgiving and New Years than any other time of year.

Recycling Coalition executive director Allison Mitchell breaks holiday recyclables down into four categories: packaging, gift wrapping, decorations, and electronic waste.

For packaging, she says rigid plastic packaging isn’t recyclable, and neither is Styrofoam.

Cardboard however, is recyclable.

“People should take the time to break cardboard boxes down before putting them in the recycling bin," she says.

Gift wrapping paper should be flattened out before being put in the recycling bin. Any paper with glitter or foil isn’t recyclable.

As far as decorations go, Mitchell says not to put Christmas lights in with curbside recycling.

“That just wreaks havoc on the processing equipment.”

Lights can be recycled at drop-off locations, like the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District.

The last category is e-waste. That includes the fans in inflatable lawn decorations or broken electronics. Mitchell says those should go to a drop-off location to be recycled too.

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