Americans throw out 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's, compared to any other time of the year, and because of that, members of the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency want us to be mindful of being a little more "green" this time of year.
Here's how to sort your holiday trash this season:
Recycle Bin:
- Gift bags without metallic material, foil or glitter
- Wrapping paper without metallic material, foil or glitter
- Cardboard boxes
- Magazines
- Greeting cards
Trash Bin
- Gift bags with metallic material, foil or glitter
- Wrapping paper with metallic material, foil or glitter
- Tissue paper
- Styrofoam
- Bubble wrap*
- Shipping pouches*
- Plastic cutlery
- Plastic cups
These days, many of us are getting a lot of online deliveries and those packages often contain bubble wrap and shipping pouches. You can take those back to many big box stores, like Wegmans, to be recycled.
"The bubble wrap or air pockets can be returned at any local big box store that also accepts plastic bags for recycling. If you can't bring it there, those items should go in your trash. Make sure you remove them from the cardboard box before you recycle your cardboard box. It's also important to remember that everything in your blue bin or your recycle can should go loose in the bin. It should never be bagged in a plastic bag," said Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency Recycling Specialist Maria Bianchetti.
OCCRA officials are also encouraging you to re-use a few items, like gift bags and bows, so it's a good idea to save them if you get one and consider using it next year. If you are getting rid of them, remember they're trash if they are metallic or glittery.
Christmas lights can also be brought back to stores like Lowe's for proper recycling. However, they do not go in your recycling bin. OCRRA will also be holding some Christmas tree drop off events in early January.