Avoid a bad “wrap” this holiday season by making plans to recycle Christmas. Paper, ornaments, electronics, packaging, trees and even dinner are recyclable in some form.
Collect it
Putting out a general recycling bin during a holiday party enables party-goers to recycle aluminum cans, wine bottles and wrapping paper. Having a recycling bin close by on Christmas morning makes it easy to collect and recycle the piles of wrapping paper, cardboard boxes and packaging. Any securing twist-ties or plastic must be removed from packaging. Non-paper handles and any metal, such as grommets holding the handle, must be removed from paper gift bags.
Shred it
Wrapping paper and holiday cards make for colorful protection around items to be shipped or when packing up fragile Christmas ornaments. They can be wadded or shredded, depending on what’s needed. Shredded paper can be easily stored in zip-lock-type bags or by reusing plastic grocery bags.
The best shredders for security make diamond-shaped shred; shredders can be purchased at Hampton Roads’ office supply stores, like Office Depot.
Craft it
Crafty parents and kids can flatten used wrapping paper and cards, storing them in bins, like those which can be purchased in Virginia Beach at stores like Kmart. Holiday paper can be used in decoupage, origami, homemade coloring books or for flyleaf paper, hanging decorations, book covers, gift tags or folder decoration. The blank side of Christmas cards can also be used to write a favorite holiday recipe.
Cook it
Leftover Christmas turkey might look daunting, but the best meaty parts can be carved off and refrigerated for sandwiches. The rest can be dumped into a large pot filled with water and simmered until the meat is falling off the bones. Adding a teaspoon of bouillon per cup of water boosts the flavor, and, along with some sliced carrots or other favorite veggies, a couple of handfuls of pasta or rice and oregano, thyme and pepper toward the end, anyone can make a great, basic soup.
Cut it
The City of Virginia Beach will collect live-cut Christmas trees in the regular trash pick-up day. No tinsel, no ornaments, and no lights are allowed; and trees taller than four feet must be cut into four-foot lengths. The Virginia Beach Public Works’ Holiday Waste & Recycling Collection Schedule is posted on the Waste Management site.
The EPA also offers other ideas for Christmas tree recycling.
Reuse it
To avoid the hassle of unstringing Christmas tree lights, many families toss out the old lights with the tree. This makes the tree “unrecyclable” and wastes the cost of the lights, requiring new purchases, each year. The new LED lights are more flexible, but less “tangly”, making them not only a greener choice for the holidays, but also a more user-friendly one. There are many great reasons to choose LED lights this holiday season.
Donate it
Ornaments are collected for resale throughout Hampton Roads at Salvation Army stores and at the Habitat for Humanity ReStores. Earth911 lists locations and a quick search gives details for other local recycling opportunities. A phone call is prudent to verify current need and a list of accepted items.
Holiday recycling is easy. Whether it’s simply recycling wrapping paper and putting out the Christmas tree for pick-up, or taking time to exchange incandescent light strings for LEDs and donate old ornaments, everyone has some level of green living they’re comfortable with. Taking it step-by-step is just part of the green living journey.
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