How To Responsibly Dispose of Holiday Waste

Now that holiday excitement is beginning to turn into “new year, new me” energy, an important question remains: What should you do with all that torn up wrapping paper? And what about the Christmas tree dropping pine needles all over your rug? Here are some tips for recycling and responsibly disposing of holiday waste.

Is Gift Wrapping Recyclable?

The short answer: probably not. Most of the gift wrapping paper on the market is non-recyclable. Putting it in the recycling bin may contaminate the rest of the load, meaning that all the contents could go to the landfill. The same goes for items like ribbons, holiday cards, and anything that glitters.

How To Dispose of a Christmas Tree

• 🎄 Natural trees: In most cases, you can recycle a natural tree through the regular streetside program if it can be cut up to fit in the bin, but your best bet is to recycle it through the city. Most recycled trees are turned into wood chips, mulch, or compost, so be sure to prep your tree for recycling by removing any decor, lights, and non-organic items. You can also get creative and repurpose your tree for other home projects.
• 🎄 Artificial trees: If the tree is in decent condition, consider donating it to a local organization or charity. The Christmas Tree Project also accepts tree and decoration donations to distribute to families in need around the world.

Bonus: an interesting read on Christmas trees and climate change from the University of Utah.

What To Do With Old Decorations

If you have unusable decorations or holiday lights, recycle them at one of the city’s drop-off locations. Some Home Depot and Ace Hardware locations will take your faulty holiday lights and recycle them for you.

Are your decorations in good working order? Give them a new life by donating them to a local organization, a thrift store, or hardware store.

I’ll leave you with one last tip for the overachievers out there: Take notes on how to reduce your holiday waste next year. For example, Trader Joe’s bags can make cute gift wrap!