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How do I stay green and dispose of items the right way during the holiday season?
Summary
Learn how to recycle or dispose of common holiday items.
Finish off your holiday by recycling or disposing of common household items correctly.
Some items cannot be disposed of or recycled but require special handling. A list of common items and how to dispose of or recycle them can be found below.
Item or Material | Disposal Options & More Info |
|---|---|
Food ScrapsFruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, small amounts of soiled paper or cardboard | These items are not recyclable with your WM service. Here are some possible alternatives:
|
Foil Trays | Wash and save foil trays to use again next year. Visit Recycle Right® to learn more about acceptable and non-acceptable items. |
Christmas Trees | Availability and guidelines for Christmas tree collection vary by service area. To check your availability and see step-by-step disposal guidelines, please click here. |
Tree Lights | Tree lights can be recycled through hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes or websites like Earth 911, which can help you find local or mail-in recycling options. Since tree lights may be made of materials like copper, glass and plastic they do not go in the trash bin. |
Pumpkins | Pumpkins are organic waste that can be added to your compost bin or cut into small pieces and buried. The pumpkins will eventually break down and enrich the soil, improving the health of the flowers and plants in your garden. Visit Organics Recycling and Composting to learn more. |
Turkey Fryer Oil | Once the oil has cooled, drain it to remove food particles. Then pour the oil into a sealed container and place it in the trash bin. Avoid pouring any cooking grease down your sinks or in your compost. It can coat and eventually block your pipes, attract rodents, reduce airflow and slow down composting. |
Holiday Gift Boxes | Be sure to completely break down all boxes prior to placing them curbside for pickup. Visit Earth 911 for ideas on how to reuse cardboard boxes around your home. |
Wrapping Paper | For proper wrapping paper disposal, visit the Recycle Right® page to learn more about acceptable and non-acceptable items. |
Information in this article may be inapplicable to customers who receive service pursuant to a WM agreement with a municipality, association or other entity, or where applicable law requires differing terms of service.
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