Tips for recycling wrapping paper, Christmas trees, string lights

King County’s Solid Waste Division has offered a few recycling tips to help cut down on extra trash during the holiday season.

Seattle green advocates urge us to skip Christmas wrapping paper, rent decorations

To start, consider wrapping gifts in a different way, perhaps with reusable wrapping paper and reusable ribbons and bows. Most plain wrapping paper can go in a recycling container, and a little tape is fine, but big pieces should be removed. Paper that is glittery, coated paper, gift bags, and ribbons that can not be used again should go in the garbage.

If you have burned-out holiday string lights or want to replace the lights you have with energy-efficient LED lights, don’t throw out the old ones. Recycle them, King County says. Ask the retailer where you’re buying your new energy-efficient lights if they accept used lights, or visit one of the light recycling locations in the Puget Sound region. String lights cannot be recycled in a curbside bin.

Styrofoam packing materials also can’t be recycled curbside, but many gift stores or shipping centers will accept clean packing peanuts to reuse.

Remember that pallet wrap, shrink wrap, plastic mailers, and plastic grocery bags do not go in curbside recycling, and can get tangled in equipment at recycling centers. Clean plastics can be recycled at many retail locations or at a King County transfer station that accepts plastic recycling. The holiday recycling tips page notes that throwing plastic bags and wrap in the garbage “is the least desirable option,” but it’s better than contaminating other recyclables.

What about that Christmas tree in your living room? King County suggests giving it new life as compost or wood chips. If you have residential yard waste collection, many local haulers will pick up trees that are set out on the curb. There are also city-sponsored events, or some recycling and transfer stations will recycle trees as long as they’re under 8 feet tall.

Overall, check with your local hauler to be sure you’re putting everything in its place.

“Putting something in recycling that doesn’t belong there could send the entire load to the landfill,” King County warns. “If you’re ever ensure, uncertain, or in doubt about where something goes, the best option is to throw it out.”

Find more information on home recycling from King County’s Recycle Right site here, and the full holiday recycling tips from King County’s Solid Waste Division online here.

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