Holiday Recycling Guide 2018
Tips for a Low/Zero Waste Holiday Season
Great recycling habits don’t have to be set aside just because the holiday season is upon us. Check out these holiday recycling tips, a gift to you from the City of Longmont Waste Services and our friends at Eco-Cycle, and see how many you can make use of this year.
Prefer to view the holiday guide in Spanish? Ver el Guía Completo de Reciclaje para las Festividades >
Use LED Holiday Lights
Traditional incandescent holiday lights are huge energy-suckers, so much so we recommend recycling your old lights and investing in LEDs. They may cost a little more up front, but holiday LED lights consume 80% less energy and last up to 25 times longer. Learn how and when you can recycle your old lights >
Re-charge it!
Every year over 15 billion batteries are produced worldwide, and many are alkaline batteries that are thrown out after just one use. Replace your alkaline batteries with rechargeable ones. Newer models can charge in as little as 15 minutes! Save money and help the environment at the same time. Ask the Waste Wizard how to recycle batteries >
Reduce Food Waste
Roughly 40% of all the food grown in the U.S. is thrown away. Prevent waste with careful planning: This “Guest-imator” tool can help: savethefood.com/guestimator. Stick to your shopping list. If there are leftovers, encourage guests to take them home in reusable containers and freeze the rest for an easy meal on another day.
Stop Junk Mail
The holidays can bring catalogs and other mail asking you to buy, buy, buy. But you can stop them! As soon as you receive an unwanted publication, call their 1-800 number and ask to be removed from their list. Learn more tricks, including 6 steps to getting and staying off mailing lists, at ecocycle.org/junkmail.
Wrap It & Pack It Eco-Style
While the City of Longmont will be accepting wrapping paper for a limited time (get the scoop), its high-clay and low-paper content makes it difficult to recycle. Instead, get creative and choose reused/reusable alternatives like comics, posters, maps, blueprints, or calendars (all recyclable), fabric, reusable paper or cloth gift bags, bandannas, etc. For shipping, replace foam or bubble wrap with balled-up newspaper or magazine pages.
Don’t Give “Stuff”
Instead of buying new products or things for your friends and loved ones, give meaningful gifts that will enhance their lives.
Some ideas:
- Give experiences in the form of gift cards to museums, parks, or the movies.
- Give something edible; make a dessert or a healthy snack packaged in reusable mason jars.
- Give products that will help your friends and family go green, such as reusable mugs, water bottles, bags or lunch containers.
After the Holidays
Don’t forget to recycle holiday leftovers! The Waste Wizard knows what to do with almost everything, from holiday string lights, Christmas trees and wrapping paper to batteries, food scraps and #6 block foam.
