The holidays can be fun and festive but after the gifts are unwrapped and the tree comes down, the mound of trash left behind can be somewhat deflating. But with a few steps, you can celebrate the holidays sustainably by reducing, reusing and recycling right. Here’s some advice from the helpful folks at Clackamas County.
Christmas trees
Remove all tinsel, decorations, stands, and wire frames before disposal. If you live in an apartment, condo, or mobile home community, ask your property manager, landlord, or HOA board for guidance on disposal. You have several disposal options:
Option 1: Yard debris cart (if you have this service)
Cut the tree into pieces and place in your yard debris cart for no extra charge (make sure the lid closes). You can do this over several weeks if your tree is large.
Or set out your tree (6-feet or shorter) next to your yard debris cart. Cut larger trees in half. There may be a small fee for this option (call your garbage company).
For wreaths or boughs, remove wire framing and put that in the trash, cut evergreens into pieces and place into yard debris cart.
Option 2: Donation
Many nonprofit organizations offer pickup services or drop-off locations for a small fee or donation to their cause. Find one by searching Metro’s Find a Recycler webpage.
Option 3: Take to a yard debris facility.
Check your county’s website for locations.
Option 4: Garbage
Cut the tree into pieces and place in your garbage cart for no extra charge (make sure the lid closes). You can do this over several weeks if your tree is large.
Or set out your tree (6-feet or shorter) next to your garbage cart. Cut larger trees in half. There may be a small fee for this option. Check with your garbage company.
All artificial trees and trees “flocked” with fake snow should be put at the curb for pick-up as garbage. There may be a small fee. Check with your garbage company.
String lights
Put in your garbage cart, or take to a facility for recycling (remove large bulbs first). Most of these facilities only recycle string lights during and right after the holiday season.
Gift wrapping and packaging materials
- Wrapping and tissue paper: Put wrapping and tissue paper with glitter, plastic, or metallic foil in the garbage. Those without can go in the recycling.
- Gift bags, ribbons, and bows: Reuse next year. Otherwise, ribbons and bows go in the garbage. Put gift bags with glitter, plastic, or metallic foil in the garbage (remove ribbon handles).
- Greeting cards: Put greeting cards with glitter, plastic, or metallic foil in the garbage. Those without can go in the recycling.
- Rigid plastic packaging: Put rigid plastic packaging (the kind you need scissors to open) in the garbage.
- Padded shipping envelopes: Do not put paper or plastic shipping envelopes with bubble wrap inside in your recycle cart. Reuse, or put in the garbage. Or cut out all labels and stickers and take plastic shipping envelopes to the grocery store with your plastic bags.
- Bubble wrap: Reuse, or put in the garbage. You can also take them to the grocery store with your plastic bags (pop first).
- Packing peanuts: Reuse, or put in the garbage (bag them first). Or check with your local shipping store to see if they will reuse them.
- Polystyrene (Styrofoam™): Put in the garbage. Or search for a current fee-for-recycling drop-off option on Metro’s Find a Recycler webpage or by calling 503-234-3000.