Now that all the holiday excitement is turning 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 that’s been dropping pine needles all over your rug? Here are some tips for responsibly disposing of holiday waste.
Is Gift Wrapping Recyclable?
The short answer: Probably not. Unfortunately, most of the gift wrapping paper on the market is non-recyclable. Putting it in the recycling bin can contaminate the rest of the load, meaning that all the contents will go to the landfill. The same goes for items like ribbons, holiday cards, and anything that glitters.
- What IS recyclable? Here’s a Denver recycling cheat sheet.
How to Dispose of a Christmas Tree
- Natural trees: Denver’s Treecycle program touts tree drop-off locations across the city and then turns your old tree into mulch and compost that is distributed to residents in the spring. It runs now through Jan. 30. Be sure to remove any decor, lights, and nonorganic items from the tree.The city will also collect trees left out on your large-item trash pickup day. (These trees will not be turned into mulch.)
- Live outside of Denver? Most cities and counties offer something similar, so check the official channels wherever you live.
- Artificial trees: If the tree is in decent condition, and you’re just ready for a new one, consider donating it — check with local organizations or charities, like ReStore or Goodwill. The Christmas Tree Project also accepts tree and decoration donations to distribute to families in need around the world.
What to Do With Old or Broken Lights
If you have unusable holiday lights, you can recycle them at one of Denver’s drop-off locations. Some Home Depot and Ace Hardware locations also accept faulty holiday lights for recycling.
For the overachievers out there: Take notes on how to reduce your holiday waste next year.
