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Spread joy, not junk, by remembering to recycle during the holidays

A lot of the items that go to make the season festive can be recycled for free and kept out of landfills
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Many items that go to make up a festive holiday season can be recycled for free and kept out of landfills.

“Spread joy, not junk!” may not be the holiday message on everyone’s lips, but the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) is hoping that residents will take it to heart and reduce their waste footprint during the month of December, when festivities often lead to increased waste for many households.

During the Christmas season, it’s not uncommon for some 25 to 35 per cent more waste than usual to be generated, but many items can be recycled for free rather than put in the trash. When it comes to holiday gifts, wrapping paper, cardboard, tissue paper, and paper gift bags can all be taken to your local solid waste site and recycled at no charge.

Are you hosting a party or gathering? Plastic cutlery, tinfoil and foil dishes, paper cups, paper plates, plastic cups, and paper party supplies can all be recycled. However, make sure that you only recycle clean plates, and that other recyclable items are rinsed.

A host of other items can be recycled at your local Eco-Depot or Transfer Station, including glass containers and jars, flexible plastics and wrappers, bubble wrap, Styrofoam packaging, lightbulbs, light strings, batteries, appliances, and electronics. Holiday items that cannot be recycled include broken glass, candles, ornaments, ribbon, tape, and tinsel.

Do you have a real Christmas tree? It can be recycled for free at all TNRD solid waste sites between Jan. 2 and Jan. 31; just make sure that all lights, decorations, and tinsel have been removed. Artificial trees cannot be recycled, but if you no longer want an intact artificial tree, consider how it can be reused instead of throwing it away.

There are also ways to reduce holiday waste. Consider wrapping gifts in reusable items such as tea towels, scarves, or a small throw blanket (or use old newspapers, which can be recycled). Some people have “heirloom paper”, which they re-use each Christmas. You can also give gift experiences (a spa day, tickets to an event, a ski package), which don’t need wrapping.

Give homemade baking, decorations, or gifts that don’t need plastic or cardboard packaging. Shopping local instead of ordering online is another good way to cut down on waste such as cardboard boxes, plastic, and bubble wrap.

If you’re shopping for a festive gathering or family feast, make a grocery list and stick to it, and compost food waste instead of throwing it in the garbage. Lots of leftovers? Encourage guests to bring a container or Ziploc bag and help themselves to any food that’s left.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle what you can during the holidays: we might not have a white Christmas, but we can take steps to ensure we have a green one. For more information and tips, go to tnrd.ca/holidayrecycling. Not sure if something is recyclable? Look up every item on the What Goes Where search tool at tnrd.ca/whatgoeswhere.

Want to know where and when you can take items for recycling? All TNRD Eco-Depots and Transfer Stations are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, with the exception of the Sun Peaks Transfer Station, which is open on all statutory holidays. To find hours of operation for your local solid waste site during the holidays, visit tnrd.ca/depothours.