With the pandemic in full-swing, e-commerce is expected to jump nearly 36 percent this year according to a recent eMarketer report. Because of this, Republic Services says there is a significant need for recycling due to the unprecedented demand for household paper products and cardboard during the pandemic. It's more important than ever to recycle properly to help ensure a steady supply of recycled materials to manufacture toilet paper and more cardboard boxes for shipping.
Follow these tips to recycle during this holiday season:
- DO recycle cardboard. Clean moving, shipping and food boxes (cereal, crackers, cookies, etc.), as well as juice and milk containers, are recyclable as long as they’re rinsed out. The non-greasy side of a pizza box is okay too. Just tear off the dirty side, throw it away and put the clean side in the recycle cart. Flatten boxes before placing in your recycling cart.
- DON'T recycle most packing materials.Curbside recycling programs can’t process most packaging materials, including bubble wrap, cellophane, plastic film and bags, air pillows and foam packaging. If you can’t reuse or donate these materials, put them in the trash.
- DO recycle only plain, glitter-free and non-laminated wrapping. Purchase wrapping paper made from recycled materials. Better yet, make the wrapping a useful part of the gift; put cookies in reusable tins and toys in colorful baskets that double as storage. Try not wrapping gifts. Hide them and give the recipients clues to search for the gifts in a treasure hunt. Experiment with the Japanese art of Furoshiki, using fabric or scarves to artfully wrap gifts.
- DON'T recycle fancy wrappings. Glitter, embossed and foil wraps can’t be recycled. Neither can cellophane wrapping paper and shiny bows. Save and reuse these materials next year.
- DO remember "empty, clean and dry". No Food or food contaminated items of any kind. Putting just one food covered container in the recycle cart can contaminate an entire truckload of recyclables. So don’t toss those dirty bottles of leftover ketchup, oil, or sticky peanut butter jars into the recycling bin. Ask yourself if it’s empty, clean and dry. And when in doubt, throw it out.
- DON'T bag. Recycling should always stay separated and loose. Never bag or box your recyclables before placing them in the bin. Also, flattening cardboard boxes will save space in your recycling cart.
- DO use reusables when entertaining. Soiled napkins and paper goods can’t be recycled. Use plates, glasses and cutlery that can be washed and reused. Make it easy for your guests to recycle cans and bottles by putting a recycling container next to the trash can.
- Don't be a "wish-cycler". Recycle correctly. Before you toss that empty eggnog carton into your green cart, make sure to give it a quick rinse. If you aren’t sure what can be recycled, visit Can I Recycle It?, the City’s free recycling search tool.
- DO learn more to become a good recycler. For more recycling information visit Recycling Simplified.
- DON'T forget the Christmas trees. Lights and tinsel should be thrown into the trash when they can no longer be used. Live trees can be dropped off at Home Depot. Artificial trees can be repurposed into wreaths, centerpieces or other holiday decorations for next year. Simply cut with a wire cutter and arrange the pieces into new decorations.
