Now that holiday excitement is beginning to turn 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 over your rug? Here are some tips for recycling and responsibly disposing of holiday waste.
Is Gift Wrapping Recyclable?
The short answer: Probably not. Most of the gift wrapping paper on the market is nonrecyclable. 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.
How to Dispose of a Christmas Tree
- 🎄 Natural trees: Republic Services will pick up Christmas trees (natural or artificial) on bulk pickup days. However, the Springs Preserve (with valleywide partner dropoff sites through Jan. 15), Summerlin (through Jan. 15), Henderson (through Jan. 16), and North Las Vegas (through Jan. 16) all have tree recycling programs. You can also drop off your tree at Lowe’s for recycling the week following Christmas. Rudolph’s Christmas Trees offers tree removal and recycling services too. Most trees are turned into wood chips, mulch, or compost, so be sure to prep your tree for recycling by removing any decor, lights, and nonorganic items. You can also get creative and repurpose your tree for other home projects.
- 🎄 Artificial trees: If the tree is in decent condition, and you’re just ready for a new one, consider donating it to a local organization or charity. The Christmas Tree Project also accepts tree and decoration donations to distribute to families in need around the world.
What to Do with Old Decorations
If you have unusable decorations or holiday lights, recycle them at one of the city’s drop-off locations. Some Home Depot and Ace Hardware locations will take your faulty holiday lights and recycle them for you. Are your decorations in good working order? Give them a new life by donating them to a local organization, a thrift store, or hardware store.
I’ll leave you with one last tip for the overachievers out there: Take notes on how to reduce your holiday waste next year.
