Recycling » Holiday Recycling

Curb It!

Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash than any other time of year. This extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about one million extra tons per week.

Here are some easy ways to recycle, reuse and wrap up this holiday season:

  • Recycle & Reuse
  • Tips & Ideas
Holiday Items Recycle Repurpose Trash
Cardboard
Gift boxes
Wrapping Paper 		Curb It! Save & reuse if possible  
Metallic, Glittery Wrapping Paper
Ribbons
Bows		   Save & reuse if possible Trash
Christmas Lights Learn more using our Recycling & Disposal Guide Give away Trash
Disposable Plates, Cups & Silverware   Clean & reuse if possible Trash
Greeting Cards Curb It! Cut up and use as holiday gift tags  
Christmas Tree (with roots) Compost It!
Compost It! collection
Jan. 2-13 for participating cities		 Replant  
Christmas Tree (cut) Compost It!
Compost It! collection
Jan. 2-13 for participating cities		    
Old Appliances Metro Park East Landfill $10 Donate to local charities  
Toys
Games		   Donate to local charities Trash
TVs
mp3 players
Computers
Cell Phones
+ More		 Donate to local charities; store take-back program; Regional Collection Center; Learn more using Recycling & Disposal Guide    
Reusable Bags Green Holiday Shopping Tips:
  • Shop with reusable bags
  • Recycle plastic bags at the grocery store
  • Purchase sturdier gift bags that can be reused and save the ones you receive
  • Purchase rechargeable batteries for new toys or electronics
  • Buy recycled-content wrapping paper, holiday cards and envelopes
  • Send electronic greeting cards
Gift Green Gift Wrapping Ideas:
  • Games or toys for a child can go in a new backpack or pillow case
  • Any kitchen gift can be wrapped in a colorful dish towel, tablecloth or oven mitt
  • Place home-baked cookies in a reusable tin box or kitchen container
  • Wrap gifts with brown paper bags from the store, used magazines or the newspaper
  • For shipping a gift, reuse the foam peanuts from another package, or use unbuttered popcorn for packing
Curb It! Curb It!

Once the holidays are over, you can keep recycling with Metro Waste Authority's Curb It! Recycle and Roll automated curbside recycling program. It's easy to recycle with Curb It! Recycle and Roll – simply toss the accepted recycling materials into your recycling cart and roll it to the curb on your collection day.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Recycling Centers

In addition to having recyclable materials picked up curbside through the Curb It! program, residents of the MWA's communities can also bring Curb It! and other recyclables to designated drop-off centers:

Recycling & Garbage Guide