How to Responsibly Dispose of Holiday Stuff

Holiday recycling
Holiday recycling

By Lori Bongiorno

Pretty soon, the holidays are over. It's time to get rid of your tree and figure out what to do with all the extra stuff accumulating in your home. Resist the temptation to just pile everything into big black garbage bags and send it to the dump.

Here are suggestions for post-holiday disposal that's light on the planet.

Recycle the Christmas tree

If, like 30 to 35 million American households, you bought a freshly cut, real tree for the holiday, you can easily recycle this renewable resource. Go to Earth 911, type in "Christmas tree," and then enter your ZIP code to find one of the 4,000 recycling programs around the U.S. Many communities have curbside pick-up for trees after Christmas, while other towns have drop-off locations.

Before you recycle the tree, make sure to prepare it correctly:

  • Remove lights and decorations, including all strands of tinsel.

  • Take the tree out of the stand.

  • Be sure there is no metal attached to the tree.

  • Don't wrap the tree in a bag for pick-up unless instructed to do so.

  • Check to see what size trees are accepted; if necessary, cut the tree in pieces.

Flocked trees usually can't be recycled and must be put into the garbage. "Living" trees (with root balls) shouldn't be recycled; they should be planted as soon as possible after the holiday.

Recycled trees are used throughout the country as mulch in public gardens. Some communities offer this mulch back to individuals for free. Christmas trees have also been used to help rebuild dunes in Gulf Shores, Alabama, following Hurricane Ivan. Nearly 1.5 million Christmas trees were recycled into waterway conservation projects in Louisiana.

Recycle the rest

Here are some ideas for the most common waste associated with the holidays. A general rule of thumb: Finding a way to reuse something is always best for the planet. Recycling comes in at a close second.

  • Old incandescent holiday lights can be recycled through HolidayLEDs' free mail-in program.

  • Donate glass ornaments or see if you local recycler accepts them. Paint, feathers, sequins, glitter, and other decorations may make them difficult to recycle.

  • Greeting cards are accepted by most curbside programs. Restrictions may apply for those that have electronic parts or metallic coatings, according to Earth911.

  • Wrapping paper and gift bags are not great candidates for recycling, although it all depends on what they're made of and what your local recycler takes back. Follow these guidelines to make sure your gift boxes are properly recycled.

  • Bubble wrap and packing peanuts can be reused. If not by you, then by someone searching Craigslist or Freecycle. Mailing centers such as The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. will also accept them. Find out what other packing materials can be recycled.

  • Electronic waste can really pile up after the holidays. Many retailers now take back old cell phones, laptops, and other unwanted stuff. There are also options for those who prefer to recycle by mail. See Earth911 for more ideas.


Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.


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