Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection Offers Holiday Recycling Tips

In celebrating the holiday season with family, friends, co-workers and colleagues, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) encourages everyone to reduce, reuse, recycle—and recycle right. The amount of waste generated traditionally increases by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than what is produced at all other times of the year.

DEP is offering tips to help reduce the impact the holidays have on the environment. DEP Director Adam Ortiz offers some tips in a holiday video message viewable at https://tinyurl.com/unvrylh.

Here are some ways to reduce waste and increase recycling during the holidays:

Unwanted Mail

In the weeks leading up to the holidays and throughout the year, many households receive larger quantities of advertisements, sale flyers and catalogs. If you don’t want to receive these, ask that your name be removed from the company’s mailing list. Often, all that is needed is a call to a toll-free number provided in the mailing.

Another way to reduce the volume of unwanted mail received is to register on a “Do Not Mail” list with any of a number of organizations offering this type of service. Searching the internet for “stop junk mail” or “stop catalogs” will produce links to those services.

Shopping

Bring reusable shopping bags when heading to stores and malls. Paper or plastic bags that can’t be reused or are no longer needed can easily be recycled. Most local grocery stores have plastic bag recycling containers. Paper bags can be recycled at home, along with other mixed paper and cardboard.
Consolidate smaller-sized purchases into one bag, rather than getting a new bag for each item.
When buying gifts to be mailed, select items that are easy to ship and don’t require excess packaging.
Shop for gifts at consignment shops, antique stores or estate sales – one person’s unwanted item is another person’s treasure. Donate things that you no longer use or want, along with items that the children have outgrown or that are no longer needed and are in dignity condition, to charitable organizations.

Wrapping

Items that must be shipped or mailed can be wrapped in reused brown or decorative paper bags from grocery or other stores.
Many gift boxes are attractive enough that they don’t need wrapping. Simply add a reusable ribbon or tie a bow on.
Gift bags are a great idea. They can save time and effort when wrapping gifts and can be reused by recipients.
For oversized or bulky gift items such as furniture, artwork, sports equipment or bicycles, simply tie a ribbon and bow around them.
Wrap only the top of boxes, rather than the entire box.
Sunday comics, outdated maps and remnants of fabrics also make unique gift wraps. Or use brown paper to wrap, and then get creative to decorate using stencils, glitter, twine and other craft supplies.
Use reusable cloth bags to wrap items–recipients also will be able to reuse this bag all year long.
Reuse wrapping paper – have scissors or letter openers handy when opening gifts so paper does not get damaged when removing tape.
Make the wrap a part of the actual gift: put baked goods in a wicker basket, candies in a ceramic bowl, a scarf in a dresser top organizer or jewelry in a cosmetic train case.
Reuse packing cartons and shipping materials such as plastic air pillows, shredded paper or newspaper and bubble wrap. Donate excess packaging materials to local mailing centers.
Consider giving gifts that require minimal or no wrapping: tickets to sports events, concerts and/or performances, gift certificates or gift cards to restaurants stores or online retailers. Plants make great gifts.

Entertaining

Do not throw away leftovers. Put them in reusable containers for guests to take home.
Holiday cooking and festivities can generate many types of bottles, jars, cans and containers that can be recycled in the County’s recycling program. Consider whether any could be reused for storing leftovers.
Use dishes, glassware, flatware, tablecloths and cloth napkins instead of using disposable items. If you don’t need these items or use larger quantities often, consider renting them.
Purchase food items in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging and buy only what you need.
Make creative centerpieces and decorations out of things you find around the house or in the yard, such as pinecones, sprigs, leaves or branches.

Christmas tree recycling

Residents who live in single-family homes that receive County-provided recycling collection services can recycle cut Christmas trees at the curb year-round. Before recycling, remove all decorations, lights, tinsel and garland. Place trees at the curb by 7 a.m. on regular recycling collection days.

Residents of multi-family properties, as well as businesses, should check with their property manager for details on how to recycle cut trees.

Details on all types of Christmas tree recycling are available at https://tinyurl.com/y8ud9l79.

For more details on Montgomery County’s recycling program, visit its website at MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/recycling.

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Media Contact: Alan Pultyniewicz, 240-777-6480