As the holiday season approaches, many of us are gearing up for gift exchanges, festive meals, and sparkling decorations. But with all the joy also comes a significant increase in waste. Wrapping paper, gift boxes, and holiday cards pile up, and it’s easy to wonder what to do with it all. That’s where Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) steps in with helpful guidelines to keep your holiday season sustainable and eco-friendly.

Here’s how you can celebrate while reducing your environmental impact:

Wrapping Paper and Gift Bags

Did you know that not all wrapping paper is recyclable? If it’s metallic, glittery, or has a plastic coating, it should go in the trash. Stick to simple, non-glossy paper for wrapping your gifts. Better yet, consider reusable options like fabric wraps or decorative boxes. Gift bags, if not glossy or metallic, can be recycled, but reuse them when possible for extra eco-points!

Holiday Cards

Holiday cards bring cheer, but many end up in landfills. Cards printed on plain paper without glitter or metallic finishes can be recycled. For cards with embellishments, consider cutting out designs to repurpose as gift tags or decorations.

Cardboard Boxes

Online shopping during the holidays means an influx of cardboard boxes. Flatten them and place them in your blue bin for recycling. Remember, only clean cardboard is recyclable—remove any Styrofoam, plastic wrap, or tape first.

Holiday Lights

Broken or outdated string lights? They don’t belong in your recycling bin. Instead, drop them off at OCRRA's designated e-waste locations. This ensures that the materials are properly handled and recycled.  More details on these drop off locations, or mailback options here!

Christmas Trees

If you’re going for a real Christmas tree this year, make sure to recycle it properly once the holidays are over. OCRRA offers a convenient tree recycling program at various locations across Onondaga County (find out where here!). Simply remove all decorations, lights, and tinsel, and drop off your tree to be turned into nutrient-rich mulch. Artificial trees, however, cannot be recycled. If yours is still in good shape but you’re upgrading, consider donating it instead.

Bows, Ribbons, and Tinsel

These sparkly additions may add festive flair, but unfortunately, they’re not recyclable. To minimize waste, try reusable fabric ribbons or natural accents like twine and dried orange slices to decorate your packages.

Plastic Packaging and Styrofoam

While cardboard can be easily recycled, plastic packaging materials like bubble wrap and Styrofoam cannot be placed in your curbside bin. Instead, check with local shipping stores to see if they accept bubble wrap for reuse, and bring packing peanuts to facilities that specialize in repurposing them. Styrofoam, on the other hand, should go in the trash.

Why Recycling Right Matters

During the holidays, recycling contamination often increases as people mistakenly put non-recyclable items in their bins. By following OCRRA's guidelines, you help ensure that recyclable materials are properly processed, keeping them out of landfills and supporting a sustainable future for Onondaga County.

Spread the Word and Stay Informed

Share these tips with your family and friends to encourage a greener holiday season. For more information on holiday recycling programs and drop-off locations, visit the OCRRA website. Together, we can reduce waste and celebrate the season responsibly.

This holiday season, let’s make sustainability part of the celebration. By taking small steps to reduce waste and recycle responsibly, we can spread joy not just to our loved ones, but to our planet as well!