Now that 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 all 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 non-recyclable. 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: The City of Madison collects trees and turns them into mulch. There are two rounds of collection, one starting on Jan. 5 and the other starting on Jan. 20. Place the tree on the terrace or right-of-way area, and make sure all tree bags, ornaments, lights, and other non-organic items are removed.
The tree also has to be free of snow and ice, so you might have to dig them out if it snows. You could also bring the tree to one of the city’s drop-off sites. Wreaths, boughs, and evergreen ropes go in the trash. 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.
Take that gift wrap out of the recycling bin! Non-recyclable items can contaminate an entire load. (Elva Etienne / Getty)
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.
If you’re not sure if something can be recycled, or thrown in the trash for that matter, consult with the city’s guidelines.
I’ll leave you with one last tip for the overachievers out there: take notes on how to reduce your holiday waste next year.
