The Holiday Heap! Boxes, bags, bubble wrap, mailers, pillows, oh my!

The holidays bring endless joy….and trash, so much trash. We have the discussion each year about trying to reduce waste in your gift giving ventures through local purchases, choosing experiences over gifts, and opting for reusable/sustainable wrapping. However, sometimes you just need to buy that gleaming purple light saber or vicious roaring dinosaur for that special someone in your life. The good news is, it’s only a few clicks away. That bad news is…..gobs and gobs of packaging.

A few online retailers are offering sustainable packaging options or combined deliveries that allow for all your items to be delivered in one box. Take advantage of these greener holiday routes whenever possible. But in the meantime, let’s take a look at what you can do with the holiday shrapnel that comes your way.

Boxes….so many boxes. First things first, break them down. Whether you give them a solid punch in the tape or go after them with a box cutter, just make sure they’re flat. You can stick a few at a time in your home recycling bin. Or, when the motherlode comes in, stack them in the back of the car and haul them to the WLSSD Materials Recovery Center. We accept flattened cardboard boxes for recycling at no cost for residents. Visit our site Tuesday-Saturday from 9 am- 4 pm. Want to make it a quick stop? Check out our new Action Camera to peep the line before you head out.

Mailers. There are several types of mailers that bundle your goods on their journey to your house. Let’s talk about the 3 main categories- paper, plastic, and bubble mailers. Paper mailers are the thicker, cushioned type. They are made up of many layers of recyclable craft paper and can be tossed straight into your home recycling bin. Plastic mailing envelopes are a thin, single layer of film plastic. They stretch when you tear them open and can be recycled along with your bags in a film plastic collection bin. You can find film plastic recycling at all WLSSD facilities including the rural recycling sheds and at several drop off locations in our area. The third standard type of mailing envelope is a bubble mailer. They all have a layer of bubble wrap on the inside, but the outside can either be paper or film plastic. The melding of these two different materials make all bubble mailers non-recyclable. Those guys need to be reused or sent to the landfill.

Packing materials. In an effort to keep all your new goodies safe and sound, packing materials are generously stuffed into every package. You’ll see a variety of methods as you sort through your deliveries. Standard sheets of bubble wrap can be recycled right along with your plastic mailers in the film plastic recycling. Strands of air pillows can go the same route. Just pop them and place them in with your film plastic recycling. Foam, on the other hand, is not recyclable. All foam packing peanuts and packaging should be placed in the trash. There are some peanuts that are labeled as “degradable” or “biodegradable”, but we still advise to gather them up and toss them in the trash.

Wrapping Paper. The wrapping paper usually comes after the holidays, but we still need to address it. First, try to avoid using it. Wrap in a spiffy new resuable shopping bag or a fancy dish towel instead . If you must use wrapping paper, avoid any glitter or metallics since they make the paper non-recyclable. Tissue paper is another tricky one. I know we all love the boost it gives to a wrap job, but it’s not recyclable. The thin paper just doesn’t have what it takes to make it through the recycling process and should be put in the trash instead. And whatever you do, don’t burn any of it. Wrapping paper contains pigments, plastics, metals, and other materials that can create a toxic environment when burned.

We hope this helps you navigate the Holiday Heap. Season’s greetings from all the elves at WLSSD.