Whether you’re Naughty or Nice, Waste goes Up During the Holiday Season

This time of year, we get a lot of questions about whether or not we create more waste around the holidays.  The fact is, YES!  Every year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s we throw away about 25% more trash than any other time of year. All of our fun holiday activities—gift-giving, eating, drinking, cooking and decorating—leads to about 1,000 extra pounds of trash from each household!

This year, there might be even more trash and recyclables to manage. Many of us are staying safe, by staying home—leading to more online shopping than ever before and piles more packaging.

The paper industry (factories that buy up all of our recyclables and make new paper and boxes out of it), are counting on everyone to do their part this year.  There’s significant need for recycled paper due to the excessive demand for household paper products and cardboard during the pandemic.

This holiday season, it’s more important than ever to have your recycling bin front and center at your holiday gathering.  Recycle wrapping paper (sans foil), paper board, boxes, newspaper, and paper bags for all those toys and deliveries that are still out there waiting for their paper packaging in the new year!