'Tis The Season To Recycle; Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority Shares Holiday Recycling Reminders
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: December 25, 2012
Now that gifts are exchanged and unwrapped, the next step is often
tossing the ribbons, bows, and gift-wrap to the can. But before you do
that, one area agency wants to remind you that you can help make the
holidays a little greener.
The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority tells us that from Thanksgiving through New Year's day, the nation's trash increases by an extra 1-million tons per week.
"Everything you recycle, everything that you re-use, everything that you can keep out of your garbage, it all adds up," says Jamie Tuttle, recycling coordinator at Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority.
When it comes to gift wrap, coordinators say 'tis the season to recycle. All you have to is fold and flatten your gift wrap and then place it in your recycling bin.
"During the 2 weeks following Christmas, there are some items that we accept for recycling that we don't normally accept year round," says Tuttle.
Because of the abundance of trash through the holiday season, the recycling center will accept wrapping paper, gift boxes, holiday greeting cards, and even the cardboard tubes from gift wrap.
"And what happens here is our single stream processing center will sort it as paper and ultimately that gift wrap ends up with our mixed news print and goes to market as such, and gets made into new paper," says Bill Rabbia, executive director at Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority.
But there's also a list of non-recyclables. Metallic or foil wrapping paper, styrofoam, packing peanuts, and all Christmas wreaths should be thrown away with your regular garbage. It may take a little bit of time, but coordinators say every person recycling makes a difference.
"If every person in the world saved just 2 feet of ribbon, that would be enough to tie a bow around the whole world," says Tuttle.
"And in the long run, you're conserving resources, conserving landfill space, and you're doing what's right for the environment," says Rabbia.
The recycling center also suggests saving and re-using decorations for next year.
The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority tells us that from Thanksgiving through New Year's day, the nation's trash increases by an extra 1-million tons per week.
"Everything you recycle, everything that you re-use, everything that you can keep out of your garbage, it all adds up," says Jamie Tuttle, recycling coordinator at Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority.
When it comes to gift wrap, coordinators say 'tis the season to recycle. All you have to is fold and flatten your gift wrap and then place it in your recycling bin.
"During the 2 weeks following Christmas, there are some items that we accept for recycling that we don't normally accept year round," says Tuttle.
Because of the abundance of trash through the holiday season, the recycling center will accept wrapping paper, gift boxes, holiday greeting cards, and even the cardboard tubes from gift wrap.
"And what happens here is our single stream processing center will sort it as paper and ultimately that gift wrap ends up with our mixed news print and goes to market as such, and gets made into new paper," says Bill Rabbia, executive director at Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority.
But there's also a list of non-recyclables. Metallic or foil wrapping paper, styrofoam, packing peanuts, and all Christmas wreaths should be thrown away with your regular garbage. It may take a little bit of time, but coordinators say every person recycling makes a difference.
"If every person in the world saved just 2 feet of ribbon, that would be enough to tie a bow around the whole world," says Tuttle.
"And in the long run, you're conserving resources, conserving landfill space, and you're doing what's right for the environment," says Rabbia.
The recycling center also suggests saving and re-using decorations for next year.
