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MCC Daily Tribune

Green Tip: Holiday Recycling

Here are some holiday season recycling tips from the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services – Don’t Trash our Future, Recycle Right initiative. According to Monroe County DES, between November and February each year, residents generate the highest amount of trash and recycling. Here are their tips to Recycle Right in Monroe County (residents from neighboring counties should check their recycling guidelines as they may vary some):

  1. Cardboard – empty boxes, flatten and recycle curbside, or bring to Ecopark
  2. Plastic air pillows, bags, and film  - remove air and flatten, take to retailers (such as Wegmans, Tops, Walmart, etc.) and put in their plastic bag receptacles, or bring plastic bags to Ecopark
  3. Plastic envelopes – look like bubble-wrap but labeled outside and entirely plastic, take to retailers, or bring to Ecopark.  NOTE!  Padded envelopes that are paper outside and plastic bubbles inside go in the trash!
  4. Plain wrapping paper, gift boxes, bags and tubes – empty, flatten and recycle curbside, or bring to Ecopark.  NOTE! Metallic/shiny wrapping paper, boxes, cards go in the trash!  Ribbons, bows, tags, and other decorations also go in the trash – they are not recyclable!
  5. Batteries – It is illegal to dispose of rechargeable and button batteries in the trash.  Take them to retailers (Best Buy, Staples, Lowes, Target etc.) or bring to Ecopark (list of accepted batteries).  NOTE! Alkaline (common use household) batteries go in the trash!
  6. Electronics – It is illegal to discard of electronic waste in the trash! Electronics – cell phones, digital cameras, printers, televisions and other electronics including holiday lights and indoor/outdoor decorations that contain electronics – bring electronics to Ecopark.
  7. Styrofoam -- #6 polystyrene – clean white rigid packing foam with no labels or tape can be brought to Ecopark.
  8. Pizza boxes – empty, flatten clean (no grease or food) boxes recycle curbside. If necessary, remove bottom and throw in trash and recycle the clean part.
  9. Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, and tubs – empty, clean and dry – reattach lids, caps, spray pumps and recycle curbside.
  10. Used cooking oil – bring to Ecopark (or solidify grease and throw in the trash)
  11. Masks and other PPE go in the trash!
  12. Real trees are recycled at several locations county-wide (PDF). Be sure to remove all decorations, plastic bags, wires and nails from trees.

Ann Penwarden
Sustainability Steering Committee
12/21/2021