As the holiday season comes to a close, we must start the process of cleaning up. As you do so, remember that recycling will help minimize the impact of a season that sees household waste increase by 25 percent.
Some easy tips:
- recycle received holiday cards;
- reuse as many wrapping and decorating supplies as you can; and
- compost whatever leftover food you can that you won’t eat.
To recycle Christmas trees, remove nails, wires, ornaments, tree stands, plastic bags and lights. Take the trees to any of the locations listed in the sidebar at right. Volunteers will be in place on Jan. 2 and 3 to help unload. Save gas and spread some holiday cheer by combining trips with your neighbors.
Wreathes/evergreen roping are not accepted but flocked trees are ok. Click here and go to “Special Waste” and “Christmas Trees” for complete information. We hope the city will update the end date, currently listed as Tuesday, Jan. 7. I’m not sure if the day or date is incorrect, but it may be best to plan for a Tuesday, Jan. 5, deadline.
Sarpy County usually has tree recycling. Click here for their page, which at press time hadn’t yet been updated for this year.
If you have old Christmas lights that you don’t use anymore or non-functioning strands, take them to Scrap Central, 2728 N. 85th St, for recycling. Remove all packaging, bags, twist ties, and rubber bands and Scrap Central will recycle them, donating proceeds to Susan G. Komen Nebraska.
While recycling is great, reducing and reusing is the best way to go for a real impact. Did you or your kids get battery-operated gadgets? Rechargeable batteries are worth the extra up front cost, both for your budget and the environment. Are you buried under catalog clutter? Remove yourself from mailing lists (this helps with phone calls, too).
Take the time now to make note of what you’d like to change next year and save money during after-Christmas sales. Do you need some extra dishes or cloth napkins, so you can eat with reusables? Too much wasted food? Write down what you can cut back on now.
Were the holidays more about stuff than substance? You aren’t alone — 70% of Americans would welcome less emphasis on gift giving and spending.
Consider cutting back and start planning with your family now. Reduce what you buy, draw names, host an alternative gift fair, or donate to a charity instead.
Simplify the holidays now to have a great season next year.