San Diego City Wire

The holiday season brings with it an opportunity to recycle various items, according to the County Department of Public Works. As people exchange gifts and decorate their homes, there is a significant amount of waste that can be redirected from landfills through proper recycling.

Real Christmas trees and wreaths are among the items that can be recycled effectively. When properly processed, these can be turned into mulch, which benefits soil health and moisture retention in parks, farms, home gardens, and landscapes. The department encourages residents to check with their waste haulers for curbside pickup options or use WastefreeSD.org to find local drop-off sites for Christmas trees.

Packaging materials from online shopping and gift-giving also present recycling challenges. While cardboard boxes and kraft paper are recyclable, other materials like manila envelopes, padded plastic mailers, bubble wrap, metallic wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, twine, tissue paper, and cellophane should not be placed in blue recycling bins. Instead, reusing these materials is recommended.

Holiday cards follow similar guidelines: simple paper cards are recyclable but those with glitter or metallic elements are not. In such cases, residents are advised to separate the glitzy fronts from plain backs before recycling.

Old holiday lights should also be kept out of recycling bins due to potential hazards they pose at recycling centers. Alternative recycling options for these lights can be found on WasteFreeSD.org or by contacting scrap metal or e-waste recyclers.

For more information on what can and cannot be recycled during the holidays or any time of year, residents are encouraged to visit DPW Recycling’s webpage or Facebook page.