A Season of Joy and a Season of Waste: How to Handle Holiday Recycling

The holiday season brings gifts, gatherings and plenty of holiday cheer. It also brings a lot of extra packaging and decorations that can create confusion once the celebrations are over. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, Americans generate 23% more tons of waste in December than in other months of the year. From wrapping paper to string lights and ribbons to boxes, not everything belongs in your recycling bin. Here is a helpful guide to keep holiday waste out of the wrong place and make the season a little easier on the environment.

Wrapping Paper: What Can Go in Your Recycling

Not all gift wraps are the same. Some types are accepted in your curbside recycling, and some are not.

What you CAN recycle:

• Nonmetallic wrapping paper
• Plain paper gift bags without glitter or plastic coatings
• Cardboard boxes from online orders and gifts

What you CANNOT recycle and belongs in the trash:

• Metallic, shiny or glitter-covered wrapping paper
• Foil-coated gift bags
• Gift wrap with thick plastic coatings

A quick way to check is the scrunch test. If the paper easily scrunches into a ball and holds its shape, it is usually paper and can be recycled. If it springs back or feels plastic-like, it belongs in the trash.

Decorations: What Stays and What Goes 

The holiday spirit often comes with bright lights and festive displays. Some decorations can be recycled, while others can cause real problems with sorting equipment.

• Paper holiday cards: Cards made of plain paper without glitter, foil accents, batteries, or electronic components.
• Holiday gift boxes: Flatten boxes before placing them in the recycling bin.
• String lights: These cannot go in your recycling bin. We call these lights “tanglers” because they wrap around machinery and may injure workers when trying to untangle them. Look for drop-off recycling options in your area that accept string lights.
• Ornaments: Glass and plastic ornaments are not recyclable. Save them for next year or donate them if they are still in good condition. Otherwise, they go in the garbage.
• Real trees: Trees can often be composted or collected through seasonal yard debris programs if they are free of lights, tinsel and decorations. Flocked or artificial trees belong in the trash.

Packaging from Gifts

Holiday gifts often come with layers of packaging. Here is what to do once the unwrapping excitement is over.

• Cardboard boxes: Flatten and recycle them. Don’t worry about removing all the tape or labels.
• Paper padding and kraft paper: Recyclable if clean and dry.
• Expanded polystyrene is often called “Styrofoam.”: This cannot go in your recycling. If your community has a drop-off option for foam, you can take it there. Otherwise, it belongs in the trash.
• Clear plastic packaging: Items often come in plastic packaging. Unless it’s a plastic bottle, bucket, jug or tub. It doesn’t go in the recycling. See what plastics are accepted at https://recycleon.org/oregon/what-can-i-recycle/

Ribbons, Bows, and Accessories

Many holiday finishing touches cannot be recycled. Ribbons, bows, twine and decorative string are tanglers that wrap around recycling machinery. Place them in the trash or store them to be reused next year or donate them.

What About Gifts You Are Replacing?

The holidays often bring new clothes, toys, electronics and household items. Instead of throwing your old items away, consider donating them.

• Toys: When in good condition, donating toys gives them a second life and keeps them out of the landfill.
• Clothing: Many donation centers accept clothing to be worn again or turned into new textiles. This helps reduce waste and keeps usable materials in circulation.

A Greener Christmas

Small choices make a big difference during this time of year. Choose reusable or recyclable wrapping options, recycle only what belongs in your curbside bin, donate items that still have life in them, and check RecycleOn.org/Oregon for quick guidance on what goes where.

With a little care, you can enjoy a festive and joyful holiday season while helping keep valuable materials in use and out of the landfill.