It’s the season of giving! In fact, all that giving over the holidays creates an average of 22 percent more trash and recycling in Sacramento County – more than any other time of the year. You can help by reusing materials, reducing the amount of material that’s tossed and carefully recycling.
“The County’s Department of Waste Management and Recycling has 155,000 residential customers and collects a monthly average of nearly 11,500 tons of trash and more than 3,500 tons of recycling between December and January,” said department director, Paul Philleo.
Reusing is a smart way to reduce! After you get those great gifts, don’t throw away the gift boxes/bags, filler tissue paper, foam peanuts, ribbons and bows – save them to reuse next year! You can even get creative and make your own cards and gift tags out of last year’s cards and wrapping paper.
Be a vigilant holiday recycler and remember that those frayed gift boxes/bags, wrapping paper, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, plastics, glass and aluminum beverage containers are all recyclable and can be placed in your curbside recycling cart. When buying wrapping paper, greeting cards, and envelopes, pick out ones that are made with recycled content. At the end of the season, go through the catalogs you received and cancel those you don’t want mailed and instead shop online. Also, don’t let your recycling invite the interest of thieves by remembering to breakdown those empty boxes from expensive gifts like big screen TVs and electronics and enclose them in your recycling cart.
Try to also limit the use of items that are not recyclable. For example, avoid wrapping gifts in materials that are not recyclable or reusable, such as foil or metallic papers. For packing material, use unbuttered popcorn, and check with your local delivery carriers to see if they will take unwanted Styrofoam packing peanuts. Consider getting a battery charger and switching to rechargeable batteries.
Free Tree Recycling
Finish off the season by giving your tree the proper holiday send-off. Rather than tossing it in the trash – recycle your tree – for free! Simply remove the tinsel, lights, tree stand, and nails. Flocked trees are accepted at all sites.
The following are free tree recycling dates and locations:
- North Area Recovery Station - 4450 Roseville Road (I-80 to Watt Ave north, left on Roseville Rd)
Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Kiefer Landfill - 12701 Kiefer Boulevard (from Jackson Highway , north on Grant Line Rd, right on Kiefer Blvd)
Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Elder Creek Recovery and Transfer - 8642 Elder Creek Rd (from Jackson Highway, south on Florin Perkins Rd, left on Elder Creek Rd)
Saturday, January 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Folsom - Dan Russell Rodeo Arena (Rodeo Park, end of Stafford St)
Saturday, January 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There is a limit of five trees per vehicle at the following locations:
- Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station - 8491 Fruitridge Rd (from Jackson Highway, south on Florin Perkins Rd, right on Fruitridge Rd)
Monday, December 26 through Saturday, January 7 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - SMUD at 6100 Folsom Blvd (from Highway 50, north on 65th St, left on Folsom Blvd)
Saturday, January 7 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
*SMUD crews will mulch your tree for free
Learn more at www.holidayrecycling.com.
