Waste management district offers tips on reducing trash this holiday season

Staff Report

Published: 12-24-2024 8:53 AM

During the holiday season, the average American family disposes of 25% more trash than they usually do, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As much of this waste can be reused, recycled or composted, the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District is offering the following tips to help residents reduce their trash.

Recycling do’s and don’ts

The following paper items can be recycled: wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper and paper greeting cards/envelopes. However, it is important not to recycle these paper items if they contain metallic inks, glitter or foil (for example, foil-lined envelopes). Tape and labels are acceptable. Remove batteries from singing greeting cards before recycling the card.

Other recyclable paper items include catalogs, paper calendars, paper shopping bags and cardboard (both corrugated and paperboard). When opening gifts, the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District suggests using a paper bag to collect paper recyclables.

Items that should not be recycled include ribbons, bows, tinsel, glossy photo cards, holiday light strings, Christmas tree netting, bubble wrap, paper envelopes lined with bubble wrap, packing peanuts, Styrofoam in any form, plastic shipping envelopes, batteries and the molded plastic used to package toys, electronics, etc.

Some of these unacceptable items — such as holiday light strings, power cords and Christmas tree netting — cause problems at recycling facilities because they get tangled in the sorting equipment, according to the waste management district.

Recyclables from Franklin County municipalities are processed at the Springfield Materials Recycling Facility. Its website, springfieldmrf.org, features printable recycling guides, including a yes/no holiday recycling guide.

Options for other materials

Holiday light strings and power cords are accepted at scrap metal dealers and in the scrap metal dumpsters at town transfer stations. A mail-in recycling program is available at holidayleds.com.

“Pack and ship” stores, such as The UPS Store in Greenfield, accept clean, dry packing materials such as bubble wrap, packing peanuts and inflatable “air pillow” packaging for reuse.

Plastic bag recycling programs at grocery and retail stores accept bubble wrap, plastic shipping envelopes (no paper), inflatable “air pillow” packaging and other bags/films marked No. 2 or No. 4. A list of acceptable items is available at nextrex.com/view/educate#materials1.

Gold Circuit E-Cycling in Agawam accepts various types of Styrofoam for a fee. Call 413-328-3187 or visit goldcircuit.io for more details.

Certain batteries (rechargeable, button and lithium) are accepted at transfer stations. Place them in plastic bags and hand them to the attendant. Staples stores also accept a wide range of batteries for free recycling.

Creative reuse

In addition to recycling, the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District suggests wrapping gifts in reused materials. Gifts can be creatively wrapped in reused gift wrap, old calendar pages, maps or map book pages, paper bags, sheet music, old posters, wallpaper scraps, fabric, scarves, newspaper, comics or children’s artwork.

Gifts can be wrapped inside cloth bags, reusable decorative tins, reusable shopping bags or baskets. Or, make the wrapping part of the gift; for example, use a kitchen towel or oven mitt to hold kitchen utensils or gadgets, or wrap a book using a scarf.

Wrapped gifts can be tied up with twine and adorned with natural items such as pinecones, pine or holly branches, shells or buttons.

One of the most important steps for reusing materials is unwrapping gifts carefully and saving gift wrap, gift boxes, ribbons, bows and gift bags for reuse next year.

Compost

Another way to reduce holiday trash is to compost food and paper waste generated from holiday meals.

Local transfer stations have compost programs that accept all types of solid food waste, including meat, bones and cheese, plus paper waste such as paper napkins, paper towels and more. Unacceptable items include liquids, foil, metal, glass and plastic. The following transfer stations in Franklin County have compost programs: Bernardston, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Greenfield (open to non-residents for a $5 host fee), Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Shelburne, Warwick, Wendell and Whately. Gill residents can learn more about a special food waste drop-off program available in their town by contacting Town Hall.

The Franklin County Solid Waste Management District sells “Earth Machine” home compost bins and compost pails to district residents. Pricing is $25 or $65 depending on the resident’s town. It is not recommended to put meat, bones or dairy in home compost bins. For more information, visit franklincountywastedistrict.org/composting.