A Sustainable Holiday
‘Tis the season for Recycling Responsibly. Keep holiday lights, bags, and styrofoam out of recycling bins. For more info about common recycling FAQs during the holidays read on…
Nobody wants to be re-gifted an item they can’t use, which includes the recycling industry! Americans tend to increase waste by 25% this time of year, making it even more important to Recycle Responsibly.
Curbside recyclers only want six items: cardboard, paper, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and containers, and food and beverage cartons.
Can I recycle wrapping paper with the ribbons and bows still attached?
NO! Wrapping paper, boxes, and paper bags can go in your recycling bin, however, bows, ribbons, metallic-covered paper, and tissue paper cannot. Think about skipping store-bought paper and make beautiful handmade gift wrap with items you probably have around the house. Try paper bags, magazine pages, newspaper, or a dishtowel.
My tree is plastic, should it go in the recycling bin?
NO! Consider alternatives such as buying a real tree locally or a tree made from reused PVC plastic.
Can I recycle styrofoam? What about bubble wrap?
No packing or shipping material should go in your recycling container, including styrofoam, air pillows, and bubble wrap. Remove all styrofoam from cardboard boxes, flatten and recycle the boxes, and throw the styrofoam in the trash. Deflated air pillows and bubble wrap can be taken to the grocery store recycling collection containers, along with any plastic bags you get while shopping. Look for this sign at Schnucks!
Why can’t they go in my recycling bin at home?
Items such as holiday lights, plastic bags, ribbon, and clothing gets caught in the machinery, causing the recycling facility to shut down and leading to potential injury of workers.
Until there is a federal policy initiative, it is up to local municipalities to determine how to manage our recycling and waste. That means service can be different based on who is contracted to haul your waste. Check with your hauler for specific details.
Go to Recycle Responsibly to find recycling information and important links for every county in the St. Louis region. St. Louis City Recycles is your best resource for region-wide information on recycling, including what you can and cannot put in your Blue Bin. Check out their Beyond the Blue Bin database for resources on where other items can be recycled. We can choose to REDUCE our consumption, REUSE what we can, and RECYCLE what is accepted.
St. Louis residents can recycle their holiday lights and trees after removing all decorations at these locations.
St. Louis City residents can find more detailed tree recycling information on their website.
St. Louis County residents can find more detailed recycling information in this guide.
Take a look at this Holiday Guide from St. Louis County for green gift and wrapping ideas, as well as donation options.
Electronics Recycling Events:
- Saturday, December 18, 2021 8AM – 12PM
Brentwood Parks And Recreation
2505 S Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood, MO 63144- Drop off your old, unwanted electronics. Click here to learn more about what can be recycled and see the list of fees for some items. The following items are NOT accepted: VHS Tapes, Data Tapes, Floppy Disks, Capacitors or Ballasts that are not clearly marked with “No PCBs”, Transformers in steel containers unless clearly marked “No PCBs”, Thermostats, Smoke Detectors, Light Bulbs, Medical Waste, Gas Containers (Freon, Oxygen, Nitrous Oxide), anything leaking oil or acid, broken ink/toner cartridges, alkaline batteries, exit signs, broken CRTs/TVs/
Monitors. Only cash and checks will be accepted for items with fees.
- Drop off your old, unwanted electronics. Click here to learn more about what can be recycled and see the list of fees for some items. The following items are NOT accepted: VHS Tapes, Data Tapes, Floppy Disks, Capacitors or Ballasts that are not clearly marked with “No PCBs”, Transformers in steel containers unless clearly marked “No PCBs”, Thermostats, Smoke Detectors, Light Bulbs, Medical Waste, Gas Containers (Freon, Oxygen, Nitrous Oxide), anything leaking oil or acid, broken ink/toner cartridges, alkaline batteries, exit signs, broken CRTs/TVs/
- Saturday, December 18, 2021 9AM – 12PM
St. Clair Township
107 Service St, Swansea, IL, 62226- Click here to learn more about what can and can’t be recycled and see the list of fees for some items.
- Saturday, January 15, 2022 8AM – 11AM
Paul A. Schroeder Park
359 Old Meramec Station Road, Manchester MO 63021- Click here to learn more about what can be recycled and see the list of fees for some items.
Only cash and checks will be accepted for items with fees.
- Click here to learn more about what can be recycled and see the list of fees for some items.
- Our Lady of the Pillar Church
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- Click here to learn more about what can be recycled and see the list of fees for some items.
Only cash and checks will be accepted for items with fees.
- Click here to learn more about what can be recycled and see the list of fees for some items.
Perennial Clothing Swap:
Perennial’s Community Clothing Swap is an amazing way to get a new wardrobe with the earth in mind! You bring clothes you no longer want (but are still in fine shape) and take home new-to-you items from the swap.
Perennial
Sunday, December 12 1PM – 4PM
3762 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63118
Click here for event details.
PLUS take a look at Perennial’s workshops for gift ideas! Still looking for something? Check out Upstream’s Holiday Guide for reuse-focused businesses.
