Christmas Recycling & Conservation Practices

During the Holiday Season the average family will generate 30% more waste, much of which can be recycled.  Most municipalities will take all your wrapping paper, Christmas cards, wine and liquor bottles, pots and trays, foil, cans, drink cartons and plastic  as part of your local Blue Box program.

All real Christmas trees can and should be mulched.  While Christmas trees are growing, they absorb carbon dioxide and other gases as well as give out fresh oxygen. Like other crops, Christmas trees are also grown in farms.  Many cities will have a special curb side pickup day or drop off location.  The mulch and compost from recycled trees will be available in the Spring for homeowners gardens and landscaping projects.  This also saves valuable space at the local landfill.

It is important to remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands and other materials that are not part of the original tree. Most trees are ground up as part of the recycling process; foreign material can ruin a chipping machine. Also, nonorganic materials aren’t good for a compost mixture. Some groups or businesses do not accept flocked trees. Christmas wreaths and swags can be recycled with trees. Most recyclers ask that all frames and wire be removed.

Check with your recycler before adding your wrapping paper.  Many newspaper companies do not want wrapping paper mixed in with their newspaper as it contains wimpy fibers, different glues and additives that do not mix well with new paper.  Consider using biodegradable paper or re-using your wrapping paper to help the environment.

Switching your Christmas lights to LED’s is a smart way to decrease your energy consumption.  LED’s last up to 7 times longer than incandescent bulbs and only use 1/10th the energy.   Solar lights are another option for outside lighting which many people are opting for.  Use a timer on your exterior lights can reduce your energy consumption by 30 to 50%.When removing your exterior lights check them carefully for any cracking on insulation.  Discard any defective strands of lights in one of the many electronic collection boxes around your town.

North Americans create a lot of waste at Christmas time.  We can all contribute a little to reducing our carbon footprint during the Holiday Season by using more Recyclable Products, buying decorations and wrapping paper that can be recycled or is made from recycled paper.  When buying your families food this season, ensure that you only buy and cook enough for the people you are feeding,  this can help reduce the huge amount of food waste that occurs during the Holiday Season.

For those people who will be out celebrating this year I would like to bring a Message from MADD Canada which applies to everyone everywhere.

  • If you’re going to be drinking, plan ahead. Take a cab, take a bus, arrange a designated driver or plan to stay over;
  • Don’t accept a ride from a driver who may be impaired;
  • If you see a driver who you think might be impaired, call 911.

May your Holiday Season be a memorable one and your New Year be Joyful and Properous.

Brought to you by the Barrie Home Inspector.