What “Holiday” Items Can Be Recycled? We Have The Answer!

So, you've unwrapped all of the presents, eaten a massive dinner, and you're planning when you'll be taking the tree down.  What are you going to do with the waste?  All the boxes, wrapping paper, bows, coffee cups, and liquor bottles...  What do you have to throw away and what can be recycled?

According to a News Center Maine report, EcoMaine's Kevin Roche says that recycling has gotten a lot more complicated over the last year.  Many of the businesses in China stopped their practice of important recycled material.  Because of this, there is now more supply for recyclables and not enough demand.

This means companies dealing with recycling have a lot less tolerance for junk (non-recyclable items) thrown in with items that can be recycled.  So, people need to be more careful about what they put in their recycling bins.

So, what can be recycled and what needs to be thrown away?

Boxes (Cardboard) - Recyclable

Cooking Pans (Aluminum) - Recyclable

Glass Bottles - Recyclable

Glasses (Drinking) - If they are broken, they need to be thrown away.  If they are not broken, they can be re-used.  Sell them at a yard sale or donate them to Good Will.

Napkins (Cloth) - Donate them or sell them

Napkins (Paper) - Compost them

Plastic Bottles - Recyclable, but only if they have a number between 1 and 7 on the bottom

Plastic Cups - Recyclable, but only if they have a number between 1 and 7 on the bottom

Robbin / Bows - Re-use

Styrofoam - Trash

Tape (Scotch) - Trash

Wrapping Paper - Recyclable

For a complete list of what can and cannot be recycled, check out EcoMaine's Recyclopedia