Energy Adviser: Recycling fine way to wrap up the holidays
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The amount of stuff we generate during the holidays bothers me. What can we do to lessen our impact on the environment?
The holidays are a wonderful time, but you’re right that we end up with a lot of extra stuff that we must dispose of including ribbons, wrapping paper, packing foam and cardboard. Then there’s the tree, burned-out lights and older appliances and electronics that we’ve often replaced.
“Have a plan for what you’re going to do with everything,” said Tanya Gray, solid waste analyst with the city of Vancouver. “For example, collect wrapping paper in a paper grocery bag while opening gifts, separating out bows, foil wrapping paper and plastic packaging, which can’t be recycled. Then put the bag of paper in your blue curbside cart. Designate boxes to store flattened, reusable boxes, bows and gift wrap for next year.”
The following holiday items can be recycled curbside in the blue cart:
• Wrapping paper and gift boxes, but no foil paper, ribbon or bows.
• Cardboard boxes that have been flattened to fit in the cart.
• Holiday cards and envelopes with the exception of cards with foil or glitter. Remove devices from musical cards.
• Catalogs.
• Batteries which are placed in a sealed plastic bag and placed on top of the recycle cart.
• Christmas trees which have been cut to fit in the yard debris recycle cart or set it next to the cart. Be aware that you may be charged extra, depending upon the size of your yard debris cart and tree. Check with local Boy Scout troops, which may offer other options for recycling trees.
Here’s how to dispose of other holiday waste:
• Foam peanuts are accepted by some mailing stores where they will be reused.
• Block packing foam will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 2 at Clark College in the yellow No. 1 parking lot on the west side of Fort Vancouver Way. Visit www.cityofvancouver.us/solidwaste for more information.
• Some electronics that are in working condition, such as computers, can be donated. Check with the charity for details. Computer Reuse Education and Marketing, or CREAM, also accepts electronics. For details call 360-735-0888 or visit upgradeyourcommunity.org. For information on how to recycling electronics including items that aren’t working call E-Cycle Washington at 800-recycle or visit www.ecyclewashington.org.
• Clark Public Utilities customers will recycle old, working refrigerators and freezers for free. Call the utility at 360-992-3355 or visit www.clark.wa.gov/recycle for locations and information.
Gray recommends also checking www.recyclinga-z.com before tossing anything into the trash. The A to Z guide provides information on many items that can be recycled.
• Finally, Clark Public Utilities will give you a new compact fluorescent light bulb when you turn in a burned-out CFL. Just bring it to any utility office and the old CFL will be disposed of properly.
The Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities energy counselors, who provide conservation and energy use information to utility customers. Send questions to energyadviser@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, in care of Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA. 98668. Past topics are available at www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
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