The holidays generate a lot of waste. Reduce, reuse, and recycle
when possible.
Holiday Waste Reduction Tips
- Use reusable bags on shopping trips
- Donate gently used items to local shelters or charities
- Use washable instead of disposable tableware at gatherings
- Repurpose cards by using them as gift tags next year
- Find resources online for recycling old holiday lights
Think 5 When Recycling
Remember to "Think 5" and only place these empty and dry items in the blue lid recycling cart: (1) plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs #1 – #5, (2) metal cans, (3) glass bottles and jars, (4) cardboard, and (5) paper. This includes seasonal items such as cardboard and gift boxes (please flatten), paper calendars, eggnog cartons, and holiday cards and envelopes that are not metallic or glittery and do not have a musical chip.
These items cannot be recycled in the blue lid cart:
- Plastic bags, air pillows, bubble wrap, and padded envelopes
- Check local stores for drop-off containers to recycle plastic bags, film, and wrap.
- Fireworks (used or unused) and cardboard firework tubes
- Soak in water, place in a sealed bag, and toss in the garbage cart
- Batteries
- Foam and packing peanuts
- Aluminum trays and pie tins
- Gift bags, tissue paper, and wrapping paper
- Toys
- String lights
For more information on what can and cannot be recycled, visit www.ocfl.net/WhatGoesWhere.